Cut tags too soon on wrong size pants - YouLookFab Forum

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Cut tags too soon on wrong size pants

unfrumped

Veteran

Well, I appear to have goofed.

I saw the BR barrel pants online ( our BR store closed several years ago) and thought, these are my pants! For a summer chino type pant. I was focused on the khaki, not as a face color but for a summer neutral since for tops I can wear many colors. Also like “ stone” as cooler color but it isn’t always available.

Anyway I ordered 2 sizes at first- both too big surprisingly. So, send back and size down. ( BR has a brutal — for spoiled U.S. shopper here- 30 day return from date of ORDER. Which is harder by mail. )

New size fit better , though could use waist taken in, and I just kind of decided that I couldn’t go smaller due to typical backside issues. The cut of these pants is in some ways disappointing for a set- in high waist, because the waist is not as fitted as you’d think it ought to be, say for a curvy look. The cut is more straight.

So I went ahead and washed & wore a few times. And they were comfortable, but I just felt they were baggier on the thigh than I had originally “ seen” when trying on, and gave me a bit of overpowered look.

So, I decided to order a size down & also had lightbulb moment to try petite in the size I had, because they’re so high- waisted.

Well, the size down is a bit snug but doncha know, the petite fits better-just that little bit of less bagged out. It just looks more “ me”, still a belted fairly high waist & loose fit but tidier. Plus can wear an untucked top at times and not look lost.

So of course I want to keep and wear the new size. And then would need to put the others in the “Hold” box. And feel these are some expensive pants.

Lament over.
Have you done same?

Banana Republic

High-Rise Barrel-Leg Chino

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7

Shopping

18 replies

Latest reply was from Jaime

Star

Veteran

Aaggh! How annoying, but at least you have a pair that works for you. Very nice pants, I quite fancy the olive color too. I do not order online so have never had this problem, however at the beginning of summer there was a black cotton utility skirt in the thrift shop which I really did not feel like trying on as it was very crowded and it turned out to be quite small, actually very small, in the waist. Fortunately it was really inexpensive and is giving me some motivation to lose the tummy fluff I have gained in the last year.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I can relate!

I bought these Sanctuary cargo joggers back in December. LOVE them! They are truly year-round pants, which is unheard of for me. I wore them with Heattech pants underneath for sub-freezing temps in Quebec, and I’ve worn them in 80-degree summer already.

However, after wearing them several times and finally laundering them (carefully, and hung to dry), they shrank! Not a huge amount, but just enough to make them feel not as fab. That was back in January. Panicking, I searched online and found another pair, in a size up, and promptly ordered them. They were quite roomy but I wore them in place of the original pants.

Well, fast forward just a few months, and some better habits have resulted in some weight loss (only about 7-8 lbs at the moment but enough to make clothes fit differently!). Now the original pants fit great and I’m wearing them a lot, and the “new” larger ones are too big! Well, maybe I’ll try washing the larger ones to see if they shrink a bit too, LOL. But I’m definitely keeping both, since even the larger ones are wearable, just very roomy so a different vibe, but a bit baggier than I prefer. They kinda slide down my hips too because the waist is elastic in back.

I’m going to laugh even more if I lose another size and feel like I need a size down from the original!

But yeah, these are not super cheap pants either, but I know I’m already getting a very good CPW out of them, even though I don’t formally track such things. I’m inclined to hold onto an extra pair of something so beloved, “just in case” for now at least.

Sanctuary Harmony Cargo Pants

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LJP

Veteran

I've had these pants in my shopping cart for awhile now. But, like you, I don't have a BR store here anymore and find shipping back and forth is a tiresome waste of my time. When I did shop regularly at BR, I did find petite fits were better in many items (blazers, pants, coats ) . As a matter of fact, a pair of BR pants in my current work-wear collection are petites and it's not like I'm particularly short . I think if this were me, I'd keep the new ones if you really love them, or cut your losses and move on to another style that might work better. Fun tip: I own a ticketing gun which has come in handy when I've been too eager to cut tags (not after I've worn something though )

LJP

Veteran

As to buying then losing weight - I'm in Janet's camp. I bought a few pair of casual pants and shorts in March maybe? in prep for the spring/summer season. They are all now a size too big and never got worn. I honestly can't win . I tried to duplicate the shorts in a smaller size but of course by this point, all the good stuff is sold out or sizes are gone. Bah.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

LJP, now that is high-level retail self-defence! A ticketing gun!

