How to Measure Dress Trousers and Casual Pants
Nothing could be more irritating than buying a pair of pants which doesn't fit! However, this thing becomes more inevitable when you buy a pair of trousers or pants from an online store. Since such e-stores don't provide the luxury of trying the clothes out, there are high chances that you may end up buying the wrong size.
Thus, to save you from the struggle of returning a misfit pair, today we're going to pen down a detailed guide for How to Measure Dress Trousers and Casual Pants. With this information, you can buy perfect-sized pants, like a pro, for you and your loved ones - pants which not only fit well but also look dapper. So grab your measuring tape and read on!
How to measure pants length?
Measuring the inseam length
To measure the inseam length for dress trousers and casual pants, you need to get a flexible measuring tape and stand straight. Ask someone to put one end of the measuring tape at the groin and stretch it to your ankle. Remember that the tape should not be erected tightly along your leg but should follow your leg’s natural curve.
However, if you can't find someone to help you out, you can measure your pants length yourself as well. For this, you first need to lay any of your old, well-fitted pants down on a flat surface with the fastened waistband. Make sure the pants are free of all sorts of wrinkles and creases as these could lead to inaccurate measurements.
Once done, place one end of measure tape at the crotch seam and stretch it to the bottom hem of the pants. Note down the measurements as the length of your pants.
Measuring waist and width
To measure the waist of your pants, you need to circle the measuring tape around your natural waistline. It's the point where your pants usually sit (the narrowest area on your torso).
Make sure the tape stays parallel to the floor and doesn't twist or roll on itself. Also, the tape should fit snugly around your waist so you can move and breathe easily.
After measuring the waist, the next thing you need to measure is your hip width. For this, you need to circle the tape around the widest part of your hip while keeping the tape parallel to the ground. Remember that the thigh and seat are stress areas of pants which means they endure most pressure during movement, causing them to stretch over time. So while evaluating final measurements, count for the stretching as well.
You also need to measure your knee and thigh width as it plays a great role in determining overall mobility and comfort.
Measuring front and back rise
Put one end of measuring tape at the top of the front waistband and stretch it to the crotch seam. This distance between the front waistband and bottom crotch seam is what we call front rise measurements. This measurement dictates whether your pants would sit high or low.
To measure back rise, measure the distance between the top of your back waistband and the bottom of your crotch seam. Correct back rise measurements ensure that the pants won't pull down while bending over or sitting.
Measuring outseam and leg opening
To measure the outseam, place one edge of the tape on the pants waistband but from the outer edge. Then stretch the tape towards the bottom of your pants hem. This is your outseam measurement.
Lastly, you need to measure the leg opening which is the distance between your two legs. For this, you need to lay comfortable pants on a flat surface and measure the area from one leg to the other.
Sizing differences between casual pants and dress trousers
Almost all the measurements can be used for all kinds of pants but with a few variations.
For example, for casual pants, you need to measure out seam length from your natural waistband to half of the heel. This prevents your clothes from getting dirty on outdoor ventures. On the other hand, for dress trousers, the out seam length should end right before the floor. This extra length will ensure that the trouser falls neatly on your shoe.
Likewise, while measuring the waist for dress trousers, add about quarter to half inch to the overall measurements. This extra space will let you tuck your dress shirt inside the pants. For casual pants, you may opt for your original waist length.
FAQs
There should be room for only one finger at your formal pant's waistband so you could comfortably move and breathe. Remember that a well fitted dress trouser is one which snug comfortably and stay at your natural waistline even without a belt.
Almost all clothing brands sell pants by waist×length rule. This dictates that the first number is waist length whereas the second number is pants length.
