Is a 30 in men's jeans the same as a 30 in women's?

Anonymous

Looking at expanding my jean-shopping options for a nice baggy look (I've got a vision in my head that is failing to materialize) and am unsure how to translate my jeans size, 30, into men's jeans. At the Gap online, for example, they want a waist size and inseam length. Would I be a 30 waist? Or, if I want to wear the jeans around my hips, do I order my hip size (38)?

The easiest answer is to just go shopping in person, but I have no time ... online it is, then!

12 years ago

Shopping

7 replies

Latest reply was from Sarah A

Aziraphale

Veteran

I don't actually know, but I'm going to answer anyway. Here's my guess:

I wear a size 25 in jeans. I do not have a 25" waist. It's actually 27". I assume this is because the jeans are always low-rise, and sit across my hips, which are narrower than you would expect based on my waist size. I have a rectangular body shape. If I had the "ideal" hourglass figure, then based on my hip size, my waist would in fact be 25".

What I'm saying is that women's jeans usually fit not right on the actual waist (Saturday Night Live "Mom Jean" sketch, anyone?), but lower, and they extrapolate the waist measurement. If you actually measure the circumference of the waistband of my jeans, they are somewhere in the 32" or 33" ballpark -- closer to my hip measurement.

I suspect that men's jeans are not so, because men are not supposed to be hourglass-shaped. I think with men's jeans, a 30" waist is a 30" waist.

12 years ago

Anonymous

Thanks, Elisabeth! I just found this on ehow.com on how to convert women's jean sizes to men's sizes. I wonder how accurate it is:

"Take your jean size and add 21. That is the waist size of the men's jeans that will fit you. Because men's jeans are not as wide in the hips, you may need to go up one size if you have fuller hips. Likewise, you may need to drop one size if your hips are narrow."

12 years ago

kellygirl

Veteran

Hmm, this is interesting. I remember buying shrink to fit 501's but it was so long ago I can't remember my size--not that I would fit in that size anymore. Good question--looking forward to hear how this works for you!

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

My own experience is I wore a 29 or 30 in men's jeans 10 years ago. Levi's brand. I wore a size 7 in ladies at the time. I think women's sizing is 10" less than the hip. In other words, a 27" jean is a 37" hip. Men's jeans really are by waist, so you need to go measure your ladie's jeans to find the equivalent. Usually recent lower rise jeans are about 5 or 6" less at the waist than the hip. So, a 27" jean is a 31 or 32 waist in reality, with a corresponding 37' hip. Did I talk in circles?? sorry - had some wine tonight

12 years ago

suzyq

Active Member

That E-how article might be on to something. I wear a womens 10 but steal my hubs worn/old jeans for gardening and loafing. He wears a 31. I LOVE his jeans.

12 years ago

Kristin L

Veteran

The only thing you should be aware of (and probably already know) is that they are cut different. I can't wear my BF's jeans because they fit me funny in the hip area.

12 years ago

Sarah A

Veteran

Also, be aware mens jeans are coming in all different cuts now too. I often wear DH's 32 waist Levi's 511 skinny's but his Levis signature bootcuts in the same size are huge on me. For reference I am about a womens US size 6, or 28 with some 27s and 29s thrown.

12 years ago

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