Jeans for Old Man with Big Waist, Short Inseam.

June 23, 2017 3:20 PM

My 88 year old dad's pants no longer fit. He really can't go out shopping, so I've been trying to find him some new jeans.

He has a 52" waist and 28" inseam, and he's only really fat in the belly; his legs are normal. I tried just getting Levi's with those dimensions, but we both agree that they're absolutely absurd.

Now I've seen folks with dimensions like these with normal-looking jeans on. Are they tailored? If not, where are some places (I'm in Seattle) to look, and brands to look at?

posted by jimfl to Shopping (9 answers total)

I think you can be pretty confident that others with that size are going to specialty shops for "big and tall" (they do big OR tall as well) -- most mainstream brands like Levi's don't make that size -- and having their pants hemmed. If the shop doesn't do hemming, it's a simple and widely available service. Most dry cleaning shops can do it.
posted by kmennie at 3:33 PM on June 23, 2017

Sorry, I should have looked first! Levi's does make a big and tall that goes up to a 58" waist. Shortest inseam is 30" -- again, easily hemmed, but definitely give them a hot wash and dry first.
posted by kmennie at 3:41 PM on June 23, 2017

What is it about the fit that makes it absurd? Are the legs too full?
posted by bunderful at 3:59 PM on June 23, 2017

If he's shaped like a tomato with sticks for legs, your mission will likely require a tailor. My husband has a 'big' waist and most of the jeans we can find do the 'relaxed' fit through the butt and thighs which can end up looking sloppy. The best fit we have gotten is with Levi's but in a 'slim' fit - though I'm not sure they go up past 44".
posted by PorcineWithMe at 4:15 PM on June 23, 2017

Response by poster: Yes, the legs are very full. Maybe it was the cut of that model, but the legs just went straight down.
posted by jimfl at 4:16 PM on June 23, 2017

I'm not a big or a tall size, but my jeans size is often significantly different from my actual waist or inseam, I think because of how much variance there is re: where the jeans actually sit on my body. It might be worth trying a smaller waist and some different cuts.
posted by Polycarp at 4:32 PM on June 23, 2017

My late father was of these dimensions exactly for most of his life and we have a local Tractor Supply store where we purchased his jeans with some good results.
posted by Merinda at 5:31 PM on June 23, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I am nowhere near those dimensions, but have a similar problem with Levi's. Wrangler Relaxed Fit are much more forgiving in a leg/waist mismatch, but Wrangler now also have a fabric/style called "Advanced Comfort" which is available in his sizes. This fabric stretches 4 ways and just fits better than regular denim and really is more comfortable. It is a little thinner than regular denim and is not quite as durable. You can probably get the same waist fit with a 2" smaller waist size compared to their regular denim. The do not show a 28" inseam, but have a 30. If his legs are much smaller than is waist you might get away with the regular fit. They also have a stretch style, but that seems more like a stretchy waistband.

You will probably have to order these online in these sizes. Wrangler has a store finder but the regular department stores probably won't have these. There are a couple of work stores on the list you might call. There are some places online you can order different sizes and return the ones that do not fit.
posted by Short End Of A Wishbone at 8:09 PM on June 23, 2017 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: We ended up finding a Destination Extra Large DXL shop in our area that has a great variety of things for him. He ended up liking some chinos with an elastic waistband best.
posted by jimfl at 4:11 PM on August 12, 2017 [1 favorite]