1960s

1920s

1920s

1940s

High-water pants (or "flood" pants the name is a humorous reference to a short length that would stay clear of
a torrent) have a long history that spans opposite extremes, from high fashion avant-garde to ill-fitting geeky
gaffes. Whether unaware or unbothered by conventional norms, daring men showed quirky sensibility by donning
short, ankle-baring trousers. Today!s contemporary man sports this iconic silhouette with masculinity and a bit of
swagger.

1910s

Business Men c. 1910s

1910s

Between 1900 and 1920, ankle boots became the status symbol for the well-to-do gentleman. Edwardian styles
introduced more ornate, side-button footwear that demanded attention. Cropped trousers, whether casual or for
suits, raised the curtain that is, the hem showcasing these statement-making boots. High-waters and
deeply cuffed pants countered the preceding long-hemmed Victorian trend.

Harold Lloyd in Grandma's Boy 1922

Harold Lloyd

Harold Lloyd

Buster Keaton c. 1920s

Buster Keaton c. 1920s

1920s silent film stars, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton, put the silver screen spotlight on cropped pants. More
for comedic measure than for fashion forwardness, Hollywood!s clownish focus nonetheless served to keep
cropped trousers in the limelight. Even funny guys in farcical fashions became style stars for the masses to
emulate.

1910s

Sailors c. 1920s

1940s

1940s

During the hardscrabble periods between 1900 and 1950, many men rolled the hems of their second-hand
trousers, achieving a high-water look. While less for fashion and more for manual laborer!s function, this style is
an important element in today!s heritage workwear trend.

Fred Astaire

Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly in An American in Paris 1951

Fred Astaire

Hollywood once again threw its spotlight on high-waters during the 40s and 50s with its hyper-production of
dance musicals. To show off fancy footwork, stars of the day like elegant Fred Astaire and the more athletic
Gene Kelly wore cropped pants in blockbuster musicals like An American In Paris. This playful take on highwaters would later influence sock-hop looks and preppy pant styles.

The Beatles

Teddy Boys c. 1960s

JFK c. 1960s

Bobby Soxers c. 1950s

Come mid-century, cropped pants forked into various fashion directions. Rock 'n' roll brought new styles to 1950s
teens with icon Elvis Presley leading the look of cropped or pegged, sock-exposing pants or rolled-up jeans.
Collegiate-inspired shortened khakis caught on around the same time, moving into the 60s with the preppy
presidential style of JFK. 1960s London brought a mod, flat front high-water look. The Beatle Suit featured short
'continental' pants and ankle boots while tough British Teddy Boys embraced old school Edwardian proportions.

Geek c. 1960s

Steve Urkel

Pee-Wee Herman

Nerd style has been part of pop culture since the youth boom of the 1950s. Classic 80s and 90s geeks Steve
Urkel and Pee-Wee Herman wore high-water pants. These comedians' cult-like popularity, while based on
seemingly unaware nerdiness, resonated with a kind of geek-chic, anti-norm attitude that continues to inspire
contemporary designers like Thom Brown today.

Elvis in Jailhouse Rock 1957

Michael Jackson

Frank Sinatra

Kings of Pop Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra have all made high-waters part of their signature
looks. Each of these men and their iconic sense of style influenced pop culture and cemented cropped pants as
iconic and cool. The death of the last !King", Michael Jackson, further immortalized the high-water look and
contributed to its nostalgic relevance to modern fashion.

Whether on the runway or on the street, high-waters are part of modern men!s fashion. No matter the inspiration,
from Edwardian dandies and 30s laborers to 60s pop icon and 80s nerds, cropped pants continue to conjure
boyish vulnerability, rugged charm and pop star cool sometimes all at once.
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