How to Buy Pants That Really Fit

This article will teach you how to recognize ill fitting pants like a professional tailor or seamstress.

It's a no-brainer to put on pants and determine if they're too tight or too loose. But what about other problems? Pants that just don't hang right, pants that pull in one area or sag in another. Learn to pick out these flaws in the fitting room so you can avoid a trip back to the store to return your purchase.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• This printed list
• A critical eye

1. If you've shopped for pants, you know the sizes printed on clothing tags don't necessarily insure the pants will fit because manufacturers follow size standards very loosely today. Loose cut, slim cut, high rise, low rise, it all amounts to problems for the shopper. And unless you're a perfect size buying pants gets even tougher.
   
   Pants oftentimes fit great in front, but badly in back and vice versa. Your only hope of having a positive shopping experience is to start by looking for the specific issues listed here. All these points apply to the way pants look in a standing position. Print out this list and take it with you when you shop. Once you can identify these issues, you will be able to find the pants that best fit your body type.

2. 
    

   Look for wrinkles or small folds that curve up from the crotch of the pants in the front or the back. This suggests the pants are too short in the crotch.

3. 
    

   Look for wrinkles or small folds that curve down from the crotch of the pants in the front or the back. This suggests the pants are too long in the crotch.

4. 
    

   If side seams are taught and strain toward the front, or the pants pull across the front under the waistband, your body type requires more fabric in the stomach area.
   
   If your side seams are taught and strain toward the back, or the pants pull across your backside, you need more fabric in the rear.

5. Want to pinpoint more precisely how your body differs from the manufacturer's idea of your shape? If pants are too tight, follow the pulled fabric. This will lead you to the exact areas on seams that are strained. If your pants are too loose, follow the folds. They will lead you to the seams that are too generous. Recognizing these two concepts will help you to buy the correct pants no matter who the clothing designer is. And with patience, you will find a manufacturer that cuts their clothing to fit your body type.

6. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER: When you shop, take several pairs of pants into the fitting room. Be sure the pants are the same size but from different manufacturers. This will save you a lot of time because it will help you to determine which labels are cut closer to your perfect fit. Once you know that, you can look exclusively at the clothes offered in that line.

7. If you sew and make your own pants, steps 1-6 can be used to adjust a pattern before you cut out expensive fabric. Make adjustments you think are necessary, then use inexpensive muslin fabric to cut out a sample of your new pants pattern to be sure your changes are accurate.

[hkimbrell]

on 10/25/2009 Great advice on buying pants that fit! 5 stars! :)

[ajmaddox]

on 10/23/2009 Good article. I can never get pants to fit right.

[JoyNmyHeart]

on 10/23/2009 Great tips on finding pants that fit. I always have this problem.

[amysmarts]

on 10/8/2009 Great article on how to buy pants that really fit. I always have a hard time shopping for pants and every stores sizes are all different. Thanks for the advice. 5*

[bambi1074]

on 10/6/2009 I always have trouble finding pants to fit me.This article has good tips for me.Thanks! Recommended 5*