Q&A for How to Measure Your Pants

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Question

Do I need all of these measurements when buying pants?

Chloée Ohayon-Crosby
Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist
Chloée Ohayon-Crosby is a Costume Designer and Wardrobe Specialist in Los Angeles, California. With over eight years of experience in fashion consulting, Chloée specializes in personal, film, theater, and commercial styling as well as image consulting and costume design. Chloée has worked as an assistant designer for the distinguished fashion house Chloée and as a freelance stylist with Glamour Italia. Chloée studied Fine/Studio Arts at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and Fashion Design and Merchandising at the world renowned ESMOD École Supérieure des Arts in Paris, France.

Chloée Ohayon-Crosby

Costume Designer & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Answer

Utilizing all the different pants measurements will help you get a great fit, but inseam and waist size are really the most important.

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Question

Why do you measure men's pants on the outside seam?

Community Answer

The crotch seam can be higher or lower depending on the cut of the pants, so you always measure the outside seam because that's more accurate.

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Question

How do I measure the width of the bottom of my pants?

Community Answer

Lay the pant down flat, making sure it is creasing at the side seam or inseam. Then measure the hem of the jean and multiply by two (that's the front and the back together). This will be the measurement of the leg opening.

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Question

What is the waist measurement for a woman's size 12?

Community Answer

That will vary based on both the rise of the pants (where they sit on the waist) and on the brand.

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Question

In measuring the hips, what is meant by the "base of the zipper"?

Community Answer

To figure out where to place the tape for hip measurement, first measure from the top of the waist band straight down 6" (where the zipper is if there is one). At 6", place your tape measure horizontally from seam to seam to get your hip measurement. Personally, I like to measure all the way around as the back of the pants may be wider than the front.

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