Where do I find pants in my size (30" waist)?

April 21, 2004 5:35 PM

Well never thought I'd ask metafilter about this, but does anyone else have trouble finding pant sizes that fit? I'm a 30 waist which apparently is so skinny no stores carry it. Actually I can find stores that carry 30 inches but they don't fit, and when I measure they're always 1-2 inches larger. Which is a lot. It's as if stores have forgo a standard measurement sizes in favor of letting people fit into "smaller" sizes. My question is what to do?

I've tried everywhere, from department stores to boutiques. Boutiques are the worst, because they only have a small selection of sizes even in "small European" fits(which isn't small if they buy for larger Americans). Plus I am not inclined to buy $285 Prada pants.

I found that tailors claim to be able to adjust the waist but won't this look funky? And won't I have to stick to boring, vanilla corporate looking khaki pants? I mean they say they can make any fashion look right, but I am leary of changing waist sizes. I don't want to waste money on pants and taloring before asking the great green.

And in case anyone is wondering, I would gladly try 28 (the next size down). No stores carry anything below 30, even if they do, the 28s aren't true. I just ordered some online (armani exchange... no jokes I was frusterated) and they came back measuring 32. I of course thought it was a defect but the guy on the phone said their fits run "larger", I guess larger means 4 inches. Taking it to a store to measure against stock verified this claim.

It seems like there is a giant conspiracy against anyone below 31/32 inch male waist. I get the subliminal society messages but some of us just aren't big.

posted by geoff. to clothing, beauty, & fashion (18 comments total)

I hear you on the conspiracy. My problem is finding sportcoats that are for a 36 chest but a 38 length.

j.crew carries pant sizes as small as a 28, though some styles only go down to a 30. I usually buy mens' small shirts from them, as they are one of the few online vendors who consistently stocks small sizes (to the point where they often show up in clearance) in the clothes I like.
posted by Sangre Azul at 5:51 PM on April 21, 2004

Have you considered bespoke?

I have a tailor that does wonderful work here in Utah... I imagine that you have tailors where you are that could custom-craft you a pair of pants.

Suggestion... have one pair made, and make sure they're perfect! Then have one or two others made from that model... with the only difference being fabric, and options like cuffs and the like.

Conversely... have you looked at women's pants? Depending on the cut, they can be very flattering — just watch out for the flaring of the leg near the foot. The fit through the crotch will be different, of course, but that can be let out.

Don't believe a tailor that says they can take 4 inches out of the waist! That will come out of the back, and will bring the pockets too close together... waists can be taken in an inch — maybe two.

Finally... Banana Republic designs for slender people... so you may want to check them out.
posted by silusGROK at 6:01 PM on April 21, 2004

I went to a JCrew store and they didn't have any that fit and didn't offer to order anything smaller so I assumed they were a larger store. I'm glad I'm not alone. Banana Republic stops at 31 and they just BARELY not fit.

I can definitely find things that are just an inch too big. I was just afraid that the tailors would ruin the look, not using the same kind of stitching, etc. I guess this stems from me going into the boutiques that had 48 European size (I guess 32 here?) that did not fit at all, and the pushy salesmen insisting they could take it down with their in-house tailor.

Looks like I will have to break down and just sacrifice a pair of pants to a tailor and see what can happen.
posted by geoff. at 6:10 PM on April 21, 2004

have you tried kenneth cole? I am normally a 34, but all of their 34's are too tight.
posted by rorycberger at 6:47 PM on April 21, 2004

You know, I have the same problem, probably because I'm the same waist size. Your also right that very few stores carry sizes below 30. I've also noticed that the size "medium" for shirts is a very relative thing.
posted by btwillig at 6:51 PM on April 21, 2004

Banana Republic stops at 31 and they just BARELY not fit.

Banana Republic most certainly does not stop at 31. Go to their website. Most of my pants are Banana Republic, Donna Karan, and custom tailoring jobs, and my waist is 28.5, an extremely difficult size to find.

Taking in pants (reducing their waste) varies. I suggest against it, because then pant legs become much larger than the waist allows. That's why custom tailoring jobs are ideal.

Banana Republic is a great place for slacks and khakis, though. Not extremely high in quality, but most of their sale items are reasonably priced. (Never buy new unless you have to have it now)
posted by BlueTrain at 7:14 PM on April 21, 2004

or reducing their waist, as it may be...
posted by BlueTrain at 7:17 PM on April 21, 2004

This is a dumb question because I haven't shopped there in years, but have you looked in the boys' department?
posted by MegoSteve at 9:10 PM on April 21, 2004

Despite the humiliation of trying things on in the boy's department, yes. The problem with boy's is that they're not tall enough and not big enough. The largest boy's size is a size 16 which is 28 inches. There's a big gap between 28 inches and 30 inches. Boy's cuts seem to be tighter all around too. And it looks like a boy's pants. So yeah, I tried, shamefully with a wig and sunglasses.

