As more men embrace tighter-fitting clothing, they give new meaning to “getting into girl’s pants.”

The trend of slimmer menswear can be seen on campus where many guys wear slender, tight, and even women’s jeans.

A secret weapon in a girl’s wardrobe is the skinny jean - a slim, figure-forming pair that shows off whatever junk is in the trunk. Now, young men are wearing the skinny jean because of its comfortable fit and sleek look.

Jerry Fitzpatrick, 25, said his style, which consists of narrow Levis dark denim jeans and a snug polo T-shirt, has been his trademark since high school.

“I’ve always liked a more streamlined look … fitted clothing appeals to me,” he said.

Although it may be trendy now, tight menswear started with the punk-rock scene, and gradually became more mainstream after skateboarders took fashion cues from punk rockers, Fitzpatrick said.

Before retailers were selling slim-fit jeans to men, those who wanted something tighter had to shop in the women’s section. Now stores who specialize in jeans are selling men’s sizes that are much smaller, but some guys still can’t find anything that fits as well as women’s jeans do.

Jacky Tang, a manager at the Diesel store downtown, said guys came in and bought women’s jeans before Diesel sold tighter menswear.

Diesel, a store popular for its denim, has been selling slimmer jeans for men since fall of 2005.

“We have a new men’s jean style that is really slim, tapered and also stretch,” Tang said.

According to Tang, tight menswear is a passing trend, similar to the baggy and sagging jeans that guys wore a decade ago, which emulated the style of hip-hop musicians.

International Business major Demetrius Tacadena, said that tighter menswear is not a trend but a sign that men are finally realizing how good fitted clothes look on any person.

According to Clark, slim menswear is inspired by indie-rock music, in which rockers take cues from European fashion fads.

“[In Europe] they don’t have a problem with showing off what they got,” said Tacadena, who is a sales associate at the Guess clothing store in downtown.

While many men appreciate the fit of women’s jeans, some still have qualms with the look.
Mechanical Engineering major Sean Estill has friends who buy girl jeans despite the increase in the number of retails stores that sell men’s slim wear. Women’s jeans tend to flare at the ankle, which is something Estill dislikes.

“I like jeans that are slim all the way down to the ankle, it’s more of an English fit,” Sean Estill said.

Men’s jeans may now be available in svelte sizes, but Tacadena thinks there is a fashionable limit to how tight a guy’s jeans should be.

“I see guys with pencil jeans, it’s like come on, wear men’s jeans please,” Tacadena said.

An ultra-tight jean on men is not always attractive to Lareina Hillsetch, an apparel design and merchandising major.

“If it’s a nut-hugger, I don’t want that,” said Hillsetch.

But according to Hillsetch, there are advantages to the trend.

“It makes you definitely check out their butt. I guess that’s a good thing,” said Hillsetch.

The trend makes Hillsetch wonder if the insecurities women have about wearing tight jeans goes along to the men who wear them.

“I wonder if [tight jeans] are giving guys weight issues,” Hillsetch said. “If the pants get any tighter, they may face the same problems as women do.”

Observing a guy with tight jeans, SF State student Vince Mazzafero questions its comfort factor. He likes his jeans loose, but not baggy.

“Sitting down must be hard,” Mazzaferro said.