Unfrumped, it happens to all of us. It's one of the risks of online shopping, really -- unless you order every nearby size, you can't be 100% sure you got the best size for you and sometimes we are fooled by our strong need or desire for the item.

I'd keep the ones that fit best and that you love. Then, you could try to wash the others to shrink and if that doesn't work, maybe wear them as gardening clothing or something....you may also find your eye adjusts to the extra fabric. I bought a pair of pants last year that I liked a lot but never wore because my eye just couldn't adjust. I had cut the tags already, so I kept. Anyway -- fast forward to this year and my eye has completely adjusted to the look. Wearing them regularly.

WASHED EFFECT LINEN BLEND PANTS

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NancyW

Veteran

So too bad about the ‘extra’ but good advice above. Even though I am not petite in height, I have a high waist and will always check the petite size of a blouse/knit top that feels too long.

unfrumped

Veteran

Thanks Fabbers.
The funny thing is, the pants in the new size have a little less “ dramatic “ look, which I prefer and also makes them more wearable, as the slightly neater cut is more forgiving of other proportions in tops/toppers/ footwear. So my enabling thought is that I’ll be more likely to grab& go with less fuss, which is important because these are casual pants, could actually use a pressing if one is trying to be crisper ( the stock photos are ironed) , but ok as- is from laundering if wearing with other casual items. Need to be Wear Now, while they seem to work for me, not save on the hanger.

LJP— yes, I have considered “ just say no” ! I do plan a few more tryon’s because of feeling once- burned. So will run through a larger selection of tops etc. And I have also reattached challenging tags if haven’t worn or washed an item.

unfrumped

Veteran

Suz, I do plan to keep them for now, for those types of reasons. I might even wear them here or there for more comparisons. I think I will review the Hold box and decide on some other thing(s) to let go!

Irina

Veteran

I have these exact pants. I panic ordered them last year after realizing that the most of my pants were too tight. I'm almost back to my size this summer. So pants feel too loose especially in the waist and slide down a bit but I like their shape in the bigger size. Instead of asking my tailor to take them in at the back, I asked to put an elastic into the belt. Works well and I wear them now.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Irina makes a really good point — I have found that sometimes a pretty simple alteration makes a bit difference in making pants wearable, especially since I prefer a bit more room in the hip and thigh, and usually require tailoring in the waist and seat. Maybe two slightly different vibes for the two different sizes? That may be my approach to my duplicated cargo joggers!

LJP

Veteran

The ticketing gun was a hold-over from merchandising days Handiest thing ever, I tell ya.

Star

Veteran

If all else fails what about a hot wash, 60 degrees probably, and a high level of spinning in the washing machine. Maybe they will shrink, or the 2% elastine may prevent it, not sure, no experience with that. I had cotton bed sheets that I purchased in a too big size and they shrunk nicely when I did this. Obviously bed sheets and pants are like apples and pears but still if you end up not using them you could give it a try.

kkards

Veteran

100% take them to a tailor and ask what your options are and how much it would cost...even when i buy in person, what fits in the fitting room and what fits IRL after a few outings is often different. and i find myself altering stuff

slim cat

Veteran

The pants might shrink or the other thing will happen - the fabric will get damaged ( cotton and spandex will shrink differently, or spandex will be destroyed giving fabric uneven look ).
Regarding the tags - I once needed to re-attach tags to the coat that my daughter tried, loved and unloved in a course of the whole 20 min - lol.

cat2

Veteran

Don’t beat yourself up. I bought a pair of jogger style pants final sale from my favorite brand, and to my eye they are way too big. But I have saved way more than the $$ I spent on them with my other successful final sale purchases from them, so I donated them without beating myself up. And, with denim it’s really hard to tell how much it will stretch out.

Star

Veteran

Good to know not to try hot water shrinking on anything other than cotton. I like Irena's solution. LOL at your daughter falling in and out of love in 20 minutes, I can relate.

Anonymous

This is why I only wear elastic waists!
Actually I had a situation recently with some rayon Thai pants I bought for sleeping in. I didn't realize they couldn't go in hot water and they shrunk. But I read that you can soak them in lukewarm water with conditioner in it, then stretch them back out. It seemed to work, but they've been hanging to dry so I haven't tried them on.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I have done this, perhaps because so few of what I buy is returnable I forget about that option! You could tailor them or give them to someone that might appreciate them.