Pants bagging out: this needs to end now - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Pants bagging out: this needs to end now

Liz A.

Veteran

I was just over on MsKatieKat's thread about INC jeans, and Gigi asked a question I've been wondering myself since before I joined this forum. I just want to know if there is a way to predict based on fabric content whether a pair of pants will stretch out with wearing. Or if not fabric content, is there some factor that can be used to predict?

Right now I just vacillate between buying a pair that fits in the store and bags out... Then I buy the next ones a bit tight to counteract that and they don't end up stretching out. It's madness!

Shopping

21 replies

Latest reply was from D'Ellen

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Alas...it is really tough to tell.

Some people feel that poly content makes them bag out more. That hasn't necessarily been my experience.

Others feel that high stretch content will make them bag. Again -- sometimes true and sometimes not.

My 100% cotton jeans do not bag out at all. But then, they're already baggy boyfriends.

ALL my other jeans stretch some in the wearing, except for one pair of premium DL1961 legging jeans with some kind of special stretch. These are amazing for tucking into boots and very sleek -- but they are not the most comfortable pants I've ever worn. They're more "girdling" than I like.

I actually like the effect of some bagging in some pants -- it makes for a slightly looser, slouchier fit, and I don't mind it. It's only when I'm trying for a sort of riding breeches snugness that it bothers me.

Shirley

I am curious about this too. My Gap always skinny has little spandex but got looser over the years. Maybe premium jeans hold up better? Granted, said gap jeans are 4 years old now.

Liz A.

Veteran

Oh Suz, you're absolutely right. I don't mind a bit if my bf jeans or slouchy fit pants bag out. It's when I'm after a sleek fitted look (most of the time) that it becomes a problem.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I've found its impossible to predict which pants will stretch/ bag out ahead of time. Even within the same brand, a different wash won't necessarily behave the same way. Looking at the bright side, I have a variety of pants/jeans to choose from when my weight fluctuates by a few pounds.

Anonymous

Aside from fabric content, the tighter they fit, the more they will stretch out. That's why Suz's 100% cotton jeans do not sag. A 100% cotton skinny jean will sag out like crazy.

Best content IMO is 5-8% elastane, rest cotton.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I've also found, Liz, that some pants stretch a little in an fairly attractive way, and others create elephant knees and droopy buns. Sigh. In the jean department, I don't think premium always fares better! NYDJ tend to hold up wear, with plenty of stretch, but I've had good luck with my Levi's skinnies. They stretch (which is good, 'cause I'm curvy), but don't sag. And I'm a fan of their iconic pocket and red tag. Not everyone's cup of tea, I know.

Anonymous

I haven't noticed egregious sagging in my Gap jeans, but I do like when a skinny relaxes and slouches a little in the seat and knees.

I would say my Paige Verdugos don't sag at all if I want an ultra skinny look, but I am moving away from that kind of fit.

Gaylene

Veteran

I agree with Zap that sagging and bagging is the result of more than the just the % of stretch content in the fabric. Bagging will be more noticeable on a skin-tight fit than on a looser fit. In addition, not all stretch fibers are equal--some, like those in the "girdling" pants that Suz mentions, are probably thicker and have more recovery than the thinner, very stretchy fibers used in other fabrics. As a very general guide, I'd say you would probably get more bagging in a garment made of a very stretchy fabric that would let you go down a couple of sizes without being totally unwearable; a pant like one Suz has would probably be very uncomfortable two sizes smaller.

Another factor that doesn't get much play is that some garments are designed, cut, and seamed to curve over a woman's body with the stretch being there more for comfort than for fit. Other garments rely on the stretch itself to make a 2-dimensional piece of fabric fit a 3-dimensional body--an approach which is much cheaper to manufacture because it involves less cutting, sewing, and finishing. So look at the shape of the pieces and the seamlines to see how the garment has been designed.

