women's pants rant

[roadie gal]

&^%$^&*((^%^ !!!!!

We're going on a trip this summer and I'm shopping for pants that look nice but you can wear all day and walk in but aren't jeans. There isn't much around me in the way of shopping, so I'm trying to shop online.

FEH! Trying to buy women's pants online is impossible. Every store has a different name for their style of pant. What the h*ll is a " barkley" style pant? Or a "holly style" pant? Or even a "natural fit" pant? Just tell me where the waist fits, and if the thigh is a relaxed fit or not and if it's tapered or straight or belled below the knee. WHAT is so difficult about that? Then give me INCHES or centimeters for the waist and length. A medium in for one company is a small or even a large for another.

AAAAaaaaarrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!!!!!

[bmccasland]

You might look at LLBean or Land's End. I was pretty happy with doing mail-order from them.

Got to love my flannel lined LLBean jeans. Many thanks to the biologist who told me about them. :) Keeps one warm and toasty while doing field work in the lovely PNW weather.

[Irulan]

Target!! I've been going crazy pants shopping. I have curves (small waist) and have tried on everything everywhere. Target has 4 different cuts, labeled 1-2-3-4, and two of them fit me without gaposis at the waist. The best part is the have jeans, causual trousers, and dressier trousers, all very affordably priced. I have had such a hard time with pants that I would never do mail order on something I hadn't purchases before.

[bmccasland]

Target!! I've been going crazy pants shopping. I have curves (small waist) and have tried on everything everywhere. Target has 4 different cuts, labeled 1-2-3-4, and two of them fit me without gaposis at the waist. The best part is the have jeans, causual trousers, and dressier trousers, all very affordably priced. I have had such a hard time with pants that I would never do mail order on something I hadn't purchases before.

oooh I'll have to look there. Thanks.

[Penny4]

I feel your pain Roadie. While I live in an area where there are a million stores around, being tall requires me to order most of my pants on line. For some reason, many stores that do carry talls, only carry them up to a size 12 or 14. (I am usually a 16T). So I am constantly ordering on line and returning because the "Blakely" or "Modern" or whatever cut is all wrong for me. Oy.
Good luck with your shopping. It's such a pain :mad:

[Owlie]

&^%$^&*((^%^ !!!!!

We're going on a trip this summer and I'm shopping for pants that look nice but you can wear all day and walk in but aren't jeans. There isn't much around me in the way of shopping, so I'm trying to shop online.

FEH! Trying to buy women's pants online is impossible. Every store has a different name for their style of pant. What the h*ll is a " barkley" style pant? Or a "holly style" pant? Or even a "natural fit" pant? Just tell me where the waist fits, and if the thigh is a relaxed fit or not and if it's tapered or straight or belled below the knee. WHAT is so difficult about that? Then give me INCHES or centimeters for the waist and length. A medium in for one company is a small or even a large for another.

AAAAaaaaarrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!!!!!

And sometimes even if they give a size chart, it doesn't necessarily actually correspond to any particular garment. I hate buying clothes. Gap has been nice to me thus far, even with non-jeans. Of course, now that everything's gone skinny...:mad:

[Crankin]

Gap jeans fit me well, too. I just started buying them in the past year. I also bought a pair of really nice black stretchy pants for work.
Loft and J Crew petites fit me well, also, but you need to know which style is best for you. With J Crew, I can't try on in the store, since they no longer carry petite sizes in the store. But, I generally stick with one style, once I find one that fits.

[roadie gal]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I hadn't thought about Target. And I'll check out Athleta.

We ended up at Kohl's where we found some good stuff all on sale. Yay!

[Veronica]

I like that a lot of Athleta bottoms have an interior drawstring and that gets rid of the gap at the back.

My biggest problem with pants is I am too tall for petite and too short for regular in most styles.

Veronica

[indysteel]

I like that a lot of Athleta bottoms have an interior drawstring and that gets rid of the gap at the back.

My biggest problem with pants is I am too tall for petite and too short for regular in most styles.

Veronica

Me, too! It's such a drag. I hate having to get pants altered. I mostly wear skirts for this very reason.

