Monday, December 14, 2009

Pants

Please settle in. I'm about to go on a rant about pants (and no, those aren't mine).



According to Wikipedia (and we all know that Wikipedia doesn't lie), the average height for women over 20 years of age in the United States is 5 feet 4 inches tall. The last time I measured myself, I was 5 foot 3.75 inches. Usually I just round up to 5'4". Given these facts, can anyone explain to me why every time I try on a pair of pants, they're about 57 inches too long? And why I have to cut off a couple inches and re-hem almost every pair of pants I buy? I AM AVERAGE HEIGHT!!!! Can't somebody make pants that fit me? I would understand having to alter my pants if I were shorter than average. But, clothes are supposed to be made to fit the average person. And, according to Wikipedia, that's me. I wish that, like Tracy Jordan, I could simply yell, "pants, pants, pants" and well-fitting pants would be brought to me. That is not the case. Instead, I go in the dressing room, put on the pants, stand on my very, very tip toes, and still have an excessive amount of fabric bunched around my ankles. I might feel better about all of this if stores could knock off, say, 10 bucks from the price since I have to go home and fix them. But, no. I pay the full price and then have to go home, wash them a couple times to allow for any shrinkage, try them on again, figure out how much fabric I need to cut off, measure, cut, fold, iron, and sew the new hem in all before I can ever wear them. It is maddening! And I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. Does anyone else have this problem? Given that I am average height, I feel like almost everyone should have this problem. Please tell me I'm not alone in my pants predicament!

14 comments:

Trenda said...

I am 5'4" and have the same problem! It is very annoying. We should boycott or something!

Andrea said...

I have a friend who is probably your height, but you wouldn't know it because she wears the tallest shoes out there. Big wedges, or heels, or just tall soles. I offered her some pants once and she said they were too short. I was so surprised since I'm taller than her. So, apparently pants are made for the average height woman that wears very tall shoes!

I kind of wish I had your problem. I find most of my pants are a little too short. An extra inch or two would help. The thing that drives me nuts is finding a pair that isn't way to low rise. I think it's ridiculous when the zipper is like an inch long. Come on people. No one wants to see the area between the shirt and the pant waist (because, let's be honest, that area for most people isn't something enjoyable to see. Your underwear is your business. I'm happier not knowing if you choose a thong or other type of underclothing).

Sorry for the rant. :)

LJ, DC and ML said...

I'm a shrimp too but am far too lazy to cut my pants. Way to go JJ!

Tammy said...

wear high heels. Becca could help you find some!

Ashlee said...

I have the opposite problem. I can never find pants long enough that aren't too big in the waist and thighs. Maybe we should go shopping together. I'll take you to all the places with short pants, and you can show me all the places with long ones. Perfect!

Mary Pat said...

Try being 5 foot nothing, and drowning in the hip and length area! If I were rich, I would defineatly hire my own designer.

Molly said...

Well, Gap comes in short, regular, and long, but their pants tend to stretch out quite a bit, so you have to buy them small and then suffer every time you dry them just so they can fit the majority of the time. :)

Or you could just splurge and buy all your jeans from Nordstrom where they will hem them for you for free. I guess if you always find your jeans on sale, it would be a very good deal.

I, on the other hand, buy them long, let the ends drag, and walk all over them until the backs are quite unsightly and I know it's time to buy a new pair. :)

Ella said...

I am just shocked you can hem your own pants!!!

Gordita said...

I'm impressed, like Ella, that you hem your own pants. Way cool. Also, I'm a few inches taller than you and pretty much always wear heels and pants are usually about the right length for me. I find this surprising since my heels usually make me about 5'9" and somehow average length pants are the right length. Way lame for average sized people, pants makers. Way lame.

teuscher travels said...

I am 5'4 as well and have the same problem, sometimes they have the "short" option but then they come up 2 or 3 inches above the ankle and they really arent the same pants with less leg - they changes the waist part too. I hate shopping for jeans and very good point that we are the average woman height, you would think we would have it the easiest:)

Kristina said...

I just end up wearing them long too... with heals, but even then they are usually too long and I destroy the ends. I would LOVE to be able to wear flats without having to roll up my pants! (I am too lazy to hem them)

Sharon said...

Maybe you better buy your jeans in short. Some designers make them that way. Or you could just keep showing off your sewing skills. But you might not want to complain to me cuz I'd like to buy jeans in any size but maternity right now.

Berrett's said...

haha i love your rantings woman! i shared your sense of shock and dismay the whole way through your pant story. :) i have the same problem...oye!!!

tina

Julie Sparks said...

Funny, at 5'6", and an average 2" heel, the jeans always seem too short...

The grass isn't greener.

In order of "hate to shop for":
1. Bras
2. Swimsuits
3. Jeans