Need some help making sense of measurements
So I just got back from my tailor and I had asked him if he could take measurements so I can thrift clothes online and such.
While the handwriting makes sense, I'm struggling to understand the concept of an inseam and outseam
I got told my inseam is 31 while I barely fit in 32 length pants
He also let me know I've got a 33 waist but when I mentioned I was trying to get vintage jeans he said to go for 32 (even when I asked if they have like specific length measurements)
20 Replies
What I recommend based on my eBay experiences so far:
Get a measuring tape and measure some clothes that fit you. Take notes of the range of sizes that seem to work.
crap I should write a guide.
been meaning to.
I will take one please
I bought the measuring tape and all, I just had a trip to turn some pants into shorts so I was like might as well ask
ok, it helps to look at listings on eBay. The good ones will have measurements, ideally directly in the photos.
and like I know vanity sizes are definitely a thing, I do not understand the measurements from him (apart from suit and like the shirt size which I knew)
what are you looking for in particular?
pants? blazers? shirts?
I mean I was hoping to get me some vintage 505's
ok.
and I wouldn't mind crawling through ebay from time to time for like sweaters and jackets and such
find your 2-3 pairs of pants that fit you the best.
sweaters are easy. jackets are harder.
lay them out flat, measure across the waist and the inseam.
it also helps to compare with some pants you have that are too lose or too tight, to get an idea of the range of acceptable measurements.
So, for example, when I did this recently, I got:
501s: perfect fit. 17 x 30
PRL cords: way too short, a bit too tight: 16.5 x 27
Tweed pants: too tight. a bit short but OK. 16.5 x 29
Because the measurement across the waist is half the waist size, I'm looking for 34x30 or maybe 34x29.
So you can search for "awesome pants 34x30". Or, more realistically, something like "brown corduroy pants 34x30" or "ralph lauren andrew 34x30"
and would you go search by the 34x30 or would you hope that the vendor has the stuff measured in the post?
I would search by 34x30, and verify it in the listing.
So, for example, I bought these recently: https://www.ebay.com/itm/285293298214
eBay
VTG Polo Ralph Lauren Pants Men 34x30 Charcoal Gray Wool Stretch 5 ...
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for VTG Polo Ralph Lauren Pants Men 34x30 Charcoal Gray Wool Stretch 5 Pocket Casual at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
how easy are returns on ebay, I've never really bought stuff from there
You can see they say 34x30 in the listing, but if you look at the photos, you can verify the measurements.
oooh I love that
returns are pretty easy in my experience, but you will pay for shipping both directions.
also since I'm going for a more vintage 505, those are higher rised right?
should I look at like front and back rises or like knee and thigh width?
I'm not a Levis expert, but there are more measurements you can look at too, such as the rise and the leg opening
Not every listing will have those, though.
I haven't really looked at measurements other than waist and inseam so far. But I just got some PRL cords that are really high waisted, so maybe I should.
Here's a listing for a pair of 505s that shows the rise measurements: https://www.ebay.com/itm/186161289578
eBay
Levis Vintage 505 Jeans Mens Regular Fit Straight Leg Blue 34x30 Co...
These Levi's 505 jeans are an excellent addition to any fashion-forward individual's wardrobe.
your inseam is the measurement from your crotch to your foot, basically the inside of your leg. Outseam is the outside of your leg, generally from waist to foot
the difference is called the rise when you are looking at pants