Gap skinny boot cords - keep or return/exchange?

My cords came!! They are super super comfortable but I'm unsure of the fit. First, I haven't worn Gap pants in close to 20 years so I have no idea on shrinkage from washing. Also, I'm late on the jegging/lean super stretchy type of pant bandwagon. So I don't know if the extra give on these is a good thing or a bad thing!
I love the color. I'm wondering if they don't fit close enough to the leg? See how they are snug at the top of the thigh only (pic 3)? I can pull the waistband several inches away and it has a slight pucker of extra material across the back above the pockets (pic 2). Should I size down or will these likely shrink a tad in the wash and be just right? Are they just fine as is?

yay - keep, they are just fine!
nay - return or exchange for a smaller size

This post has 6 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

14 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Mo, i don't have experience with the cords but I think they will stretch. They look right but if you're bagging or having slippage, I would size down.

Anonymous

In my experience cords tend to stretch...so I think if they are large to start with there's a danger they may grow too large. If it's just the waistband, perhaps they can be altered?

Suz

(website)

Malina, these look terrific on you! The colour is lovely. And the fit looks fabulous to me from what I can see, assuming that you need to actually pull to make that waistband come out. But I'm not sure what to advise on the size. For those who don't know it, this fabric is not like typical plain cotton cord material at all. It is VERY stretchy.

For what it is worth, I had a pair of their jegging shorts this summer in the super stretchy soft denim. I liked them a lot for comfort but they DID stretch out after a couple of wears, and in retrospect I think I should have bought a size down.

Having said that, I lately tried exactly these cords, except just the jegging, no boot cut at the bottom, in the size down from the shorts. And for some reason they didn't work for me; I ended up taking them back. Admittedly, I have a very long rise, and this is often a problem, but one reason I had really enjoyed the shorts this summer was that the stretchy fabric seemed to do away with my typical problems. However, I had tried the cords in the size up, and they were definitely too baggy. There was extra material everywhere.

Denim isn't the same as cords, but although the denim did stretch out a bit after a few wears, it also snapped back into place in the wash extremely well. I found the shorts a terrific addition to my wardrobe and I would definitely try the cords again, just in case I got a bad batch on that first pair I tried. (It actually felt a bit as if the fabric was twisted somehow, so it may be a problem that can be addressed; but they had no others in my size at the store.)

Thanks ladies. I think they look okay as is, but I don't think they look 'skinny' like on the model. They look more like traditional boot cuts, and I already have cords like that. So I am going to try sizing down and hope that gets them snug on my leg down around the knees like on the model (who I"m sure has MUCH skinnier legs than I). I would hate to have them bag out any more and then regret not trying a slimmer size. Sigh, back to the mailbox and the w a i t i n g . . . he he.

Mo, how about waiting to return these until after you get the size down, so you can compare? Might be worth it. I found it really helpful in the dressing room to be able to see both sizes and when eventually I (regretfully) made the return, it was in the full knowledge that I had given both possible sizes as good a try as I could.

rae

I'm with you on the exchange. My Gap leans grew a bit, as did my J. Crew cords, so between the two I would guess they'd grow. If you already have cords that fit like this, then no need to keep this pair IMO.

Heather

If you aren't happen with them, back they go!!! Can they just build a big mall near you, Malina? I'll ask, okay?

Suz, I am on your wavelength! I just called in an exchange to that effect. But . . . the size 2 are on backorder until the 14th of Nov! Argh.
Rae, I figured along the same lines. The cords I do have indeed stretch out after half a day. Thanks for chiming in.

Isabel

SOLD ! Oh, this is about you.

I LOVE those. I want those. But back to you. I have Gap skinny jeans and and straight leg jeans ! I love them..but I went up a size so that the legs didn't look too tight and I had the waist taken in. My experience with cords is that they stretch as you where them more than once prior to washing, but then they go right back after washing ( just like jeans ).

They look fab on you...I am very excited for you.

Malina, I totally get it about the backorder thing. The 2s disappear so fast. That was the size I needed, too, and there was only the one (the slightly twisty feeling one) in the store. So I couldn't compare to another in the same size (as I had hoped to do). Meanwhile the 4s were too big.

You probably WOULD fit a 2 better. Hmmmm.

Lisa

I would go one size down. The majority of my Gap bottoms stretch with wear.

Jackie C

Active Member

Hi,
Greetings from a newbie...Rule of thumb for me is to buy Jeans/Cords/any Pant with stretch 1 size down, after walking around they will fit just perfect...and I think you need to go down a size and really luv the color on the model, I'll be checking that out.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

I vote return. You are far too sassy to wear bootcut cords!!!

Lol Angie! I like the idea of sassy me! I am going to try the 2's hoping they fit slim along the legs like skinnies. If not, back they all go!!

Marley

I vote send them back - 1st of all, you need a size smaller - and 2nd, they look like bootcuts rather than skinnies! Or, did you want bootcuts??? I guess I need to re-read your thread!

Category