How to buy guys pants

[PandaValentine]

At the moment the only pair of jeans I own are a pair of skinny chick jeans. I hate them...I mean I love skinny jeans just not on me, I prefer baggy pants. I love the feel and I love the fact that they hide things like butts and hips. My skinny jeans just make my hips look bigger and they do a weird thing at my knees that just bugs me.

So I need to buy pants but I have no idea how to buy 'guy' pants. First issue is I'm short 5'1" to be exact. Second issue, I will not shop at some 'short' guys store because while I'm still in my youth I'd like to dress that way. Also I like to buy used clothing to avoid the whole sweatshop issue. And also I will not buy online because I have NO idea how to be certain the clothes will fit and it's a hassle to return the items after. But anyways I've tried the whole system of 21 + the size of your current pants or even a little higher but it still didn't fit right. Now guys shorts fit just fine, in fact it looks like I don't have hips or a butt in them but being from Canada you can't wear shorts all year round. I'm perfectly comfortable with my leg hair.

But seriously how do you guys buy guy pants and find the right fitting sizes? I HATE shopping, I like to spend a maximum of thirty minutes tops. I usually know what I want before I go in so I can just get the hell out, unfortunately with thrift shops its harder because everything is everywhere and there is so much variety. But in order to get a discount and because my mum was nice enough to buy me some new clothes as a 'gift' I have to go with my mum and sister, meaning three hours in one store. Shopping with them is PAINFUL! I mean literally, when I was a kid I'd end up lying down in the isles because my feet were hurting or having to go back out to the car. These people dragged me around for eight hours of shopping or more in a day. They are seriously freaking nuts. It's not even like they go into stores to buy things, they go in to 'browse'. It's like torture to me. Clothing is the worse though, I do better in furniture/electronic/record/home decorative stores. I don't know how people can literally enjoy shopping...or call it a sport. :|

Anyways sorry I ranted a bit...or a lot. I just have to leave early this morning and it stresses me out because they are going to make this shopping thing last ALL day. But back to the main issue...pants...sizes...help?

[Robert Scott]

Have you tried looking in the boys section?  I know I get my shoes from that area sometimes.  The length tends to be shorter.

I bought shorts first in the guys section to get the waist size.  As for the length ... I tend to get them to fit in my waist and then take them to get them altered.

[Adio]

You've just got to try them on.  I can't remember how I originally found my size, but after I did, I knew what I could wear in any pants (for the most part).  For example, I'm a 33x29.  33 is the waist number and 29 is the inseam (length).  The numbers generally stay the same for most pants (and underwear, shorts, etc) with some slight variation between brands.

These are just general guidelines; they may or may not be accurate because I haven't worn women's sizes for a long time.  If you wear something like a 8 or under, try lower numbers like 32 and work your way down (30, 29, 28) until you find your size.  If you wear 8+, start with 32 and do the same going up.  For inseam, and again, these are just general guidelines, if you're 5'3" to 5'7" try a 28-29 inseam; 5'7" to 5'11", 30 inseam; 5'11" to 6'3", 32 inseam.

Sorry if these numbers are off.  You can always just hold the pants next to your body and see if they would fit or not.  Oh, and "short" guys stores generally have very nice clothes.  They aren't for kids, that's what the boys section is for.

[Brendon]

I'd guess your inseam is probably under 30, because I'm 5'3" and my inseam is 30. Your best bet would be trying some on at the store, even if you don't intend to buy them. You'd think you could just measure you waist, but personal past experiences have shown this will not always work. I somehow got a pair of 29x30s that are actually 32x30s. Vanity sizing is creeping in to the men's department. You'd think they wouldn't be allowed to lie about a standard unit of measurement, but I guess not. 

Also, when I say waist, I do not mean the narrowest part of your upper body. Measure wherever you want the waistband of your pants to be. If I actually went by my waist my pants would be way too high up, haha.     

[Lee]

Measure your waist, around your stomach, that's the first number. So when I bought my first pair, my waist was 32 inches around. Then measure your inseam, which is from your foot to your crotch if memory serves. Mine was 30 for inseam.

Then the size is waist X inseam. So mine was 32X30.

If you're like me and have hips that are way bigger around than your waist then this measurement can be off.  As much as it might suck, shopping and trying things on at least at first is a good idea.

[Renate]

How to buy guys pants?

Just tell them, "Ok, you guys, pick out some pants and I'll be at the register to pay for them."

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

As stated already above, men's pants are fairly straightforward.
Just measure your waist (at whatever height you are wearing your pants).
This is usually just above the hipbone and not at your "natural waist" which is at or above your navel.
Inseam is usually most easily measured on a pair of pants that mostly fit.
Measure on the inside seam and adjust for how well those fit.

