Checking if pants fit without trying them on is possible using a couple of simple measurements against your own body. The primary methods involve checking the waistband size and the leg length.
Checking the Waist Fit
One popular method for estimating waist fit without trying on pants involves using the waistband itself.
- The Neck Method: Take the waistband of the pants and wrap it around your neck. If the ends of the waistband meet comfortably around your neck without being too tight or too loose, the pants are likely to fit around your waist.
- According to one source, using this method to check the waist can "guarantee 95 times out of 100 they'll fit around your waist and be comfortable."
Checking the Leg Length
After determining if the waist is likely to fit, you need to check the length of the pant legs.
- The Hold-Up Method: To check the leg length, hold the pants up against your body. Align the top of the waistband with where you would naturally wear the pants on your waist/hips. Then, look at where the bottom of the pant legs falls. This will give you an estimate of how long the pants will be on you.
By using these two techniques – wrapping the waistband around your neck for the waist and holding the pants up for the leg length – you can get a good indication of whether a pair of pants will fit without needing a fitting room.
