Just how manly is a man in tight jeans?

The fitting of most men’s jeans seems to be getting tighter by the day. It’s not only for younger men or teenagers, the same goes for adults. In the past, skinny jeans were associated with men who didn’t fancy girls, but lately they have been embraced by everyone, making it hard to determine who prefers what.When pants are too tight, they are not only uncomfortable for the wearer but also for bystanders. The mould bulging from the tight pants that attract stares can be quite uncomfortable for some of us.Angie Mukaruriza, a boutique owner in Kigali, says that a simple way for men to know if pants are too tight for them is to try them on with normal wearing conditions. “Try walking around in them and sit down to see if they are tight around the thighs. Also, bend to see if they excessively take the shape of your bottom. Pockets, too, tell a lot. Tight jeans can be uncomfortable for people who like pocketing a lot or carry things in them,” she says. The simple task of putting them on and fitting in them properly should be a good reason to avoid buying them. Imagine wearing super fitted pants day-in-day-out, with the feeling that something is running up your leg constantly and hindering your comfort. In order to minimise the restrictive nature of tight pants, have pants that allow you some space for simple comforts.Mukaruriza says another easy way to determine if the pair of jeans is too tight is by checking how the hem line ‘sits’ on the shoe. “If the hem line goes right into the shoe, that is not a good fit.”Besides being uncomfortable, tight jeans are not highly regarded by women for men who think the jeans will earn them points. “There is nothing manly about a man in tight jeans. How different is he from a lady if his behind is jutting out, his thighs showing? Men’s jeans should leave some mystery,” says Solange Umwali, a second-year student at a local university.Other factors that men should consider when buying jeans are excessively baggy jeans or jeans with too many pockets and embellishments. “Men’s jeans should not be extreme; they should learn to balance without going overboard,” Umwali says.

Lifestyle

Just how manly is a man in tight jeans?