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HELP: Express pants (Editor, Columnist) sizing and fit?

Sunita

Veteran

I'm thinking of ordering some dress pants from Express and want to take advantage of their BOGO 50% sale that runs through Monday. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get to a store to try them on and plan to order online.

So, I am hoping some of you have experience with the fit and sizing on these pants!

I will try both the Editor and the Columnist, though I do not have skinny legs and think the Columnist might be too tight in the thighs (based on online reviews). Has that been your experience in terms of fit with those two styles?

I'm usually a 6/28 in pants (j.Crew, Gap, KUT white skinnies) but do wear a 4 in the Halogen Taylor. The Halogen pants have been my go to dress pants for a while. Should I be ordering the Express pants in a 6 or a 4?

I don't mind ordering pants in both sizes, but would like to minimize returns...

Thanks in advance, and Happy Easter to all!

http://www.express.com/dress-p...../index.cat

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29 replies

Latest reply was from carolyne w

Kari

Veteran

From my experience back when I wore pants, the columnist is cut a lot straighter in general, and I found the Editor cut better suited to my curvy hips and fuller thighs. I remember the Columnist being lower rise too but the cuts have gone through some changes, so that may no longer be the case.

Sunita

Veteran

Thanks Kari! I would really like to add a few more dress pants to my closet, and am thinking the Editors might be the way to go. I'm eyeing a pair in white and a light gray.

machanteuse (Lori)

I love the Editor pants. My faves right now are the wide waistband ones but I've had other versions in the past. I am either a 6 or 8 depending on the store and size 6 fits me perfectly at Express.

Sunita

Veteran

Thanks Lori....so maybe I should size down to a 4?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I have Editors from about 7 years back, and they are 6's. I most recently fit a 2 in both Gap corduroys and a Limited pencil skirt. So, at least the past seasons, the Editors fit smaller than many (now vanity sized) brands. Of course, the Editors may now be vanity sized to keep up with the market, I don't know! (my hips are 36 1/2" for the record)

Sunita

Veteran

Wow, Mo....that is quite a range in sizing (without any weight loss?)

The online reviews for people who are my height and weight (5'3" and 122 lbs) indicate that I should order a 4. I might also order a 6 just in case...

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I just bought these for myself, so hopefully I can help...I only tried the Editor.

I am pretty curve and a bit heavier and taller than you. I have always, at any size, been big in the thigh relative to the rest of my body, with a curvy hip and bottom. I found the Editor to be a good fit in the leg which is usually my difficult fit area. I got them in a size 10, which is my normal size.

I found the style with the wide waistband to be perfect. I also found them to be a bit short. I wish they had longer inseams...but they'll probably be great for you (with heels) since you are a few inches shorter than me (I'm 5'6" and 150).

I was warned in the store to size down because they stretch (particularly the light stone-colored ones, I was told), but I tried the 8 and it was much too small. If you are between sizes sizing down is probably the way to go.

Good luck!

ETA, sorry I misspoke, I have the EDITOR, not the Columnist fit.

Sunita

Veteran

Ooh thanks Jenava! That's really helpful. I think I will order the Columnists in 6 and the Editors in 4 and 6 (and resign myself to making returns!)

Sunita

Veteran

Oh...just saw your edit! Hmm, I think I might still give the Columnists a go because I prefer that leg style.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I'm quite pleased with my Editors. I hope it's not true that the stretch out because they're a great fit on me. I'll go try them on a take pictures so you can see what they look like on me for comparison.

Sunita

Veteran

Thank you *so much* Jenava....I'll wait up a while in case you are able to post those pics soon!

I really appreciate your help...thanks again!

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

OK, here's one pair - black and white tweedish fabric with black waistband and trim.

This is with basically a kitten heel and as you can see if I wore anything higher they'd be to short. I can't decide whether to let them out or not. There's only an inch of seam, so I'd only be able to let them out about 1/2 inch, practically speaking.

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machanteuse (Lori)

In my experience they don't really stretch. I love my brown ones so much I just ordered four more pairs... It's hard for me to find pants that don't fall down and/or sag in the rear, and the Editors I got most recently are fabulous. I'm 136 lbs so I bet the 4 is going to fit you better than the 6.

I did post a WIW of mine last Sunday (and linked back to it on my pants post yesterday) although I'm not sure you can really see the fit of the pants.

Sunita

Veteran

Wow Jenava! You look so amazing in those, and they are very stylish indeed. I don't know if they had the long pants in the store, but online it seems you can get a 35" inseam. Those might work better for your long legs...