[Veronica]

I really only like to wear skirts when it's warm. I don't wear heels ever and flat shoes seem to go better with summer stuff.

Plus, I'm constantly moving around in my classroom and I just feel more secure in pants or skorts. And windy days can be "interesting" if you have recess duty!

Once I find something that fits - I buy it in two or three colors. It's not like I need to be super well dressed for my 5th graders. :D And I'd much rather shop online and deal with the hassle of returns than go to a store. Funny how we're all so different. :)

Veronica

[Penny4]

I see your steep ravine pants are on sale Mureinn, you should stock up!
I've ordered a few pairs of shorts from Athleta, and they seem to be hit or miss for me. Not quite curvy enough for me most of the time.

Gap is probably my favorite for ordering pants. And I think they have changed their lengths a bit...I believe the Regulars are now closer to 33" or 33.5". I've actually been able to buy a few Regulars, that i can wear with flats. I have no idea why they won't caryy 16T in the store. I provide that feedback everytime I order a pair on line :-) but they have yet to listen to me. Sometimes i can get in a 14, but even those in a T are rare.

Reading this thread just confirms to me that no one seems to have it easy clothes shopping...tall, short, average....

[surgtech1956]

++++ ++ for LL Bean, they have free shipping. I also have some flannel lined jeans that I love.:D:D

[smittykitty]

Oh, don't get me started. I plan to order a couple of pairs tonight myself. I'll try Eddie Bauer, been having very "Mixed" success with them though. Sizing all over the place and quality not what it used to be. Think I'll order both the Petite and the Regulars. Now if I can just remember, do I want the Blakeley or the Mercer fit?????

Really can't keep wearing cords to the office, April is just around the corner.

[WindingRoad]

On the topic of flannel lined jeans, I was visiting my parents rural Indiana and noticed at one of those 'farm' stores they had really nice flannel lined jeans for about $30 a pair. It was a Farm and Fleet or Big R something like that but if any of you are in a rural area you might check there.

[murielalex]

Target!! I've been going crazy pants shopping. I have curves (small waist) and have tried on everything everywhere. Target has 4 different cuts, labeled 1-2-3-4, and two of them fit me without gaposis at the waist. The best part is the have jeans, causual trousers, and dressier trousers, all very affordably priced. I have had such a hard time with pants that I would never do mail order on something I hadn't purchases before.

^ This. I have four pair. I'm curvy with small waist and big bum, and the cut looks great and they're around $20, if I remember right. I don't think the quality is the best, and they wear out easily, but for the price, I just pick up another pair.

Also, check out ExOfficios. They are made for travel: light weight, wrinkle resistant.. I like their Nomads. A bit pricey, but really hold up. I've worn and washed my pair probably around 100 times. Still look great.

[shootingstar]

http://plum.ca/i.cfm/p/item/iid/185

Yoga jeans for me. Doesn't expose my bum crack nor have my stomach hang out which is what alot of low-risers look like on me.

[roadie gal]

Can someone tell me what a mercer fit or a blakely fit or a holly fit IS? Do any of these sites actually describe what they are on the website? THIS is what drives me crazy about trying to buy pants online.

[Veronica]

Blakely and Mercer are Eddie Bauer fits. If you click on a pair of pants and then click on fit, it describes it.

Blakely
Proportioned for a curvy figure
Sits just below waist
Shaped through hip
Trouser leg


Veronica

[PamNY]

If I suddenly became wealthy, I would look into having pants custom made. Considering the variety of body types, it's not surprising that we have trouble finding the perfect fit.

I have skinny legs and not much of a rear, and everything is baggy on me. I think part of the reason leggings are popular is that they eliminate fit issues. Not that I am going to start wearing leggings at age 61, but I can see the appeal.

[Biciclista]

I used to go to JC penneys and buy their off the rack khaki pants. Then they changed them.
I did have some luck with a pair of jeans that I ordered from Diamond Gusset Jeans made in the USA. they fit the way they were supposed to. but those are jeans.

I go to good will or salvation army a lot because at least what you see is what you get and if you spend $6 on a pair of slacks and they are garbage, you aren't going to break the bank.

