By The Wiz
Alternate title: WOULD YOU MOVE HERE ALREADY SO YOU CAN HELP ME PICK OUT JEANS?
So, hypothetically: When buying jeans, let’s say you find a wash you really like, a brand you really like, a style you really like, and the price is right. Then you hit the dressing room.
Hmmm…THIS size is a SMIDGE too tight, but boy, does your butt look sexy. However, it is a little tight at the waist, creating a small “muffin top” look, and you’re not too sure if putting them on often is going to be so much of a pain that you skip wearing them altogether, and if they shrink at all, you won’t wear them at all, thereby making the purchase moot. (moo?)
On the other hand: THIS size is a tad loose, mostly in the butt area, and if they stretch at all, you won’t wear them, because nothing bothers you more than wearing jeans that don’t fit, and constantly pulling them up is a pain, and you stopped wearing belts long ago because after three pregnancies you just forgot they existed. But, they fit really well in the waist area, and if they shrink at all, it would be GREAT, but if they stretch, again, moo.
At this point, you MAY call somebody and yell at them for not living near you. You know, hypothetically. Strong friendships can handle it. She might ask if your weight is going up or down. You wish you knew the answer to this question.
You consider going out and finding another brand. You decide against it. This may be foolish, but buying jeans is stressful enough, and you don’t want to go through this with every brand you try. Seriously, bringing two to three sizes of two to three styles into the dressing room gets a little tiring. Also, the wash on these jeans was QUITE PERFECT.
WHEN DID SIZES STOP BEING UNIVERSAL? WHY CAN’T I JUST PICK UP THE SAME SIZE IN ALL BRANDS? AND WHEN DID “ODD” NUMBERS SHOW UP IN SIZES?
I used to like shopping alone. I used to be able to tell, all by myself, if something looked good or not. I’m not sure when I lost this skill.
Also, if you can tell me how to make my new jeans shrink just a teeny tiny little bit, my butt will thank you.
Have you tried Seven’s or Lucky’s? Also, I hear ModBe has great jeans with low pockets (for the low-rise look) and a higher-than-most back (to avoid the plumber look).
Wish I could help. Jeans are my nemesis, as I have 35″ inseam. Talls are just a tad too short and extra talls are just too long. Drat.
Comment #1 by solMay 27th, 2008 at 11:17 amTo keep them from shrinking too much, don’t dry them all the way in the dryer- dry them until they’re damp-dry, then hang them for the rest. I know, it’s a pain in the tookus, but it will keep them from seizing up on you.
I hear good things about Seven and Lucky, but I also hear they’re between 100 adn 200 bucks a pair- unless they clean my kitchen and give the boys a bath every night, that’s too rich for my blood.
I have no idea how I look anymore. I saw a picture the other day, and thought, “wow. that’s me??” My children have stolen my brain.
Comment #2 by Tracy MMay 27th, 2008 at 11:22 amNo, No. I WANT them to shrink. I bought the bigger size. Sorry that wasn’t clear.
Comment #3 by The WizMay 27th, 2008 at 11:42 amI agree with sol. I just bought some Modbe jeans and I LOVE them (mostly because I can fit into a size smaller then I normally do), but also because they are true mid-rise. And they look great!
Comment #4 by SherrieMay 27th, 2008 at 11:43 amI’ve noticed the more expensive jeans are, the better they fit. Sad, but true.
But, I think it’s worth it to “invest” in a really good pair of jeans that will last a long time.
You want them to shrink? Hot water, dry like the Sahara.
Comment #5 by Tracy MMay 27th, 2008 at 11:46 amSounds like you need to get your clothes tailored. Yes annoying. But you’ll be glad you did. I have the problem where pants will fit me in the butt but they’ll be too big in my waist. What I should do is get them tailored in the waist. What I really do is cinch them in with a belt.
Right now I’m pregnant…so everything is bigger, my waist and butt. Yippee!! Makes me want to go shopping and look at myself from all angles in one of those huge mirrors!
Comment #6 by apple pieMay 27th, 2008 at 11:50 amYes, hot water and long time in the dryer to shrink them, hopefully not too much in the length though.
My latest discovery on the denim front is the “Essential” jean at Gap. They have a few cute washes, a true mid-rise without being mom jeans, but also enough to hold in that “mommy tummy.” And they are roomy enough in the hips and thighs that each my friends and I have all gone down a size. Plus, the pockets are in a great place, not too low where it elongates the cheek.
