Pants: follow-up

[redbird]

With the help of a knowledgeable and attentive salesperson, I now have a pair of Levi's 505 jeans, size 36/30. They don't come shorter than 30, so I will have to have them shortened (this is straightforward).

I tried a 38/30 first, because rounding up seemed more likely to work than rounding down, but that was too big and the 36 fits.

I have also established that Levi's 501s are not comfortable for me: the rise is too short, making them uncomfortably snug in the crotch.

I need more pants, including some in black (505s come in two colors, dark blue and light blue); any further suggestions based on knowing that a Levi's 505 is a reasonable fit for me would be welcome.

I'm going to pursue jesse_the_k's suggestion of the Carhart's made for dairy farmers, as well.

Comments

[a-d-medievalist.livejournal.com]

depending on how you feel about boot cut and a rise that hits just at the navel, you might try 550s. I've only ever found them at Sears, but they work well for me, as I have a smallish waist relative to my hips and thighs. They come in blue, black, brown, khaki, and olive, I think.

They also seem to run on sale fairly often, at about $20 a pair.

[redbird]

How much difference between waist and hips are you talking about? I used to buy women's pants, when I had a larger difference between waist and hip size; it's having a smaller one that has me searching for pants.

[a-d-medievalist.livejournal.com]

my actual waist, which is quite high, is about 30", but I'm between 38-39" where the waist of the jeans hit, just below my navel. And the biggest point on my hips/bum is 44". I took out a measuring tape, and the length between the crotch seam and the waistband in front is just 11". And these are size 10s, but I've worn 8s in the past (and will again), and they fit pretty much the same. They also have a bit of elasticity, if that matters.

If that is too much of a difference (now that I've advertised my measurements), you might do well at Gap or Old Navy, where I find that the waists are always far too big for my hips.

[redbird]

Ah. So a large difference in actual waist/hips, a smaller one in pants waist/hips.

[a-d-medievalist.livejournal.com]

yep -- the lower (but not low for most people) rise makes the difference.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

The main thing I can say is to avoid Lands End or LL Bean for most pants, if you have less curve in from the hips to waist. Gap works well for me, but I think the rise length might be an issue for you (even their "mid-rise" are low enough to be comforable for me and I seem to have a very short rise.)

[redbird]

I used to do well with Lands End women's pants. Then I lost weight around my hips. Is your advice based on their women's or their men's?

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

Women's. I'm relatively straight up and down (something like 28-29 waist, 36-7 hips, I think, though I haven't measured recently and have gained a bit). I've only ever been able to wear their lowest-waisted pants; the higher waisted ones come to the bottom of my ribcage and presume a small waist I don't have anywhere and that wouldn't be up *there* if I did have one.