To see whether trousers fit you properly in the back, you will need to look at yourself in a three-way mirror. This allows you to see if the back drapes properly and if the pockets are closed without craning your back, which can otherwise distort the fit.

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Here is an example of this alteration. On the left, the trousers are too full for the wearer's seat, so you see ripples just under their bum. On the right, excess material has been removed. The jets still touch, but the trousers don't ripple. No more diaper butt.

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Mike Collin has the opposite problem. Since his backside is relatively flat, the trousers are too full in the seat. They are not built for his figure. As such, excess material collapses around his buttocks. The result can look like a diaper.

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But when viewed from the back, we start to see problems. The size of his derrière is causing the back pocket to gape. On a pair of properly tailored trousers, the jets — which is the narrow strip of fabric on the "lips" of the pocket — should come close to touching.

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In fact, most manufacturers know this, which is why they typically build in a very long back rise. The term "back rise" refers to the measurement from the crotch seam to the top of the trouser's waistband, as measured from the back. Brands build-in a long back rise for comfort.

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