I third the call outs for Lucky’s, and if you’re up for spendy jeans, Page’s and Hudsons make some great curves on your body.
Comment #7 by TiffanyMay 27th, 2008 at 12:34 pmYou know, give me enough time, and I can work into a really good snit about how men’s clothing is altered FOR FREE and women’s is not. I mentioned this once to my Dad, and he got this really confused look on his face, and was like “but women’s clothing doesn’t need altering.” Um, yeah they do, dad. Yes they do.
Sevens and Luckys are WAAAAYYY too expensive for me. (although I found some Lucky shorts at a consignemnt store for $16. I didn’t buy them, though. I’m thinking about it.)
I was feeling guilty enough buying jeans when our budget is this tight, but I seriously only had one pair that was literally falling off my hips all the time because they had stretched so much. I hope that doesn’t happen with these jeans. I don’t buy jeans often, and I wear them out completely when I do.
I’m still ticked that I gave away all my higher rise jeans when the low rise thing came out. Now the rises are going back up, and I had some seriously great jeans that I could be wearing right now.
Comment #8 by The WizMay 27th, 2008 at 12:38 pmAlterations… a lot of the spendier places do alter for free, but clearly that doesn’t make up for the extra $100+ you’d be spending on their jeans. And Hooray for consignment stores. I’ve nabbed some fantastic deals on high end brands. $20 True Religion capris? I think I will, thankyouverymuch.
Comment #9 by TiffanyMay 27th, 2008 at 1:05 pmI’ve found “Kut” jeans to fit nicely. Not nearly as expensive as the other brands listed, but still a good fit.
BTW - nothing can put me in a bad mood like shopping for jeans! I’d rather clean toilets non-stop for week then try on jeans.
Comment #10 by AbbyMay 27th, 2008 at 1:16 pmwash hot, dry hot. that’s the way to shrink anything with natural fibers. but you can’t exactly choose where it will shrink, so hopefully they are a bit long too or you might get yourself some new floods.
Oh, and the odd sizes are “junior” sizes and even sizes are “women’s” sizes. The difference in junior and womens’ should be (it isn’t always) that women’s jeans should allow for a more “mature” body type.
I am far from a name brand snob. I think you have to just try on a million different pairs to find one that fits right- no matter what your body type is.
Comment #11 by tftcarrieMay 27th, 2008 at 1:23 pmAh, Carrie. If only you’d been with me. You could have told me which size to buy, or convinced me to keep looking. I’m still wondering if I should have gone with the smaller one, since they do seem to stretch throughout the day.
Also, I always thought the odds were junior sizes! And yet, at the Gap (maybe this is unique to them?) they had 0,1,2,3,4,5,6, etc, etc, all hanging on the same rack of the same skirt. It wigged me out. Juniors with women’s? Or are sizes just all together now? Maybe I’m just too old to go the The Gap anymore.
Comment #12 by The WizMay 27th, 2008 at 2:35 pmI used to love shopping growing up. I used to know how to find clothes that worked for my body type too. Now I go shopping and I feel lost!!! Some styles seem completely too young - some of them completely too old - I just want to look put together people! Add in that in some cases I have to shop Women’s sizes… but sometimes they’re too big. I’m on the fence! I walk all over the store looking at clothes finding the right size right now!!
Jeans!! oh good grief that’s a completely different subject too. I did recently find a pair of jeans that I just love - but I have to wear platform shoes for the look. Not exactly what I would wear for Girls Camp
even if they are closed toe shoes 
Oh and I had a shopping buddy until she moved
So now I’m back to shopping on my own again - when I stomach it! Can you tell that shopping for clothes is just not my favorite thing anymore. Does that make me old?
Comment #13 by MommomMay 27th, 2008 at 2:40 pmI believe in Lane Bryant Jeans.
The only one’s i’ll even try on now. But then most brands don’t believe in making anything decent bigger than a size 12.
Comment #14 by SarahMay 27th, 2008 at 2:46 pmI just stopped working at Gap (and love their jeans). Gap has 0,1,2,4,6,8, etc in womens, with 1 being the only odd size. Their xs,s,m,l,xl is numbered 0,1,2,3,4 in the computer but that number doesn’t equal a “size.” Maybe those were the numbers you saw on the skirts? When people come in looking for a junior size 5, we suggested going down to a 4, as tftcarrie said, the women’s even sizes are for a more mature body type. Also, Gap jeans stretch out a lot, so if you’re ever shopping their jeans and are between sizes, go for the smaller.
