If you struggle with pant fit, you’re not alone. Most women have problems finding that perfect fitting pair of pants. The main reason is because most manufactures don’t design for all Body Shapes. The number one shape they design for is the “H” Body Shape. This is because most design lines look great on that body. The fashion industry did start to notice that some women have a waist which is smaller than their shoulders and hips, “S” and “X.” As a result, there are a few pairs of pants labeled as curvy.
Pant Fit Vs Body Shape
What the fashion industry doesn’t understand is that each body shape comes with its own set of pant curves. I’m not saying that the fashion industry is bad. They haven’t studied women’s bodies like I have. I have always had difficulty wearing ready-to-wear pants and clothes, in general, because they don’t fit my body and I know I’m not alone.
In this post you will learn about the pant fit issues (in general) for each Body Shape. This post is meant to give you clues as to where you might encounter pant fit issues and how you might resolve them. I hope you’ll receive a big picture idea of what you can expect in the ready-to-wear world with respect to pant fit and your Body Shape and ways to resolve the issue(s).
“H” Body Shape
If you have an “H” Body Shape, you are lucky because most pants will fit your body. Most likely you skipped this Pant Fit series of posts. However, there are some areas you might run into problems. Most fitting issues arise in the shape of your pelvic bone and butt verses that the pant curves. Also you may need guidance to understand whether you need petite vs regular pants.
If this is a problem, then go back to Pant Fit – Signs Of Well-Fitting Pants – Part 2.
A great tailor/alteration seamstress who understands body curves can alter the curve around the pelvic bone and butt.
“O” Body Shape
“O” Body Shape has its own set of pant fit problems. Because the waist is wider than the hips if the waist fits then the hips and thighs are too big or if the hips/thighs fit then the waist is too small. Also most women with this Body Shape have butts that are flatter than the average “H” Body Shape resulting in a baggy rear. Yet another fitting issue arises when they gain weight. It’s usually in the stomach area causing not enough length from the front crotch to waist.
A tailor/alteration seamstress can easily alter the hip/thigh areas and take in the crotch length for a flatter butt. However length can’t be added to the front crotch to waist length. I don’t think this is a big issue because a top will be covering it. “O” Body Shapes will want to move the horizontal line created by the waistband to the one created by the top hem placed below the waist. As a result the attention will be brought to a thinner area creating balance.
“V” Body Shape
Pant fit for the “V” Body Shape is a mixture between “H” and “O.” For women with a slim “V” Body Shape, pant fit is most like an “H.” Finding pants that fit is fairly easy. However, they do run into one issue: they have flatter butts than “H” Body Shapes. On the other hand, these women tend to carry weight in the chest and tummy, causing pant fit to be more like an “O” Body Shape: when the waist fits the hips and thighs are too big and they have a nonexistence butt.
Another issue “V” Body Shapes run into is their shoulder to waist area tend to be regular length while their waist to crotch areas are petite. Go back to you Body Proportion results to determine if you are short in this area. If this is you, then you will need to shop for your tops and pants in two different places.
When making alterations, taking in the hips and thighs is an easy process. Also taking in the butt to accommodate a flat butt is also easy. Find a tailor/alterations seamstress who performs these alterations as part of their main operation. When you find that person, you will start wearing pants you love to wear.
“A” Body Shape
When it comes to pant fit “A” Body Shapes have the hardest shape to fit and alter because in many cases the length is too short.
“A” Body Shapes have problems finding pants that fit because of four areas:
- Skeleton structure causes wider hips and muscular structure causes fuller butt and thighs which are several sizes larger than their waists
- With muscular thighs finding pants wide enough for the thigh area makes the fit difficult
- Because of their muscular butt, the area from center back waist to crotch is longer
- With respect to Body Proportions, many are short from their bust and long from their waist to crotch. This isn’t a bad thing because pants hit them below their natural waistline, which visually gives length between the bust and waist area and shortens the area between the waist and crotch. The problem occurs in fitting the waist in this area and full butt coverage.
Altering pants can be difficult for “A” Body Shapes due to lack of fabric for a given size. You need to purchase pants for the widest part of your body: hips or thighs, and then take in from there. There are a lot of talented tailors/alteration seamstresses who can handle these alterations easily. If you find one, make that person your new best friend because he or she can help you have a closet full of pants you love to wear.
“S” and “X” Body Shape
Women with “S” and “X” Body Shapes are starting to have a little easier time finding pants because the fashion industry is producing curvy fit pants. However “S” and “X” Body Shapes do still have issues. They are:
- Finding curvy pants that fit their curves. “S” Body Shape curves are soft and flowy transitioning from their hips to their waists to rib cages. While “X” Body Shapes have more angular transitions from the hip bones to their waists and waists to rib cages
- The difference between the circumference of her hips and waist can be dramatic. This Body Shape might find when pants fit in the hip, that the waist is always too big
- Fit in the thighs can also be difficult because their thighs range from skinny to muscular
In most cases alterations are fairly easy, taking in the waist and or thighs. However if she has muscular thighs she will need to purchase pants that fit her thigh area and have the rest altered.
Pant Fit -- Change Your Expectations
When it comes to shopping for pants, change your expectations. Don’t go shopping with the expectation that you will find that perfect pair of pants. Shop with the expectation of finding a pair of pants that fits your body the best and have them altered to make it fit better.
You can also go the custom route and make pants yourself to get that perfect fitting pair of pants. This is the route I went. My pants are custom fitted to my body and in the colors and fabric I love, allowing me to better tap into my confidence and personal power.
What did you learn in the Pant Fit series? Do you now know how pants should fit your body? Have you adjusted your expectations about how ready-to-wear pants will fit your body and are you expecting to have the pants altered for a better fit? Make a comment below about what you discovered.
The next post is the second to last in the series of shopping for pants now that you understand the clues your Body Elements give you. The next post will look at the pant leg cut and your Body Shape. I will help you answer the question, “Which pant leg balances my Body Shape: skinny vs slim vs straight vs bootcut?”
Wear Your Greatness!!