Lori...I did see your earlier post, and that's what made me look into the Editors. So thanks for that!

OK ladies, I'm off to place my order, and will report back once the pants arrive.

Again: thank you, than you, thank you!!!

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

FWIW Angie recommended these to me and of course she was spot on. I really don't think you can go wrong. They were cheap as chips as $60 a pair for two. (buy one get one half off). Let us know how they work out when you get them!

Jewell

Veteran

I only have the Columnists, not the Editors. In most brands I wear a size 4 in trousers, but I found the size 4s from Express to be too tight across the hips/rear. In the photos I'm wearing a size 6R. I'm almost 5'7" with a 26 inch waist and 38 inch hips. In both photos I'm wearing heels. Without heels, these trousers get caught under my shoes. The red pants are worn with 3 inch stacked loafers, and I posted two pics so you could see the length. Neither pair has been hemmed. Hope that helps a bit!

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fashionista

Veteran

Sorry sunita, I can't be of much help to you. Jeneva and Jewell you look stunning.

Anonymous

I can't really add anything of value, you have gotten great advice already. What I do is order two sizes, 6 and 8, because sizes sometimes vary between colors. I buy the Editors, not columnists. In my experience, the Editors do have a lot of give, they stretch a whole lot.

I'm just glad that so many of you are finally giving these pants a chance. I've been talking about them for a while now:)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Wow. Jenava. Those are a 10! (So glad they worked out).

Kari is spot on. The Editors *generally* work extremely well for curvier bods - which our gorgeous model Jenava so perfectly shows us right here . The Columnist (my red trousers) *generally* work for straighter bods. For example, the Columnist fits me well, but the Editor does not.

Watch the hem width on the Columnist. Some are very flared and some are straight. I drown in the flares, but the straighter bootcut works well. See pic below. I also like my trouser fit roomy so that it looks more "boyish" and "modern".

Often, you have to go up a size.

I hope that they work out, Sunita

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Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Angie - yes, you were right as usual!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

So glad they worked, Jenava! And you chose my favourite Editors out at the moment - the micro check with the colour blocking. Are you comfy with the shirt tucked in like that - just making sure because we spoke about those challenges :). It looks fab! Perhaps keep them at this length.

Meredith1953

Veteran

I am hearing such good things about the Editors! I shall have to check them out!

Makrame

Veteran

Just a comment "from the other side" - the Editors did not work for me. I wear Halogen Taylor in size 6 and ordered the Editors in 6 and 8. I think that the 8 was a better fit but both were stiff and did not fit well in the crotch area. Maybe it was not a good fabrication for me. I haven't tried the Columnist. I was very happy to go back to wearing Halogen Taylor pants, which fit me perfectly, although mine are a bit on the wide side compared to the sleeker fit of the Express pants. So YMMV.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for asking about these, Sunita! I'm adding these to my list of trousers to try out now. They look promising.

I hope they work out for you too!

Sunita

Veteran

My order is in, and I'll be trying the Columnists in size 6 and the Editors in 4 and 6. I'll certainly report back when they arrive in the mail!

Jewell: those pants fit you really well! Thanks for the pics...it really helps to see the pants on someone.

Zap & Makrame: thanks for the feedback....good and bad!

Angie: those red pants are really A-mazing on you! Unfortunately, they're sold out or else I'd have given them a try. Thanks for weighing in with your valuable experience.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I'm looking forward to hearing how the pants work out for you Sunita - I'm interested in the cropped coloured Editors. Angie had recommended them as a good possibility for my less than straight bod!

Elly

Veteran

I used to wear the editors. I find the newer editor cuts (in the last couple years) are not as curve friendly. I haven't changed proportions (went up 1/2 size- 1 size) but can't wear the new editors. I also think that they tend to be more junior-size. When I was a size 4 in most dress slacks I wore a 6 in the editors.

DonnaF

Veteran

Thanks to y'all I ordered a slew of Editors last night with the plan to return half or more. With several black blazers, gray of course is a better go-to color than black pants! I measure between two sizes, so I will report back on whether I need to size up or down. I went around measuring various inseams last night and discovered that sometimes 30" is too short and other times just right; I suppose narrower legs pull the pants up. I am not overly keen on trouser fullness since I think it just makes me look short and fat since I only wear lowish heels at best, but we shall see. . . .

carolyne w

Member

Lots of great info here! Now Im excited about the express pants, will be going with the columnist style. Hope they ship to Canada! They are extremely hard to find where Im located.