Waist (the first measurement) and inseam (the second measurement) go in 2" or 1" increments.
Inseams go to 34" and even 36"

[CFPrice]

A size 4 womens is approximately a 29-30 waist in mens. I wear 30/32 waist now though, since I wear my jeans a bit lower, and have gained some weight. Usually the smallest inseam you can find in regular mens is going to be 30, sometimes 29. Boys size 18 is about a 28" waist, but Levi's has started using the standard numbers for boys jeans too, so you might be able to find some shorter in there. Levi's is terrible about lying about your size, though. I have to go up to a 32/33 for their skinny jeans, but can still fit into a 29 of other brands.

[FolkFanatic]

Best way to do it? Grab some pants and go try them on. Seriously. I never bothered to measure myself because face it, different kinds of pants are measured (and may fit) differently. Plus you've got the whole boot cut, not boot cut, straight leg, loose fit, carpenter, and a bunch of other possible styles to choose from (and from my experience they all fit a bit differently.)

So grab a few styles in a few sizes and just bite the bullet - try them on in the store, if you can, and take the ones you like the fit/look of best. It took me AGES to find jeans that fit just right. Then again, i was trying women's pants (which are made VERY differently) and i was 50+ pounds overweight. Now i'm nearing a better weight and i'm in men's pants - it's a heck of a lot easier!

I'm a 32-34 (depending on brand/style - used to be a 38 >_<) and my inseam is 30, though 30 is a little long. My fav jeans at the moment are Wrangler Originals, loose fit, boot cut. They fit me perfectly, they're comfortable, and only $20 a pair at Target.

Once you get past the initial bout of trying stuff on, you'll have a better idea of what fits and what you like - you won't actually have to do a lot of trying on again unless you're uncertain.

[Nygeel]

Gap is the only place I've been able to find 28 inch inseam men's pants with the right waist size for me. The length is still a little too long but I can hem it. With buying any jean you want to look for the fit in the butt area and waist over all other things. Lengths can be changed if needed but once you've found the right size for your butt and waist then you can look for the closest length.

[kate durcal]

forget about the waist and the inseam. The most important thing is that they do not hug your hips, so just try a bunch of sizes, until you find the one that fit your hips loose, then take them to seamstress/tailor to adjust the inseam and the waist (for jeans this is best done by putting a couple of darts in the back.

Hope this helps,

Kate D

[Adio]

Levi's is terrible about lying about your size, though. I have to go up to a 32/33 for their skinny jeans, but can still fit into a 29 of other brands.

Actually, Levi's is probably using the true size.  Like Brendon said earlier, a lot of companies are using vanity sizing (saying something is one measurement when it's actually larger).  So the 29s might actually be 30-34 depending on the brand.

[Devyn]

My method: buy the smallest size the guys' section has. I don't like buying clothes in the kids/boys' section, so I go to the section that guys my age go to. Except I'm short and small, so guys' clothes never fit me. Oh well.

[sascraps]

I HATE shopping, I like to spend a maximum of thirty minutes tops. I usually know what I want before I go in so I can just get the hell out, unfortunately with thrift shops its harder because everything is everywhere and there is so much variety. But in order to get a discount and because my mum was nice enough to buy me some new clothes as a 'gift' I have to go with my mum and sister, meaning three hours in one store. Shopping with them is PAINFUL! I mean literally, when I was a kid I'd end up lying down in the isles because my feet were hurting or having to go back out to the car. These people dragged me around for eight hours of shopping or more in a day. They are seriously freaking nuts. It's not even like they go into stores to buy things, they go in to 'browse'. It's like torture to me. Clothing is the worse though, I do better in furniture/electronic/record/home decorative stores. I don't know how people can literally enjoy shopping...or call it a sport. :|

Haha I'm the same way. I HATE shopping! I actually prefer shopping online, though, except for the wait, because I'd rather not go through a store with the potential of dealing with a crowded store. That's just how much I HATE shopping!  I like to know what I'm getting and get out of a store as soon as possible, too.

[Renard]

I just thought I'd add that it's not too hard to hem your own pants if you find a pair that fit, but are an inch or three too long. Or you can bring them to a shop and get them hemmed for five to ten dollars - it's worth it if you find the right pants.

Also, I know you said you wanted to shop at thrift stores, but it might be worth going to a Zellers if you have one in your area, if only to try on the different styles/sizes they have. They tend to have at least a few different brands and a bunch of different sizes. I've gotten three pairs of Levis there for 30 bucks a pop there, too, which isn't too shabby for a new pair of pants.