Comment #15 by mrs. kMay 27th, 2008 at 2:52 pmOk, then. It was the “ones” throwing me off. Why do they do that?
Comment #16 by The WizMay 27th, 2008 at 2:59 pmI know some people might throw rocks at me for this, but I really do wish they sized women’s pants like they do men’s. In waist size (inches) and inseam (inches). I know, it would be prertty depressing to have to actually know my waist size, but it WOULD make shopping for jeans easier. I also like GAP jeans, and have found some pretty great jeans at Target, believe it or not. I agree with Wiz. It is soooo tiring trying on clothes. Does that mean I am getting older? Sigh.
Comment #17 by mellocelloMay 27th, 2008 at 3:01 pmI happened to be looking at yearbooks yesterday, Wiz, and I find it hard to believe that even after growing and birthing children you could have a muffin top!
Now that you all think you have the worst experiences in the universe buying your jeans, think about the fat chicks like me that have to order them from catalogs with no guarantee that they’ll fit and not only do you get to pay for them to be sent to you, but now you can also pay to send the d*mn things back!
Comment #18 by SallyGirlMay 27th, 2008 at 3:31 pmWith all my corporate visits during my tenure, none gave me a good explanation other than to give the customers graduating from kids sizes into womens sizes a couple of options. A girls 14 and 16 fit similar to women’s 0 and 1, but depending on hips and height, the next size could be either one. I always thought it was incredibly confusing as well. And I didn’t mean to sound so snooty. Sorry ’bout that!
Mellocello, I totally agree with the waist and inseam! Then, just do different cuts to get the hips/thighs, but still keep that same measurement of waist and inseam. It is totally obnoxious that an 8 at one brand is different than an 8 at another brand. The waist/inseam would make the starting point for shopping for all pants so much easier!
Comment #19 by mrs. kMay 27th, 2008 at 3:33 pmI do believe that DKNY does a waist/inseam measurement. And (*cringe*) I think Lucky does too.
And ANYONE could have a muffin top if the clothes fit poorly. Put Kate Moss in, say, an infant sized outfit, and she, too, would have a muffin top. (And no, I don’t look exactly the same as I did in high school.)
Although, possibly, anorexics might not fit into that mold…..
Comment #20 by The WizMay 27th, 2008 at 3:39 pmWhen one is as teeny and beautiful as you are, I find it hard to feel badly for you having to choose between, what? a size 2 or 4?
:)
Yeah, I’m a cold-hearted woman dying for a 2 liter bottle of Dr. Pepper right now.
I don’t know if you ever frequent yard sales, but I find Lucky’s all the time for $5.00 a pair.
Comment #21 by Tammy and ParkerMay 27th, 2008 at 3:41 pmHot wash/hot dryer should shrink your jeans. However, if they have any Spandex in them, they will stretch back out. Unless you want them too, then they won’t. I have a terrible time finding jeans that fit. I have a small waist and bubble butt. Any curvy jeans I find are also LOW, low riders. No one should be forced to see my butt or what underwear I am wearing. Being really cool, I still wear high waisted panties, so I rock the sexy underwear-2-inches-above-the-waistband-of-my-jeans look.
Comment #22 by Lisa OMay 27th, 2008 at 5:29 pmI just have to second Sally Girl on how much is sucks to order jeans from Old Navy Women, pay to ship, then when they don’t fit, pay to ship back. Cripes. I wish I could just walk into a regular store and buy stuff.
I drooool through shoe departments- it’s been years since I was able to try on a pair of shoes in a store- my size 12 Yeti feet just aren’t accomodated. Yes, you read that right- SIZE 12. I’m freakin’ Sasquach, and have been since 7th grade. Heaven help me if my pregnancies had made my feet grow!
Comment #23 by Tracy MMay 27th, 2008 at 7:19 pmI can’t wear jeans. Too uncomfortable.
Comment #24 by Susan MMay 27th, 2008 at 7:44 pmI scored some Seven jeans once a few years ago at a Nordstrom Rack for $50, and they were the best purchase of my fashion life. And I also was between sizes but with these, I was so glad I went with the smaller size, cuz they seriously stretch to whatever size I need them to be. I even wear them into my fifth month or so of pregnancy and cry when I have to put them away.
But I’m with you, I hate shopping for jeans.
Comment #25 by StarababaMay 27th, 2008 at 7:54 pmGotta second Lane Bryant. I bought two pairs of the same style because they actually fit! And they look decent!
Comment #26 by LindsayMay 27th, 2008 at 8:37 pmI HATE shopping for jeans. I find a pair that fits and buy twenty-seven of them.
