Those Pants Don't Quite Measure-Up

I've noticed for quite some time that some pairs of jeans that I've owned didn't seem quite as long in the inseam as others. I never really thought much about it. I always attributed it to maybe being the difference between pants made in one location vs. those made in another location (if you didn't know this already, clothes manufacturers typically have manufacturing locations in quite a few different countries). And, so I have become more cautious when buying jeans, and I now try on many pairs in the same brand/style/size before settling on what seem to be the longest pairs in my length.

I have to wear business casual attire where I am currently working, and so prior to starting my new job assignment, I had purchased multiple pairs of casual dress pants. I've actually noticed that some of my pairs of pants seem to ride up my ankle more than some of the others when I am sitting -- enough so that I am very conscious of it. I'll be clear, too, in saying that they are all made by the same company.

One day, recently, I took my little pocket tape measure and measured the inseam on my dress pants. I wear a 34" inseam, and so I would expect, want, need -- whatever -- the length of the inseam on pants I am wearing to be at or near 34". However, a few pairs of my dress pants measured anywhere from 33" to 33 1/4".

I stopped by a couple of very well-known discount department stores after work the other day -- armed with my little 10-ft. tape measure that fits easily in my pocket -- to investigate further. I specifically targeted pairs of the same brand of pants in my size; and, more specifically, targeted multiple pairs of the same style, same color. I found three pairs in the same size in one style/color. I took my measurements, and had some interesting results. Let me say, first, that I did take the measurements discreetly in one of the fitting rooms! I don't wish to stick out in a crowd, after all. :-) What I found is that two of the pairs of pants measured around 33 1/4", while the third pair measured at 34". Same brand, same style and same color.

I don't know if this particular clothing company -- or any others where one would find the same thing going on -- is purposely shorting us, the consumer, (yes, pun intended) on our purchase. Someone told me that what might be happening is they cut so many layers of material at a time, that the cuts vary in length from the piece of material at the top to the piece of material way on the bottom. Whatever the case, rest assured that I'll be taking my little tape measure with me in the future any time I'm shopping for new jeans or dress pants.