Introducing Ash & Erie Jeans for Shorter Guys

Ash & Erie is now making jeans for short men (down to a 25″ inseam). Here's what you need to know…

If you’re a shorter guy who likes to dress well, you’re probably familiar with the apparel brand Ash & Erie.

Since early 2015, they’ve made a name for themselves selling button up shirts for men who are below average height.

If you’ve been following The Modest Man for a while, you might remember my video where I contributed to their Indiegogo campaign, or my original Ash & Erie review.

Back then they were called Ash & Anvil, but they’ve since changed their name (same products and branding).

Well, it’s been a big couple of years for Ash & Erie. They recently expanded their collection with jeans for shorter guys, along with a bunch of new shirt styles.

Note: Check out my Peter Manning vs. Ash & Erie jeans comparison video (opens in YouTube)

Plus, founders Steven and Eric struck a deal on Shark Tank with Mark Cuban – who, ironically, is the tallest “shark” on the show!

But today, I want to show you the new Ash & Erie jeans. As you know, it’s very difficult for shorter men to find jeans that are the right length, and it’s a total pain having to get every single pair hemmed at the tailor.

So it's nice to see that Ash & Erie is offering jeans as short as 25 inches (inseam).

Today, I want to tell you a little bit about these jeans and, of course, show you how they look.

Don’t think of this as an in-depth review. After all, I’ve only had the jeans for a few weeks. Instead, consider this an introduction to the new Ash & Erie jeans.

First up, let’s look at the specs:

• Made in the USA
• 11.75 oz North Carolina Cone Denim
• 99% cotton, 1% elastane
• Slim-fit with slight taper
• Available in indigo or black

They’re available in a wide variety of sizes, so any man under 5’8” should be able to find a pair that fits well.

I got two pairs: one indigo wash 28×28 and one black rinse 28×27.

I'll be wearing the indigo wash jeans throughout this post, but here's a picture of their black rinse jeans for reference:

Now, if you’re wondering why I would get two different lengths, fair enough. Let’s talk about how long your jeans should be.

The best inseam length for you depends on three things:

1. What shoes will you wear them with?
2. How much “break” do you want?
3. Do you like to cuff your jeans?

Now, most of us wear our jeans with different types of shoes, from low top sneakers to above ankle boots, so this is kind of a moot point.

But if you’re the kind of guy who only wears boots, for example, you should take that into consideration when choosing your ideal inseam length.

More importantly, you have to consider how much break you want. Pants “break” (or fold over) when there is excess length above the top of your shoes.

As a shorter man, I prefer little to no break for pretty much all of my pants, including jeans. I think this is the most flattering (and elongating) look on the shorter body type.

But…I also like the cuffed look, which is why I prefer jeans with 28” inseams. They’re long enough to wear with low cut shoes like mocs or loafers.

But they’re also long enough to cuff. I personally love cuffing my pants, especially when wearing boots, and I don’t agree with people who say it makes you look shorter.

It’s all about proportion – just keep the cuffs thin and tight.

Whether or not you like to cuff your jeans, I think we can all agree that it’s nice to be able to buy jeans that don’t HAVE to be cuffed because they’re too long.

Cuffing should be a choice, not a requirement, am I right?

Moving on, you can see that the Ash & Erie Indigo jeans are a dark, inky blue that will probably develop some nice fades over time.

The rise is relatively low and the legs are cut pretty slim through the thighs with just a tiny bit of taper below the knee.

These jeans don’t have any decoration or distressing. The ones I’m wearing do have an “A” shape stitched into the back right pocket, but this was unique to the first batch.

The new inventory doesn’t have any stitching on the back pocket. Instead, you’ll find a black leather patch on the back right side of the waistband, bearing the Ash & Erie logo.

In terms of durability, only time will tell how these jeans hold up. They’re not super stiff, but they're also not washed or broken in, so I’m looking forward to seeing how they break in over time.

For this photoshoot, I wore one of Ash & Erie’s “Everyday Shirt” casual button downs under a light grey wool crew neck from Uniqlo. The brown Chelsea boots are from Thursday Boot Co.

I'm topping the outfit off with my Peter Manning leather jacket and my favorite aviators from Warby Parker.

Here’s the bottom line…

If you’ve been frustrated with the lack of high quality jeans with shorter inseams out there, you should consider trying on a pair form Ash & Erie or Peter Manning.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts about and experiences with this brand, so please leave a comment below!