[emily_in_nc]

The other problem is inseams. We come in all different heights/inseams, and yet there are normally only three inseams available -- petite, regular, and tall. If your own inseam and the shoes you wear with the pair of pants aren't exactly one of those, you're either in highwaters, dragging your pants on the floor, or off to a tailor to get them hemmed.

SUPER annoying. One very nice thing about living in a tropical climate is that I only very rarely have to wear anything other than shorts. :rolleyes:

[oldwhatshername]

When it comes to comfort don't shop online, go to the stores to try them on and see how they feel. If you like the way they feel from the get go they are good if not, next!:D

[spokewench]

The other problem is inseams. We come in all different heights/inseams, and yet there are normally only three inseams available -- petite, regular, and tall. If your own inseam and the shoes you wear with the pair of pants aren't exactly one of those, you're either in highwaters, dragging your pants on the floor, or off to a tailor to get them hemmed.

SUPER annoying. One very nice thing about living in a tropical climate is that I only very rarely have to wear anything other than shorts. :rolleyes:

That does it! I'm moving to Belize - no pants and no two feet of snow in March!

[Koronin]

I have issues finding pants that fit, but my problem is I'm short, with short legs. If I can find a pair that fits my waist properly they are always way too long. So I've totally and completely given up on women's pants all together and just buy men's. The 29 length of men's is still slightly too long, but nothing compared to what all the women's pants I try on are. Where I live doesn't have much in the way of shopping for nice clothes at all. Basically I either have to shop on line, or drive 1 hour to Wilmington or 2 hours to Raleigh. Which I was in Raleigh today (actually driving home from Bristol, TN {we were at the NASCAR races over the weekend}) and found my new favorite mall. There is a new Tanger Outlet mall that has some awesome stores. Now I need money to go shop there. They have a Columbia store (yes my favorite brand of clothing for work).

[zoom-zoom]

If I suddenly became wealthy, I would look into having pants custom made. Considering the variety of body types, it's not surprising that we have trouble finding the perfect fit.

For a brief time Target actually offered this and I seem to recall that it was pretty reasonably priced. I'm not sure why it didn't last...perhaps the product wasn't good or it was too difficult to maintain the service.

[Irulan]

For a brief time Target actually offered this and I seem to recall that it was pretty reasonably priced. I'm not sure why it didn't last...perhaps the product wasn't good or it was too difficult to maintain the service.

Running a semi-custom service, even if automated to the hilt, is a nightmare.

FWIW, there are fashion industry groups pushing for standardization of sizing but don't hold your breath.

[sarahkonamojo]

Yep, men have it better in this area. Their clothes are mostly boring, but they do have a nice standardized system. And tailored clothes. Wouldn't that be great? (I am sure it exists, but could I afford it?)

[VeloVT]

For a brief time Target actually offered this and I seem to recall that it was pretty reasonably priced. I'm not sure why it didn't last...perhaps the product wasn't good or it was too difficult to maintain the service.

FWIW, Banana Republic offers either free hems or $10 hems (it's been a while since I've done it so I can't remember if it was free or had a nominal cost, but it was convenient and well done - someone at the store pins for you, then they send it out, I think I was able to get the pants back for a rush event in 2-3 days at no extra charge. Cheaper AND faster than taking them to a tailor).

[Irulan]

FWIW, Banana Republic offers either free hems or $10 hems (it's been a while since I've done it so I can't remember if it was free or had a nominal cost, but it was convenient and well done - someone at the store pins for you, then they send it out, I think I was able to get the pants back for a rush event in 2-3 days at no extra charge. Cheaper AND faster than taking them to a tailor).

Some poor person is making slave wages doing those hems, no doubt.

[Pedal Wench]

I like that a lot of Athleta bottoms have an interior drawstring and that gets rid of the gap at the back.

My biggest problem with pants is I am too tall for petite and too short for regular in most styles.

Veronica

I always wondered why my Athleta Whatever skort has a drawstring! That's for that!

