How To Try Things On - YouLookFab Forum

This is inspired by my own recent experience and a couple of threads on here.
I tried on a skirt in my closet recently, someone gave it to me a while ago and it finally "fit". However there was some horizontal wrinkling/pulling across the tummy/hips. I often have this problem and sizing up means the skirt will sit lower, not necessarily fit "better". I decided I could wear it with longer tops, it fills a warddrobe hole (I'm SYC), and I planned an outfit around it.
I put said outfit on a week later - WITH my default thick nylon winter tights - and miraculously, no more pulling.The skirt fits great. I forgot that tights always have a bit of shapewear effect on me. So.... if I am trying on winter skirts or dresses, I should be wearing tights! An epiphany, for me
I also feel you can't judge a winter wool coat without scarves. They just change the whole look, in proportion and colour effect, and I generally won't wear a wool coat without a scarf anyway.
Jeans... I don't have a clue. Do I have to wear them around the house for several hours? Can I really return them after that?
Any other tips, rules, etc. for how to properly judge clothes before you buy or K/R?

13 years ago

Day Vies

Veteran

I think you hit on my tip in your post. When I go try clothes on I wear my best bra and shapewear (even when at home) it is very difficult to judge fit when things aren't in the right place.
I don't think you need several hours around the house to figure out jeans I usually take one pair into the dressing room with me (stay with me on this) I spend an average of 45 minutes in the dressing room trying on all of the stuff I have collected. (Clearly I don't shop where there is a limit! I follow my mother's edict to this day -- try everything on) I keep on the pair of jeans through out the entire session to see how I like the fit at the end. That will give you the best indication of whether you need to size up or down in a pair of jeans.

texstyle

(website)

Funny, I just did this last evening too - trying on items in my closet I mean. It is so true that you need to take the time to try things on properly - undergarments included!

In my case I found I had 3 pair of pants/jeans that are a little too tight or in one case had a "mom jean" fit. I wondered the same thing about the slightly tight pants - should I walk around the house for a while before deciding... But I have a big drawer of "to be consigned/sold" items that I chose to put them in instead for now. I can re-evaluate in a few months as I do plan to lose a few pounds. I just won't reach for the items that feel a little tight on a regular basis so I think those were just taking up space in my closet. I also removed a light military style jacket I had bought on sale two years ago for $14 because I've replaced it with a better quality version.

I also found several things that I forgot I had or that worked with some newer things. Like some great light tan jeans that fit me really well and work so much better now that I have a tan leather belt. They'll be perfect for spring.

So, don't forget when you get new accessories/shoes/etc. to see how they might work with some of your orphaned items.

And even changing your hair color slightly might make some colors look better than they used to.

I can't think of any more great tips but I do know that taking time to try things on is key.

Aziraphale

Interesting points, Jules. I have the opposite problem with tights, though -- I think a skirt fits fine, and then when I try to wear it with tights, it pulls and clings and I have to stuff a slip in there to sort things out! I've made a promise to myself to NOT buy any more winter skirts that are unlined.

Emily

Trying things on at home is the best!

For jeans, I spend at least 2 minutes in them and bend, sit, stretch etc. I think that gives a good idea of how much they will give.

Shoes, on the other hand, I wear around the house for several hours before making a final decision to keep.

Toppers (blazers, cardigans, pullovers you plan to layer) really need to be tried on with all the things you might wear underneath them - they can look fine with a knit tee but a lumpy mess with a button down.

Janet

When I'm in the fitting room trying on pants or jeans, I probably look like I'm doing calisthenics! I make it a point to sit and squat a lot, to see how much give there is in the fabric and assess whether the knees, and more importantly the butt, will bag out into a droopy-drawer effect during the course of a day.

Jules

So, forgive my ignorance, but are you looking for lots of give or very stiff jeans? Which correlates with bagging?

Anonymous

I spend an insane amount of time judging fit, probably a lot more than required. For me, pants are the hardest to do. I do not bulge on PPL at all, I even have shoes at different heel heights to accommodate weight fluctuations, which might make my pants tighter, therefore shorter. Jeans have to be somewhat comfortable, give a good leg line with very little wrinkling and be generous in the waist to avoid muffin top. Jackets, forget it! I have even had coats tailored at the shoulder, so they fit perfectly. That alteration sometimes costs as much as the coat itself.
Why do I do it? Because I rely on fit quite a lot and is a huge part of my style. I also don't like to realign or fidget with my clothes. To me, that denotes a self awareness I don't want to convey. I discovered that there is less rearranging when things fit well.I almost want to make it look as if I spend 5 minutes finding what to wear and another 5 putting it on. That is the ultimate goal.

As far as tips, the best I can say is take your time. Rushing at the fitting room is the worst thing you can do. I often try things at different times, before I decide to keep, to see if I failed to see something.

ManidipaM

Call me bizarre but I tend to climb stairs, if I can find them, or the little ottoman or bench in the trial rooms when checking out a dress or skirt, and also slimfit pants and skinnies. If it doesn't move right with me on uneven territory, it won't get worn much at all, I've realized. And can be a disaster getting in and out of a car if you're not particularly ladylike (I'm emphatically not).

I also make sure to twist sideways, reach forwards and overhead when trying out button-front and wrap shirts, jackets, dresses to check for constriction, pulling, tightness and subsequent bunching, gaping and sliding.

K. Period.

Janet and I are jean workout twins. I do deep knee bends and pull and tug too to see how jeans will fit as the day continues. I also take in a stack of jeans in whatever size I'm trying on and try every single one of them. If the jeans are going to work at all, there will always be at least one stunner in the batch and one clunker. If I'd only tried on the clunker, I would never have seen the stunner. It is the changing room equivalent of dating around before committing and I wholeheartedly embrace it!

Jules, when I move around in jeans/pants in the fitting room, I'm looking to evaluate:

- whether the length is long enough when I'm walking/moving around and after I bend and stand straight again -- I used to be fooled by lengths when I just stood in front of the mirror, and I HATE it when my pants are too short
- whether the back of the waist is so big it rides down, combined with a lower rise, risking the dreaded plumber butt
- whether anything pinches or constrains me, especially the waistband in front
- a balance of give and comfort in the fabric -- I want it to move with me (not too stiff) but if its extremely stretchy, I want to see if it bounces back into shape or not.
- whether the calves of skinny jeans "stick" to my legs and ride up, requiring me to pull them down every time I stand up -- the jeans I have that do this get worn tucked into tall boots!

Hope that helps!

Caro in Oz

What Janet said - it takes time. Also whenever I'm not sure (at the end of this process) I leave them.

JulieJohn

Great thread, and great tips, everyone! I would also add an Angie tip - sit down when trying on a buttoned blouse to see how it strains or gaps.

These are all great, thanks. I definitely need the help shopping for jeans!

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