I am a fit Nazi. I am. I have no problem with telling a client they are insane, delusional and/or an idiot. It’s tough love, but it’s love.
What I’ve come to realize about the world’s population?
90% of people have no idea how their clothes should fit.
The next time you put on your leggings, capris, or stretchy pants in general, check for these five things.
Do your pants do this?
- Bunchy Crotch: Too much fabric in the crotch area means your pants are too big and you need to size down. This extra fabric in the crotch will extend the size of your pooch and cause chafing in a really unfortunate area.
- Baggy Knees: No one thinks to take a look at the back of their knees when trying on workout gear. This is one sign that your stretchy pants are too big. Extra fabric in the back of the knee means your pants are going to move around. Size down.
- Spandex Sheen: Ever tried on a pair of leggings and the light reflected off the elastic? They are too small. If your leggings look shiny, grab the next size up or try a different style. (Note: you will have SOME sheen as the fabric has elastic in it.)
- Gaping at the Waist: Most of us have this problem with our jeans, as our butts are bigger than our waists. We live with it, but it shouldn’t happen. This means you’re wearing the wrong rise, so opt for a higher or lower rise depending on your body type. This “rise of pant” issue is also what causes faux love handles. There are lots of different rises: low-rise, mid rise, mid-high rise, high rise, high-waisted.
- Slip & Slide: If your pants are noticeably moving, you probably need to go down 2 sizes. Seriously. On the flip side, if you feel like a sausage, go up a size.
Did you learn something here? Let me know in the comments, Facebook or Twitter!
Tags: activewear sizing, are my workout pants too big, fit of activewear, how youryoga pants should fit, tips for workout pant fit
I am learning a lot more about fit now as we start to develop our own activewear line. These are all EXCELLENT points – avoiding the baggy crotch is a big consideration for us because as you said, chafing down there is a very BAD thing.
Thanks for your awesome checklist!
This is so true, and can be applied to more than just workout pants. I recently lost weight and all my workout pants are too baggy. I went from a size 8 to a size 6 in Lulu. Now the 6 is baggy. Sheesh when am I going to level off! Until then I’m going to have to deal with baggy knees and loose crotch pants. Ha!