[azfiddle]

I am 5'1" and some petites are too long for me. I also look terrible in pants that are cut really loosely through the hips and thighs. I recently found a parof Not Your Daughter's brand jeans at a Ross discount store and they fit me great but at $80 I can't afford to buy them at a dept store. Like bicyclista I am a fan of thrift stores, and sometimes Ross.

For dressy pants, Rafaella fits me. I am like Veronica- also a teacher, and I enjoy wearing skirts in warm weather but wear pants all winter.

[Owlie]

I am 5'1" and some petites are too long for me. I also look terrible in pants that are cut really loosely through the hips and thighs. I recently found a parof Not Your Daughter's brand jeans at a Ross discount store and they fit me great but at $80 I can't afford to buy them at a dept store. Like bicyclista I am a fan of thrift stores, and sometimes Ross.

For dressy pants, Rafaella fits me. I am like Veronica- also a teacher, and I enjoy wearing skirts in warm weather but wear pants all winter.

But doesn't your weather consist of "warm", "slightly less warm" and "vaporize upon exit from building"? ;)

[azfiddle]

Well, we have about 3-4 months when it can be too cold for shorts and sandals ( don't tell my DH because he wears shorts when it's freezing outside). It snowed twice this winter (yesterday, in fact!). So I think that counts as cold.

[zoom-zoom]

Well, we have about 3-4 months when it can be too cold for shorts and sandals ( don't tell my DH because he wears shorts when it's freezing outside). It snowed twice this winter (yesterday, in fact!). So I think that counts as cold.

It's definitely colder where you are than in the upper Midwest, right now...which is crazy. There's a snow bike race in WI this weekend...it's been in the 80s the past few days in the Great Lakes region. :confused::eek::cool:

[Jolt]

The other problem is inseams. We come in all different heights/inseams, and yet there are normally only three inseams available -- petite, regular, and tall. If your own inseam and the shoes you wear with the pair of pants aren't exactly one of those, you're either in highwaters, dragging your pants on the floor, or off to a tailor to get them hemmed.

SUPER annoying. One very nice thing about living in a tropical climate is that I only very rarely have to wear anything other than shorts. :rolleyes:

Yes, annoying! For me it's not quite as bad b/c I know how to hem pants (thanks to my mom passing on some of her sewing skills to me) but I'd still just as soon not have to do it. And while we're on the subject, WHY have inseams been getting longer and longer? I used to be able to get Old Navy jeans in regular length and they were just right...not anymore (at least the last time I checked, even the "short" was too long!). Do clothing designers/manufacturers assume we are all going to wear heels all the time? Forget it. Maybe I should just stick to LL Bean next time I need to buy pants...they have kept their inseams reasonable (regular 30 inches--just right for me and my flat shoes).

[jessmarimba]

Hah. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, Patagonia declares that their "long" length is only 33. Which is barely long enough for me (provided they don't shrink at all). My mom and her sisters all need about a 35-inch inseam!

[Jolt]

Hah. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, Patagonia declares that their "long" length is only 33. Which is barely long enough for me (provided they don't shrink at all). My mom and her sisters all need about a 35-inch inseam!

That's worse...at least with too long one can shorten them, you can't lengthen pants that are too short! I think there just need to be more lengths offered to fit the range of people's heights.

[emily_in_nc]

Maybe I should just stick to LL Bean next time I need to buy pants...they have kept their inseams reasonable (regular 30 inches--just right for me and my flat shoes).

Yes, LL Bean is the only manufacturer I'm aware of whose petite length pants are actually a hair too short for me! I need 29" inseams, and theirs are mostly 28.5". I bought several pairs of pants from them that were too short after laundering/drying, so I had to stop buying pants from them, though I can still wear their shorts, tops, and other items.

[Dogmama]

Yes, LL Bean is the only manufacturer I'm aware of whose petite length pants are actually a hair too short for me! I need 29" inseams, and theirs are mostly 28.5". I bought several pairs of pants from them that were too short after laundering/drying, so I had to stop buying pants from them, though I can still wear their shorts, tops, and other items.

I've had the same with LLBean recently. Plus, the fabric is not as nice as it once was & shows wear quickly. I've noticed that the construction isn't as good. Maybe outsourced to an even cheaper place overseas?

