Cigarette Pants Vs Skinny Jeans – What’s The Difference?
Cigarette pants vs skinny jeans, are they one in the same? It can be hard to keep up with terms in the fashion world, but these two are not actually the same.
Skinny jeans have come and gone in fashion throughout the decades, but they started gaining popularity again around 2005 and so far, we haven’t looked back.
Cigarette pants, on the other hand, came on the scene in 1955 and they have been a staple of women’s wardrobes ever since.
If you’ve never heard of cigarette pants, it may be because they are also called pencil pants and sometimes just straight pants. In this post, we’ll go over what these pant styles are, their pros and cons, and help you find a place for both in your wardrobe.
Cigarette Pants Vs Skinny Jeans
Both cigarette pants and skinny jeans have their own specific uses and some very similar uses as well. We’ll get to those differences and similarities shortly.
First, let’s clearly define what each of these pant styles actually is, because these things can be confusing.
What are Cigarette Pants?
Cigarette pants have stood the test of time because of their classic look that can be styled in so many different ways.
They often have back or side zippers and are fitted in the tight area and cut straight from the knee to the ankle. Traditionally, cigarette pants were made with wool or cotton and were always lined.
You won’t find quite as many cigarette pants today with lining in them, but you will find the traditional high-rise waist, wide waistbands, and slim fit through the legs.
They are a flattering fit for almost any body type. Also known as pencil pants, this style of trousers originally landed right at or just above the ankle.
Cigarette pants are made from a range of materials from cotton to lycra and can be dressed up or down, depending on the style you’re going for.
These pants are meant to be relatively tight rather than loose or baggy. They are straight-cut pants, have a straight leg opening at the ankle, and should cling comfortably close to your body.
The cigarette cut has been so popular for so long that it has moved into denim and smart casual as well. Along with expanding their fabric, they have also started showing up at various lengths. More of a cropped cigarette pant style is not unusual to see.
These pants have been a classic staple piece in women’s wardrobes since their inception, but they weren’t quite as trendy as skinny jeans are now for a while.
Straighter styles like cigarette pants are starting to pull ahead of skinny jeans in mainstream wearable fashion again, so cigarette pants are a must-have right now.
Examples of cigarette pants:
Shop GRACE KARIN High Waist Pencil Pants
These pencil pants are more styled with the addition of the bow-knot, but they still count as cigarette pants because of the overall cut.
Yogipace Cigarette Dress Pants
These are more of the traditional cigarette style.
What are Skinny Jeans
Skinny jeans made a comeback around 2005 after quite some time of being rejected by mainstream fashion.
Skinny jeans, not to be confused with slim-fit pants, have a small leg opening. They feature a tight fit from top to bottom, really accentuating your shape.
Of all the different jeans cuts out there, skinny jeans can be categorized as a classic style. Jeans style trends come and go, but skinny jeans have stuck around in some capacity, even if it’s in the background of mainstream fashion, for quite a while.
Skinny jeans are often confused with tapered and slim-fit. These different types of jeans can be confusing.
The key differences are that tapered jeans are narrow from the knee to the ankle, slim-fit have narrow legs from the top to bottom, carrot jeans (named for the shape of a carrot) are slightly loose at the crotch area and fitted at the ankle, and skinny jeans are a tight fit from the top to bottom.
You can think of skinny jeans as the leggings of denim as far as the fit goes. They have a snug fit and a slim silhouette because there is no extra fabric hanging around.
High-waisted jeans, low-rise jeans, and mid-rise jeans can all be found in the skinny fit, which makes these jeans a favorite of many women and body shapes.
Skinny jeans might be taking more of a backseat to straighter fits in mainstream wearable fashion these days, but that doesn’t mean they’re out. Jean cuts like these are so versatile that they will probably remain a staple in women’s wardrobes for a long time to come.
Examples of skinny jeans:
Shop Levi’s Women’s 311 Shaping Skinny Jeans
These skinny jeans are full-length and come in black and regular denim styles.
Levi’s Women’s Premium 501 Skinny Jeans
With more of a cropped and worn look, these are more of an 80s style of jeans.
Cigarette Pants Pros
– Cigarette pants are very on trend right now
One of the main pros of wearing cigarette pants is the current trendiness of them. If you’re wearing a pair of cigarette pants today, you’ve got a very modern and neat look. This fit goes well with all the current looks and outfits.
– Cigarette pants can be business or casual
If worn in the traditional lycra fabric, this fit is a great way to comfortably dress up for work and then transition to a more dressed-down after-work look. Either way, you’ll look like you just stepped off the runway in these trendy pants.
If you want to look chic without sacrificing comfort, these are the pants for you.
– Work well with most types of shoes
Since most cigarette pants stop at the ankle, they work well with a wide variety of shoes. Heels, trainers, boots, and loafers all work with these pants. Even the less traditional lengths that some cigarette pants are made in these days will work well with almost any shoes.
Cigarette pants, mainly jeans, of traditional ankle length also look great rolled up. Pair them with a pair of sneakers and a great t-shirt and you have a cool and casual look.
Cigarette Pants Cons
– Cigarette pants may not be flattering on all body types
Since cigarette pants sort of hug the butt and thigh area during movement and when seated, these may not be comfortable for all shapes and sizes. Curvy women may be more comfortable in either denim cigarette pants that provide a little more stretch, or skinny jeans.
Skinny Jeans Pros
– Skinny jeans are very versatile
Skinny jeans can be worn with almost any type or style of outfit. Unless you need to be in business dress, skinny jeans can get the job done every time. They can be dressed up or dressed down so there are endless options with these jeans.
Since you can get skinny jeans in cropped, ankle, and full length, these can really work for any casual or semi-casual purpose.
– Any shoes work with skinny jeans
Ankle boots, mid-calf boots, knee-high boots, trainers, flats, heels, you name the shoe, you can wear it with skinny jeans. This is another reason why skinny jeans deserve a permanent or at least long-term spot in your closet.
– Skinny jeans flatter any body type
Some people assume that skinny jeans will only be a flattering cut for tall women with skinny legs. This isn’t true as long as you get the right fit for you. This is the case with many different styles of jeans and pants.
The key is to choose the waist rise, pant size, and length that works best for your body size and shape. It’s also important to then pair those excellent-fitting skinny jeans with a flattering top.
These types of jeans can work for anyone if you do it right.
Skinny Jeans Cons
– Tight jeans may be uncomfortable
Skinny doesn’t necessarily translate to tight, but tighter fits can be a lot less comfortable than looser fits when it comes to jeans. The amount of stretch your skinny jeans offer will make all the difference, but be sure to wear the appropriate size so you don’t have a hard time staying comfortable.
– Possible health issues
Oddly enough, it’s said that skinny pants can cause potential health problems. Apparently, studies have found that squatting and sitting for long periods of time in skinny jeans causes a condition called compartment syndrome.
Compartment syndrome is caused by the blood supply being cut off to a particular part of the body for prolonged periods of time.
Another issue that skinny jeans have been blamed for is putting too much pressure on the stomach and intestines while you’re seated. This can cause or worsen acid reflux and heartburn.
These sound like pretty serious complications of wearing skinny jeans, but again, skinny doesn’t have to mean extremely tight. Make sure you buy jeans that fit you comfortably.
Skinny jeans can’t be dressed up as much as cigarette pants.
Skinny jeans may work in some situations for business casual, but they definitely have their limitations when it comes to really dressing up your outfit. Denim just doesn’t have the ability to transition from casual to business and back like other fabrics.
Dark washes may help you get a little closer to that more professional look while still wearing jeans, but the cigarette-leg pants probably have skinny jeans beat in that department.