Comment #27 by SueMay 27th, 2008 at 9:48 pmYes, Seven’s and Lucky’s are expensive. I also hate shopping for jeans. I’ve just found that I would rather spend $90-120 on one great pair of jeans I will actually wear, rather than keep purchasing a string of $25 jeans that I hate. Also, because length is such a factor for me I’m very limited in where I can buy my jeans. I can also shop Gap and Banana Republic, but they’re not exactly cheap either, at least for a good fit/wash. For me, I have to bite the bullet. If I could buy everything at Target I would.
Comment #28 by solMay 27th, 2008 at 10:03 pmI haven’t read everyone’s comments, so I’m prolly saying what’s already been said…
I would have told you to get the smaller size as it seems that no matter how many times I wash and dry hot jeans tend to stretch out over time. Also, as SOL said in the last comment (I can see it while I’m tying OK? I didn’t have time to read them all…) I am the type of person who will spend a little more for something I LOVE rather than getting 2-3 things for cheaper but I only kinda like them. I think a good pair of jeans is a good “investment” piece for your wardrobe. Also, you can get some designer jeans at Tj Maxx–still around 100, but cheaper than other places. (Sevens, Joes, Paige, Paper Denim and Cloth, etc). And most of those brands go by waist size AND they’re made to be quite long since you can easily hem them to fit.
Comment #29 by MiggyMay 28th, 2008 at 6:13 amYou mean the reason my pants are bigger is because they’ve stretched and not because I’ve lost weight? That’s the most depressing thing I’ve read all day!
Comment #30 by MelindaMay 28th, 2008 at 8:38 amShopping alone only sucks if you’re thin. If you’re fat, then you *only* want to shop alone.
I shop alone. I’m not sure that would change if I was thin or not.
I don’t go to the mall. And I think my one big jeans splurge was buying a pair of Old Navy capris when *they weren’t on sale or clearance* and paid $29.50 plus tax for them. I can hardly think of *anything* I’ve ever paid more than $50 for in my life.
Comment #31 by StrollerbladerMay 28th, 2008 at 10:30 amI’m so glad to have a forum to share my happy news — the first is that Dockers came out with some lightweight denim in trouser cut that has grasped that women are often different dimensions at hip and waist! They’re really nice — a bit dressier than regular jeans, but easy to dress up or down depending on shoes.
Also, Eddie Bauer is pretty good for pants-type things in various cuts.
Comment #32 by malljockeyMay 28th, 2008 at 6:09 pmI don’t go shopping for any clothes without my sisters. I’m completely hopeless.
Comment #33 by Alison WonderlandMay 28th, 2008 at 10:08 pmWiz,
I love going shopping with people.
If I ever make it out to lovely AZ, I will take you shopping. It’s an all day, physically and emotionally draining event. But I promise honesty, encouragement and a bunch of new (yet practically priced clothing) that you feel and look great in.
Comment #34 by tftcarrieMay 30th, 2008 at 10:44 pmCarrie, I’m in.
Comment #35 by The WizMay 31st, 2008 at 9:41 amIf you get jeans that are 100% cotton, they are much less apt to stretch out. However they are also highly uncomfortable, at least post kids in my opinion. I heart lyrica.
Comment #36 by SarahMay 31st, 2008 at 12:28 pmOn the “how to get your jeans to shrink a teeny bit” line…it’s called a tailor. Seems prissy, I know, but it’s good stuff!
Comment #37 by NancyJune 1st, 2008 at 3:24 pmI LOVE, LOVE, LOVE New York Jeans. When I was in SLC for my daughter’s surgery in December, I made a special trip down to Sandy because they had a store there. I stocked up. Around that same time I got pregnant again. Hope the jeans still fit after baby #2. They did after #1. They have several different fits and styles. And I don’t really have that problem with the back of the pants sticking out when I sit. Very nice.
Comment #38 by LeslieJune 5th, 2008 at 8:15 pmThis is going to sound bizarre, but the best pair of jeans I have bought post-baby (in January) I found on a table at Sam’s Club and bought without trying on. But they are FABULOUS because of an actual mid-rise and a hidden stretch panel that keep everything (including the mummy tummy) in place. And I fit in the size I think I am and the size below, which is a huge ego boost. They come in dark wash, light wash, white, and khaki and white capris (all of which I went back and bought). The brand name is Smith’s (of course!).
Comment #39 by LilitaJune 13th, 2008 at 5:07 am