The perfect fit

One of the frustrations of being "vertically challenged" is that it is so hard to find a decent pair of pants. One sees a nice pair in the store, only to be dismayed because it is too long. Even if you cut them, you know it may not fit right.

So for the short guy, it’s a bit more challenging in finding the right pair. Jeans designer Ino Caluza has long seen this problem and has offered a solution: by designing and making custom-made jeans that give the perfect fit.

"I try not to make my jeans too trendy. For these (jeans) may be hot now, but you might end up not wearing it again in the next months because the ‘look’ is out already," he says. This is why he sticks to the classics. Denims after all are meant to last for a long time.

And there is also a certain way of wearing them. He made observations on the way I wore my jeans; usually his observations were correct. Like most guys, I suffer from a lot of denim boo boos.

Since there is not much choice of the perfect fit out in the market, a lot of guys settle for jeans that don’t really flatter them. When I was in college days, I stapled the hem of my jeans to keep them from falling off. I owned a pair (or was it two?) of those ghastly elephant pants.

Jeans guru Ino Caluza offers are some helpful tidbits about wearing denims.

Choosing The Right Pair

• Tall guys can get away wearing any fit. Short guys should buy straight or semi-straight cut jeans.

• Get raw or single-hued denim fabric because the exaggerated fade will bring out the flaws, like bigger legs.

• The tip of the hem should barely touch the floor when you’re barefoot.

• Darker denim gives an illusion of height and makes you look slimmer, while lighter ones make you look fuller.

• The crotch point (laylayan) should be an inch lower from the crotch. Anything lower will make it look saggy.

Caring For Your Jeans

• Don’t wash your jeans often. Excessive washing causes the denim to lose its form.

• You may not wash your jeans for two months or longer (until it starts to stink). Hang the jeans inside out, spray it with water, and air it out in the evenings.

• Direct sunlight causes the jeans to stiffen and can smell bad.

• Use fabric softener for heavy and stiff denim material.

• Never iron your jeans; if you must; use minimal heat.

• Never fold your denims when storing it; just hang it to keep the form.

Ino’s jeans don’t come cheap. The upside is you are wearing a pair worn by the rest of the population. Besides nothing beats the satisfaction of wearing the perfect fit.

Check out Ino Caluza’s jeans at Victor Jeans store at the 4th level of the Podium Department Store on Ortigas Avenue in Pasig.

The Swimmers

For this feature we chose swimmers over the usual pretty model types. We wanted a group of guys ordinary folk can identify themselves with. But make no mistake. They may look regular but in fact are far from ordinary.

An incoming sophomore at Ateneo de Manila University, Jonas Ramos is already the team captain of the Blue Eagle swim team. Usually the team captain belongs to the graduating class. But the level of maturity of this 18-year-old, who is also a constant dean’s lister, and an officer in the school’s Management Economics org makes him a natural leader. He has vision for his team.

His seniors look up to him for guidance and attest to his skills as a unifier.

"I want to form a real team," Jonas says. "Swimming is an individual sport and it’s inevitable that some swimmers prefer to be loners and tend to feel that they are above his/her teammates."

But under his leadership, according to a good friend of his, the team this year has become more bonded, acknowledging even the slower swimmers. Definitely not befitting the stereotype of the intimidating school jocks.

Bemedalled and Palarong Pambansa 2005 record holder Enchong Dee does not have the arrogant swagger one may see in some elite athletes. A lot of us swimmers have a huge phobia with the butterfly stroke. But it is Enchong’s favorite. This quiet 17-year-old and member of the Philippine Swim Team is considered the second fastest "flyer" in the country next only to Eric Buhain.

A typical day for him starts at 5 a.m. when he takes to the pool for training. Then he hits the books, then back to swim training again in the late afternoon. He gets home at nine. His work ethic and ability to stay grounded and simple have earned for him the admiration and respect of his peers. Swimming taught him the importance of failure. "It made me stronger, wiser, and more humble," Enchong says. "It made me realize that God is at work here."

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E-mail the author at ketsupluis@yahoo.com.