I HATE BUYING JEANS. I'm the one with 20 pairs in the dressing room, swearing under my breath. Every one gaps in the back. I'd love to have a pair of nice fitting jeans but unless I make them, it ain't going to happen.

[Crankin]

Don't get me started on the lengthening of petite sized inseams...
I am a 28.5, can wear 29 in some, too. Pants with 30 inch inseams need to be hemmed and I don't sew. What's the point of petite if the pants have to be hemmed???

[OakLeaf]

Heh. When you think about it, off the rack clothes are made for the tallest people in the range, just because it's easier to shorten things than lengthen them. So petites are made for people 5'4", and anyone shorter is still probably going to need to hem.

I'm just glad for lower rises, because I have no waist - when slacks were made to fall at the natural waist, I had a choice between petites with hems at mid-ankle or misses with waistbands at the bra line. :rolleyes:

I probably need a new pair of dressier slacks - haven't bought a pair in 7-8 years - and this thread is not inspiring me to go out and shop. :p

[Eden]

I HATE BUYING JEANS. I'm the one with 20 pairs in the dressing room, swearing under my breath. Every one gaps in the back. I'd love to have a pair of nice fitting jeans but unless I make them, it ain't going to happen.

I don't know if the women's sizing is comparable, but I found some kids "It" brand jeans that fit *perfectly*, no gap, the right length and a tolerable rise (it could be a little higher for me, but I don't feel like I'm always showing off my undies or my butt crack) The model I have is the "starlet", more of a skinny jean cut, but the legs are not stove pipe thin the *whole* way up, so I can fit my thighs in too.

[TsPoet]

I have a funny for you:

I got dressed in a newish pair of genes and my SO complained that I needed to tuck my shirt in, he could see my underwear. I complained about the "low rise" style of the pants and he said... "those aren't low rise, those are Dockers".

[GLC1968]

I hate buying pants, too. And I hate that designers are constantly changing their fits. I mean, I get that styles change and I'm all for trying to be 'current' but even if they alter a style, it would be helpful to stay within the same fit framework. Yes, I speaking to you Eddie Bauer. :mad:

I'm 5'4" but have short legs, so I ALWAYS have to hem my pants. 29" inseams are too long unless I'm wearing heels and I no longer wear heels.

For jeans, if you want ones that don't gap in the back, go Levi's Curve ID. I'm a Supreme curve, but even if you aren't as curvy as me (12" inch difference between waist and hip), they have more modified curve signatures. It is reasonably high quality denim that lasts, too. At about $70, they are not cheap, but they often have sales and free shipping. And honestly, the jeans do last. They last better than Gap jeans, for sure.

[Irulan]

You gals do understand there is absolutely NO industry standard when it comes to sizing women's clothing in the USA. Some people withing the clothing manufacturing sector have been pushing for this for years but not getting too far.

[jessmarimba]

I hate buying pants, too. And I hate that designers are constantly changing their fits. I mean, I get that styles change and I'm all for trying to be 'current' but even if they alter a style, it would be helpful to stay within the same fit framework. Yes, I speaking to you Eddie Bauer. :mad:


Hahaha I just had to laugh when I saw this. I loooooove getting the Eddie Bauer catalog - but I'm pretty sure absolutely nothing but their First Ascent line fits me. At ALL. They don't make tall pants smaller than a size 6. And their shirts are all so short on me and the sleeves are all too short but the clothes are so cute it kills me. AGONY, I tell you! :rolleyes: I just have to wonder where they get models for their catalog? Since aren't most models supposed to be taller than the average woman? I can't figure it out. Maybe they use actual people-sized models and then photoshop them?

[Owlie]

Hahaha I just had to laugh when I saw this. I loooooove getting the Eddie Bauer catalog - but I'm pretty sure absolutely nothing but their First Ascent line fits me. At ALL. They don't make tall pants smaller than a size 6. And their shirts are all so short on me and the sleeves are all too short but the clothes are so cute it kills me. AGONY, I tell you! :rolleyes: I just have to wonder where they get models for their catalog? Since aren't most models supposed to be taller than the average woman? I can't figure it out. Maybe they use actual people-sized models and then photoshop them?