MsLuna

Veteran

Oooohhhh yes Liz! I thought I was the only person in the planet that has to combat the sag and bag of pants of any kind! It's sooooo frustrating!!!!

I've only found one brand to be consistent: American Eagle. I know, I know... Teeny bopperish but they have some good quality, inexpensive jeans. They do expand about a half size so make sure you get a snug fit. They also expand in the right places. I find that the super stretch fabric varieties are the best fit. Be warned that you may wear 2 diff sizes depending on the cut. I wear an 8 in all but a 6 in super stretch skinnies.

As for the Gap... I've gone down two sizes and they still bagged out significantly. If I size down, my large tummy can't handle it.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I think there can be diff net sources of bagging. Anything that has Lycra in it may bag when worn; anything that is tight fitting may bag as you move; anything that's a loose weave may bag as it heats up as you wear it. And all these things can be mitigated by the fit or how the garment is constructed - some jeans and pants are 'stayed' at the waist when made but some aren't.

Anonymous

Double post

karymk

Veteran

I do the thumb test on all fabrics I don't want to bag out. You push your thumb under the fabric from the underside quite firmly. If the bump from the thumb push doesn't return to its natural shape almost immediately, this fabric will give on you. I always do this especially on ponte knits because I have been so disappointed when they fit snugly and then after a few hours I have sags under my rear.

The higher the synthetic content in a fabric mix, the better chance you have of your fabrics keeping their shape. Make sure your jeans have at least 2% lycra, elastane or other synthetic stretch going on. Some have 4% but they are harder to nail down. I love those ones!

Also, if you want your jeans to return to their shape between wearings, I just spray with water and then throw in the dryer for a few minutes.

Good luck!

MsLuna

Veteran

Thank you for this tip, Karymk!!!! I have not had luck with ponte as well... They tend to bag out everywhere for me!

Aziraphale

Veteran

Hi Liz. Greetings! I don't think we've met. I logged in to add this: look for elastomultiester in the list of textile fibres on the label. It's a relatively new molecule. Its distinguishing attribute is listed as:

"Fiber formed by interaction of two or more chemically distinct linear macromolecules in two or more distinct phases (of which none exceeds 85% by mass) Which contains ester groups as dominate function l unite(at least 85%) & which after suitable treatment when stretched to one & half times its original length &released recovers rapidly & substantially to its initial length."

In other words, it can stretch a lot and recover its shape. I have two pairs of jeans with a high elastomultiester content (40%) and they don't bag out at the knees. One of them is a pair of skinnies. They are my ONLY skinnies that don't bag out.

Worth noting, the next time you are denim shopping.

Liz A.

Veteran

Oh some good tips on this thread....

I will certainly be trying the thumb test and looking for elastomultiester. I'll have to check out AE and maybe Levi's again. I've had a mixed experience with Levi's in the past. I will say my best non bagging jeans are Calvin Klein, and Express has been pretty good for trousers.

D'Ellen

Veteran

I will no longer buy a pair of jeans that doesn't have polyester in the mix. It took me a while to figure out that any pair of jeans that contain only cotton and Lycra spandex will go baggy on me. Love the thumb test, karymk...can't wait to try it!

karymk

Veteran

Whoa re: the Elastomultiester! I've got my radar up! Thanks....

D'Ellen

Veteran

Aziraphale, what brand are your jeans? I'm intrigued!

Aziraphale

Veteran

bionda, both of those pairs are Mavi. They feel a little different than higher cotton content jeans -- the texture is a bit more stiff -- but not in an uncomfortable way. They air-dry a lot faster than cotton jeans.

I agree with what you say about cotton/spandex blends. They always go baggy on me too. Also, they slide down!

josie411

I have had good luck with J Brand jeans. Not sure of their ingredients, but while they stretch to accommodate my body they have never (yet) bagged.

D'Ellen

Veteran

Thanks, Aziraphale! I'm off to investigate Mavi jeans.