As modern man-skills go, this one’s up there with learning to write a good Tinder bio and getting a barman’s attention. A staple smart-casual move, there are lots of reasons to pinroll your jeans, and lots of ways it can go awry. But get it right, and it’s a fallback style trick to boost almost any denim-clad look.

Also known as French rolling, pegging and raga rolling, pinrolling isn’t just a case of haphazardly rolling up your jeans. While cuffing – folding the cuff of your trousers up just once – will shorten the length, pinrolling also tapers them. That means it’s a bit more of a complicated process – but still one you can master in minutes.

Seeing every sneakerhead on Instagram do it, it’s tempting to think that pinrolling is a relatively new way to style your denim. In truth, it’s like most things in menswear – tried and tested by your father and grandfather. It first grew in popularity in the 1950s, mainly among working class men. Since then it’s been in and out of the limelight from 1970s Travolta to 1980s Tom Cruise. Google some pictures of New Kids On The Block and you’ll see how fresh this trend really is.

Not that the history matters, of course. Ever since trainers became something to show off, the trend has never gone away. Today, it’s a style staple for streetwear and smart-casual types alike. So here’s your guide on exactly how to pinroll and how to style pinrolled jeans.

Why You Should Pinroll Your Jeans

The main advantage of pinrolling is that it gives you better control over where your jeans end. That means no Steve Jobs-style bunching around your ankles, and no obscuring the limited edition footwear you camped overnight to secure. If you’re tall, pinrolling creates a much-needed visual break on a lanky lower body and if you’re short, it stops your jeans from looking too big for you.