Size comfy or stretch to fit?

[RobeOfTheMagi]

In this video TJ talks about the sizing of a new a pair of jeans. According to him there are two schools of though:

1. Size down and stretch them out.
2. Buy jeans that fit off the rack.

How do you do it?

I sized my 888s 21 oz a rather comfy 33. I might have been able to button a new 32. The waist has stretched quite a bit but I could even wear them without a belt because the 888 cut sits on a slimmer part of my body above the waist.

[Brandrea]

I buy my jeans to fit comfortably. I measure the IH way, and my waist is 17.5”. When I”m buying I look for 17.5-17.75” in the waist. I don’t have diaper butt either lol.

I’ve not seen any noticeable stretch with any of my IH denim (4 pairs of 634’s, 2 pairs of 666’s) and I reckon that’s because they aren’t under alot of tension to begin with.

[sabergirl]

I always buy for comfort. Waist measurement is barely even a factor for me, though. In order to get into the thigh on any pants, I’m usually up-sized anyway. The times that I have tried to squeeze into a thigh .5” or more too small thinking that they’ll stretch, I’ve always had regrets.

[jerkules]

I stretch to fit, but only ~0.5 inch rather than the (usually reported) 1. When I first got my 777s pair, I sized expecting a 1.5inch stretch (which I definitely got) but the pair were pretty tight in the thigh. When I went for a pair of 888 slubs I sized close to my actual waist but ended up with some flare around the hips that made them look like jodhpurs.

TLDR I aim for a little bit of stretch but not the full reported amount as I want the jeans to be comfortable while still achieving a good fit.

[A Former User]

Stretch is for me always a gamble.. so comfort out of the bag is the way to go for me especially with XHS or UHR(although these are shrink to fit) with a 21oz i would take the gamble since these have proofed themselves to be stretch quite easy but furthermore i always choose for comfort out of the bag.

[Anesthetist]

In my 30’s I sized down and wore them in. Now in my mid 40’s I cant be bothered with all that. Comfy fit or not for me.

[RobeOfTheMagi]

I suppose there is no right or wrong answer to that question, just preference. I just found that questions like this always kept me away from any kind of real non-stretchy jeans. I can fit into a number of different waist measurements of stretch denim and I can pretty much foresee whether a denim shirt or jacket might fit me, with jeans I've always been hesitant.

Spending a substantial amount of money on a pair of jeans I couldn't guarantee to fit in a few weeks after buying was always a scary thing. A pair of well fitting jeans is a thing of beauty but it's also the hardest garment to fit and size correctly, that's at least what I think.

Now I feel the same about boots. Will these Redwings become comfortable in a few months or should I size up etc...

[yannis]

I think what really matters is where you want the stretch to come from. If you expect the thigh to stretch you will be disappointed and the same if they are tight at the hip. The waist is more manageable. If all other measurements are good you can do 0.5 to an inch maximum down on waste and depending on the type of denim you can get the desired outcome with wear.

[Mizmazzle]

I find I like my jeans to be comfy when first new and dry. Then with a soak they tighten up. From there they tend to be a bit snug for the first wear for a short time. Then they loosen up right to where I’d like em. This has always worked perfectly for me.

[long_john86]

@Mizmazzle do you do this for all your jeans mate (including 21oz)? Assume you are referring to a ‘pre-soak’ approach across the board regardless?

[Mizmazzle]

@long_john86 yeah I always presoak before first wear. Tightening achieved can vary based on type of denim. But has always worked well for me.

[Fadez]

When I was younger I sized for stretch because I was super skinny. I never even looked at the thigh measurements because it didn’t matter. Now in my mid 30s. I size TTS because I recognize my body is continuing to grow and change. I’m also lifting more. I’ve gone from tag 32 to 34 to 36. My bigger sizes get more wear for sure.

[Denman John]

I’m 57 … I buy them to be comfortable from the beginning.

[october rust]

When I was younger I’d try to get away with the smallest size possible, now I find I need them comfortable from day 1. I no longer have the heart to wear them until they get comfortable-ish(it’s never as comfortable as if you just went a size larger)

[FlavourFade]

Always comfort. First I never ended up happy when I bought stuff with the hope that it will fit after some effort and second I don't like very fitted looks on myself.

[goosehd]

For my body shape and fit of jeans I prefer, I choose slightly undersized in 634’s and true to size for 666’s with the type of material being a huge factor as well. There is a little wiggle room for me in the legs with the 634’s allowing me to undersize. I can not do that with the 666’s.

[Bums_Fan]

I size my IH jeans based on thigh and knee measurement first then the waist. This almost always means the 888 or 634 cut for me. As others have said, the material is significant consideration. For example, 21oz stretches the most from my experience. As for comfy versus stretch, I prefer to seek measurements that favor a slight amount of stretch required. I am usually not happy with the fit when the measurements are too comfy from the start.

[popvulture]

Reading what others have said, I feel like my opinion on this maybe falls somewhere in the middle. I don’t think buying jeans that are uncomfortable in the beginning — and I mean actually restrictive and not fun to wear — is ever a great idea. I’ve done that in the past and don’t think it ever came out well in the end. That said, I do believe that some degree of snugness to start is good, because in my experience, 99% of denim stretches at least a little. I’ve even had jeans that stretch significantly almost within the first half hour of walking around in them.

Just like @Bums_Fan above, I’ve never had a good time with a pair that was too comfy from the get go, as it usually became pretty obvious that they’d stretch to a level that looked kind of dumpy.

My usual method is to measure the waist of a pair I own that are already well worn and comfortable, then buy roughly a half inch down on the chart waist measurement. There are exceptions to this in both directions: 21oz I probably buy a bit smaller because it stretches more, and XHS I buy as close to my comfy waist measurement as I can find, as they shrink to snug after the first hot soak, then stretch back up to that comfy initial chart size, but usually not much more (if any). But overall, I feel like planning for a bit of stretch is the move. Nothing crazy, but that allowance has always been worthwhile for me.

[jpvisual]

So in terms of fitting. It's pretty safe with a fabric like the 21oz to size it so they are snug, maybe even slightly restrictive when bending the legs or sitting, but the jeans should not feel tight. Is that about right? I typically have issues with the thigh and knee area, but if I buy a waist size that is comfy or even slightly too large, in a month I get gapping and bunched up fabric in the top block. It results in a less than ideal fit. Any thoughts on this from those who have worn the 21oz jeans for a long time? For example, for a waist measuring 34 inches that fits me nice and comfortable, is it best to get a 33 inch waist to start even if things are a bit snug (not overly tight) in other areas of the jeans?

[Alex]

@jpvisual this sort of query is exactly what our team answer day in day out. I've set up an email thread with your question, and one of the team will contact you today to discuss your specific sizing requirements.