Tuesday, November 25, 2008

The perfect pants are out there! - How to find them

By Tessa W. Adachi

There is no woman who doesn't love a pair of pants which flatters her figure. Pants which fit properly can make you look great, but if you have pants which are too tight they can draw attention to areas you would rather have go unnoticed. There can be creases, bulging and the zipper may slide partially open - all of which makes the wearer appear to be overweight. A well fitting pair of pants can cover up imperfections and lend an attractive silhouette to the wearer. Everyone wants to look their best; part of this is getting clothes which fit properly.

Before shopping for a new pair of pants, take careful and accurate measurements. This way, you'll be able to shop for the right size from the get-go. Take a look at this chart to find your size from your measurements; the measurements are given in both inches and centimetres to help you in online clothes shopping.

Size | Waist | Hips
10 (S) | 70cm (27 inches) | 97cm (38 inches)
12 (S) | 75cm (29 inches) | 102cm (40 inches)
14 (M) | 80cm (31 inches) | 107cm (42 inches)
16 (M) | 85cm (33 inches) | 112cm (44 inches)
18 (L) | 90cm (35 inches) | 117cm (46 inches)
20 (L) | 95cm (37 inches) | 122 cm (48inches)
22 (XL) | 100cm (39 inches) | 127 cm (50 inches)
24 (XL) | 105 cm (41 inches) | 132 cm (52 inches)
26 (2XL) | 110 cm (43 inches) | 137 cm (54 inches)
28 (2XL) | 115 cm (45 inches) | 142 cm (56 inches)
30 (3XL) | 120 cm (47 inches) | 147 cm (58 inches)

When using the chart, go with the larger measurement of your hips or waist to determine the size to look for. If you have a 95 centimetre waist and 127 centimetre hips, then a size 22 is what you should be looking for. Even if the pants fit around your waist just fine, if they don't give you a proper fit around the hips, they're not going to work.

When you take hip measurements make sure you take it at the widest point. If the tops of the thighs are wider than the hips use the widest point to get a good fit. Some companies create their own sizing chart and you need to use their measurements. These are the traditional sizing.

Measure your inseam. If you have shorter legs, it's always best to have the pant touch the top of the shoe without excess hanging over. Allow the back of the pant hem to brush the middle of the back of your shoe. Use a petite size if your inseam is less than 75 cm or 29 inches. For those that have inseams at 29 inches, it's best to get a regular and adjust the length yourself if necessary. Those whose inseam is 82 cm (32 inches) or longer need to look at the tall sizing.

In order to conceal wide hips and waistlines, some women will wear baggy pants; however, this can make you look larger and is best avoided. One good tip is to go for straight waists rather than gathered waists, since these actually emphasize a wide waistline and hips. Shorter women may choose pants with vertical stripes to make their legs appear longer and make them look taller. Long legged women, on the other hand, do well with bell bottom pants.

You'll have a far easier time finding the perfect figure-flattering fit for you if you take accurate measurements and use them when shopping for pants. Remember to take your measurements when you are at ease. Don't suck in your stomach; this will only lead to you purchasing pants which are not a good fit. After all, the reason for accurate measurements is to get a better fit - only you will see your measurements, so relax. - 15995

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