I got two skorts and a pair of shorts from them last summer. By the end, the undershorts of the skorts were too tight and migrated up. Okay, fine, I can live with that, since the average person is not a cyclist and does not have cyclist's thighs. I've never bought full-length pants from them.
I have a similar complaint about their tops, though. Cute, really, but I must be between sizes or something. They're tight in the shoulders (expected, since I have relatively broad shoulders) but loose everywhere else, and the sleeves are usually a bit too short. The length of the body is fine, for the most part, so maybe I just like sleeves longer than the average person...not that it matters for me because I roll them up. The shoulders on the long-sleeve shirts I got for Christmas are fine, though. Weird.

GLC: Are you just rough on your jeans? I haven't had a problem with Gap's jeans thus far, save a couple of pairs that are slightly too long and therefore have chewed-up cuffs...

[GLC1968]

I got two skorts and a pair of shorts from them last summer. By the end, the undershorts of the skorts were too tight and migrated up. Okay, fine, I can live with that, since the average person is not a cyclist and does not have cyclist's thighs. I've never bought full-length pants from them.
I have a similar complaint about their tops, though. Cute, really, but I must be between sizes or something. They're tight in the shoulders (expected, since I have relatively broad shoulders) but loose everywhere else, and the sleeves are usually a bit too short. The length of the body is fine, for the most part, so maybe I just like sleeves longer than the average person...not that it matters for me because I roll them up. The shoulders on the long-sleeve shirts I got for Christmas are fine, though. Weird.

GLC: Are you just rough on your jeans? I haven't had a problem with Gap's jeans thus far, save a couple of pairs that are slightly too long and therefore have chewed-up cuffs...

I am tough on my jeans. Part of the problem is that my legs are so short that the bottoms fray (like you mentioned). I also have big thighs but narrow spaced hips, so there is always a LOT of rubbing on the inner thigh and very few pants can survive it for long. :( And lastly, there is the farm. Only a select few pair of my jeans get to avoid going out back and once they do, they are pretty much toast. :p

[Owlie]

I am tough on my jeans. Part of the problem is that my legs are so short that the bottoms fray (like you mentioned). I also have big thighs but narrow spaced hips, so there is always a LOT of rubbing on the inner thigh and very few pants can survive it for long. :( And lastly, there is the farm. Only a select few pair of my jeans get to avoid going out back and once they do, they are pretty much toast. :p

Ah, okay. The farm would do it!
I have worn holes in the inner thigh of at least one pair of Old Navy jeans, but my weight has fluctuated enough over the past few years that I haven't had any of my other jeans long enough to do that. Then there's the pair that had potassium perchlorate spilled on it. It has several holes down one leg now...

[Penny4]

Hahaha I just had to laugh when I saw this. I loooooove getting the Eddie Bauer catalog - but I'm pretty sure absolutely nothing but their First Ascent line fits me. At ALL. They don't make tall pants smaller than a size 6. And their shirts are all so short on me and the sleeves are all too short but the clothes are so cute it kills me. AGONY, I tell you! :rolleyes: I just have to wonder where they get models for their catalog? Since aren't most models supposed to be taller than the average woman? I can't figure it out. Maybe they use actual people-sized models and then photoshop them?

I agree! Their Regular shirts are just ridiculously short on me too. Do you ever order their Tall shirts? They are one of the few retailers I have found that offer Tall tops in almost all of their styles. But sometimes even the Tall is too short, like ALL of their casual blazer/jackets. Gap has a lot of Tall tops too.

[smittykitty]

The last straw: Ordered three pairs of pants, all supposedly the same fit. The capris fit but the size 2 were too big (I'm 4P elsewhere). The 2p were short enough I would have been afraid to dry them. I couldn't figure out why the one leg of the 2P seemed really tight, turns out it was a full 1" narrower than the other leg!!!

I filed my divorce papers with Eddie via on-line review of their products.

And I agree, their stuff is so cute in the catalogs. Some guys just aren't what they appear to be when you get to know them. This relationship is over!

So now where to shop?