I really don't think it'd be a big problem if perhaps companies stuck to sizes and put some effort in quality control. Since this mefi I called around. My sources in the "fashion industry" told me that quality assurance on everything but high, high end (not made in some third world country) is crap, and that a one inch variance in size should be expected around the waist. Even several inch variance is to be expected. This is fine if your'e a 34 incher, you can go down and up and try on everything till something fits. If you're on the bottom you can't go down.

And UPDATE! This "fashion industry" source also told me since studies show more men buy pants too small for them, everything's shifted. So I'm not getting smaller, but major designers are making more "relaxed" fits. Meaning 28 is more likely to be a 30, etc.

And to Bluetrain, the guy in the store (as in most stores) quickly went "We only have size 31", maybe I was just disgruntled so I didn't check. I found a general apathy on the part of sales people to help, and quick dismissal. If one place (besides the ultra-high end boutiques) would have said "oh we can order that size in for you", I probably would have bought it on the spot. I thought the retail industry was hurting where they needed business...
posted by geoff. at 9:30 PM on April 21, 2004

You can always do the tried and true: drink extra beer and avoid hard labour. You'll be fitting a 32"... maybe even a 36"! ... in no time at all.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:45 PM on April 21, 2004

what bluetrain says is right, gap, banana republic, and lots of chains like that carry a lot more sizes on the website, gap goes down to a 28, so probably BR and old navy do also.
posted by rhyax at 10:06 PM on April 21, 2004

32"men's pants are often on sale. Many men once had 32" waists and are now in denial. Clothiers carry these pant sizes to flatter the men. But the pants always come back - to be resold at bargain basement prices.

A 32" waste will do you well indeed. A month ot two of hard labor will likely bulk out your waist to a 32" while adding virtuallly no perceptible fat at all! Eat lots of eggs, beans and rice, and do 500 Sun-Salutations every morning.

Toss rocks around in your backyard, in patriotic exultation.
posted by troutfishing at 10:08 PM on April 21, 2004

Hell, I hear you man. There was a time when I was a 28 and thought that was hell. Sadly, once I started eating I got up to a 30 fairly quickly and stayed there, but had the same problem you have. So I gave in and stopped watching what I ate, now I'm about a 32, don't like the little belly, but hey, at least my pants fit. For those who are wondering: I don't like to exercise, much prefer reduced calorie intake, I am 5' 8" so a 28" waist is not unhealthy for me. I like being slender. It bothers me that when I am at my desired body size/shape my jeans don't fit, forget about dress clothes. It's like the designers are encouraging obesity.
posted by Grod at 10:36 PM on April 21, 2004

umm... get a belt. i'm a 28 (waist) and 33 (leg) and i have never found a pair of pants that actually fit. welcome to the world of mass production. i suppose you could get custom made pants if you have the bucks to throw around. i find that its not really that big a deal as long as you dont actually expect to find pants that fit you.
posted by bob sarabia at 11:48 PM on April 21, 2004

go to europe or s america on holiday and buy clothes there. i take a 30 waist and have no problems.
posted by andrew cooke at 6:05 AM on April 22, 2004

kenneth cole does size down to 28 (i shop there on behalf of the other half, as i'm a girl and we don't size pants that way)--try a free standing kenneth cole if the kenneth cole department of your store hasn't got any. nordstrom's house brand goes down to 29 (and if there isn't any in the shop where you're standing, they will bring them in for you from somewhere else--they tailor for a small fee). joseph abound does as well (usually stocked at Nordstrom and Marshall Fields). hugo boss usually has down to a 28 waist. brooks brothers usually only has down to a 30, but they tailor for free.
posted by crush-onastick at 8:00 AM on April 22, 2004

I'm a pretty solid 28 and have just accepted that I can rarely buy pants that fit. I do have a few pairs of 30s that I just wear with a belt. That said, I'm a university student (or I am until my last exam on Saturday at least) so my appearance isn't all that important.
From the sounds of it though, more stores in Canada sell smaller sizes that do stores near you. Maybe Canadians tinier?
posted by sinical at 9:12 AM on April 22, 2004

it's good to have one pair of pants that actually fit. (formal occasions, tux, that sort of thing), so have that one altered. Other than that, belt. that's what i do. it's a shame that braces are out of style. okay, not really.

or...
posted by Miles Long at 12:35 PM on April 22, 2004