[Sharky]

Just go to a store and try them on so you can figure out your size. I've found Levi to be inconsistent.  The inseam on Gap jeans is an inch or two longer than the label.  Right now I'm wearing jeans by apartment 9, a Kohl's brand.  They fit true to size.  I think they have smaller inseams too.  I know dockers has smaller inseams.

[PandaValentine]

Thanks guys, I think I spent 2-3 hours in one store... it wasn't as bad though because I spent the whole time talking with my sister which I haven't done in months.

The thing about pants though is they are always weird on me. Back in the summer I was wearing a size five right, so I figured in guys shorts something like 26/28 would be fine. Didn't fit. I went up to 36 and it still didn't fit and I was freaking out because there was no way I was bigger than that so I gave up on guys bottoms. I just bought a lot of pairs of 30's and smalls in shorts, fit nicely. I have no idea what was wrong with the ones back in the summer, I'd measured multiple times and I don't know maybe it was just the brand that was some how like extra small compared to actual guys sizes. I did manage to get two pairs of pants today but they HAVE to be hemmed, they are long, because I generally don't care about length, but they also go out to much in the legs which makes me uncomfortable since I've worn skinnies for so long, it's so foreign.

I didn't try anything on, brought everything home after buying it and only had to take back two pairs of jeans (too big), a pair of shorts (too small) and a t-shirt (because I was completely blind to the logo on the sleeve that I will not support). So all in all it was a success and I got A LOT of clothes! I am seriously tired though after all that. Shopping is so boring.

I don't think I have an official size though because everything fits differently on me. One pair fit so nicely but hugged my hips and made me want to vomit as I wore them. At least now I know I don't have to bother trying clothes on, I'll just buy it, see if it fits, and if not, take it back, not that hard. Easier than wasting an hour in the change room trying on PILES of clothes and then GOING BACK to find more clothes to replace those clothes and looking for a department that sells razors so I can slit my wrists.

This was all great inspiration though to start working out again, I want to look my best in all my new clothes. I think I got around 30 t-shirts. So I think I offically do like shopping (as long as it's not a waste of time and is like I said, around 30 mins), just no way am I doing it for that long next time! I felt like EVERYONE was staring at me...probably because every time I turned my head somebody was looking directly into my eyes and ->-bleeped-<-ing creeping me out. Not just when I was in the mens section, but through out the whole store, I got no idea why. It's not like I have hair/dress like Justin Beiber anymore, haha. - Got rid of that look as soon as he became famous. My sister found a t-shirt with his name on it in the store, if it were a guys shirt I would have bought it, haha. I don't like him, but whatever, I guess that's just the point of me wearing it...not liking him.

[Mr.Rainey]

I know this may sound obvious but if you pack, try the pants on whilst packing. Most the time it won't make a differance but certain pants tend to be too tight on the guy parts.

[insideontheoutside]

Like most everyone has said - you have to try stuff on. You can't just go by size. You know it is buying chick clothes where a size whatever in one brand may be totally different than another brand? It's the same thing in a lot of guys clothes I've noticed. Also, don't buy stuff incredibly baggy - being short you'll just make yourself look small and wide. You still have to get stuff that actually fits. If you've got hips you need to disguise then you should buy the pants to fit the hips. You can always get a belt or take pants in. In men's jeans I've noticed that they're making more with a slight amount of stretch fabric (mostly I've seen these in the young men's skinny jeans) which does help if you have hips. I've able to fit into 30's of whatever hot topics  main jeans are because they have a small amount of stretch to them.

Of course get used to having to hem everything too. I'm about the same size as you are and I think I've bought one pair of pants ever that I didn't have to hem.

[N.Chaos]

Haha I'm the same way. I HATE shopping! I actually prefer shopping online, though, except for the wait, because I'd rather not go through a store with the potential of dealing with a crowded store. That's just how much I HATE shopping!  I like to know what I'm getting and get out of a store as soon as possible, too.

I'm the odd one out, prior to trying to pass I've always loved looking for clothes. Now even, it's not that bad as long as I don't have to try things on but since I can't wear my old staple (t-shirts and thermals) I'm pretty screwed. I can't count how many times I've seen something that looked like it would fit but since I've got the weirdest damn body shape it doesn't. Feelsbadman.

I love ordering stuff online, even waiting for it, 'cause it's like promising myself a mini-Christmas in 3-5 business days, but again that goddamn trying stuff on! I ordered a shirt years ago off Ebay, it said "LARGE" on the site, it showed up with a XSMALL tag on it. Muhfuggahs.