What is the problem with sizing pants/slacks?
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17797)
United States
December 31, 2007 5:33pm CST
Okay, here is the million dollar question - pants/slacks - womens. Why is one size not the same size in every brand name of pants? I mean, I can pick up a size 12 from Lee, Levis, Gloria Vanderbilt, Dockers, Sonoma and any other brand the store has, and every single one of those size 12 pants will fit different if at all! Then throw in each size has sub-cateories like size 12 short, size 12 long, size 12 medium, size 12 stretch, size 12 relax fit...good grief the list goes on. I took in 3 size 12s from 4 different brands and in all that - out of 12 pair of pants - only one pair fit. And I went back to get 4 pairs of that particular pant and of course there were no more in that size other than the pair I already had.
Why can't they all be the same size, different style? I mean a size 12 short will be different fitting in every single brand offered! How can that be? I know there might be a little difference in the design, like maybe with pockets or without, but still, the fit is so far apart, how can one size be so different! I hate shopping for pants it is so exhausting! How do you handle it?
6 people like this
9 responses
@paidreader (5143)
• United States
1 Jan 08
It is very frustrating when you can't seem to find the right fit. One would think there would be a universal standard of measuring but unless you're willing to go with small, medium or large you would do better to try them on before you buy them.
I used to work in a fabric store and found out the hard way that the same sizes in patterns worked the same way. Simplicity and McCalls were fairly close in sizes, but if you tried a Butterick or Vogue pattern, you should be prepared to make adjustments before you even cut the pattern out. My first Vogue jumpsuit was so short it would have passed quite well as capri pants, lol.
4 people like this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
1 Jan 08
Yes, I remember that too in patterns. I quit sewing for myself years ago when fabric got so expensive, it was cheaper to buy ready made! I see it has come down lately, but I am just not into sewing anymore.
2 people like this
@ersmommy1 (12587)
• United States
1 Jan 08
It is because the fashion industry wants to drive women a little nuts.And sometimes it works. If they drive us a little nuts, maybe we won't notice that we may have spent a little more than we intended. How does this work you ask. Let me tell you. You go through all the trying on of the different brand names you mentioned. Sometimes this takes a few hours! And then the magic happens. What magic you say? You find some that fit and look the way they are supposed to. So you buy a pair. No two pair. Oh look it comes in this color too. Better buy that one as well. Why? To avoid going through that hellish experience all over again oo soon. Now you asked how do you deal with it? Keep the sense of humor with you and bring a friend. It helps to laugh and throw your hands up in despair TOGETHER! LOL
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
1 Jan 08
Then they got me - at least if the store would ablige! I find that one pair FINALLY, and go back to get several pairs, and the store doesn't stock enough, and I have the ONLY pair in that size and brand! So all that time and work for 1 pair of pants! I have even tried to go to another store to find that brand and size, and have not been suceddful at finding that same brand at another store!
2 people like this
@subha12 (18441)
• India
1 Jan 08
I also have the same question. i have also seen that with different brand, the so called same size is not at all same.Whats more so, i tried 28 waist size jeans from same brand and found all are fitting me differently!From other brand they are not even atleast same in size. May be all these vary depending on the style but i also think atleast they should match.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
1 Jan 08
I know - why can't size 12 short be the same for all brands? But I guess they have to drive us nuts somehow!
1 person likes this
@AeroChickie (459)
• Canada
1 Jan 08
Agreed! Inconsistency between sizes is extremely annoying when clothes shopping. And the whole vanity sizing thing drives me nuts. For some designers you could wear a size 5, and for others a double zero (what on earth is a double zero anyway - can't they just make it a size 1/2 and start going up from there). I can see that clothes manufacturers may not want to agree on standard sizes - so I think they should just go by dimensions like mens clothes. Waist dimension and length dimension - nice and easy. You know exactly how something is supposed to fit in relation to your body. No more guessing what some random number means. Because that's pretty much what clothing sizes are these days - just random numbers.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
3 Jan 08
Good idea. I don't care how many sizes they have, just that the size is the same in every brand. I'd like to find the size and then choose the brand! Probably like that in that perfect world I hear so much talk of!
@Sillychick (3275)
• United States
1 Jan 08
It is very frustrating. I hate shopping because I always have those same experiences. I think in a way it is good that all are different because all women are shaped differently and if all were cut exactly the same, some of us would never find a pair that fits. It takes some work, but when you do find a good pair, write down all the details, size, cut, fit, length, style, brand, everything. Then put that in your wallet and start by looking for those details when you go shopping again. I find that even jeans of the same size and cut but in different lengths fit me differently. I have bought the tall ones (I'm short) and hemmed them because it was a better fit that way and I didn't want to try on any more that day.
4 people like this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
1 Jan 08
Yeah, I use to do that too - I am short and buy the long or regular and go home and hem. For years I did that and I am just tired of having to buy something and then go home and alter it! I did that with a dress, It fit, it was $19.99 and perfect in every way... except to long! I thought I'd hem it but then at home, looked and it was a full skirt and just one thing after another and I thought, "Oh good grief! Just take it to the tailer and have htem hem it! Treat yourself for once in your life since it is for such a special occassion (my son's graducation from the police academy) so I took it and since it was lined, it cost $20 to hem the lining, and $20 to hem the dress - Now my $19.99 bargain turned into $60! I Just can't win!
2 people like this
@JoyfulOne (6231)
• United States
3 Jan 08
This has always bugged me too! I have such a hard time finding any kind of pants that actually fit me. Forget about buying them without trying them on, that doesn't work for us women anymore. Isn't it funny, you don't really hear of guys having this kind of problem. Maybe they should start selling women's wear like they do men's wear: by inseam and waist measurements. At least that way there would be a chance that they'd actually fit. Not sure, but I think part of the reason is that so many other countries are making our goods for us and we're just not the same sizes. It's just SO frustrating though, I hate shopping for clothes anymore!
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
1 Jan 08
It's so very frustrating to have to keep trying on pants or tops since they are all differentsizes. I have two pairs of pants from the same company, made in the same place that are marked the same size but the elastic in one pair is tighter than the other pair.(I like the elastice waist because I can't do the snaps) The only difference is the fabrick and color. I have even found that 2 pair of shoes the same brand and style are different.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
1 Jan 08
I notice the same in shoes too. I don't buy as many shoes these days as I used to - was addicted to them! But I do notice a difference just trying them on.
1 person likes this
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
9 Jan 08
I get frustrated for this reason and for the thing that stays the same - even in relaxed fit (although I don't wear jeans). The leg and hip size. I've tried on pants that are size eight up until size 16. The only that changes is the waist size and maybe the tummy room. Its like its a nation of women who may get bigger in waist and tummies but their legs stay skinny. I like having strong legs not skinny legs!
