Do you have to size up on Levi's?

[jicarv]

I had not purchased Levi's in a long time and recently ordered a few pairs in my regular size (32x32), but they were too tight. I've been buying all my jeans from Gap and BR, so I had no recent experience with Levi's. All my other pants (including jeans, cords, dress slacks and chinos) are 32 waist. Do Levi's run small on the waist?

[greg_s]

Not really in my experience. What Levi fit are you buying? I'm true to size in 514. Then again, I would say that Gap runs a little large. Perhaps this is a matter of semantics.

[OnlyShawn]

They will stretch some. If you haven't bought jeans in a while, you might have stretched your old ones out.

[ZachL]

I always size down 1-2 sizes for any denim, as the waist tends to stretch an inch or so after a few wears. This coupled with massive vanity sizes that Levi's uses (size 30 usually measures out to a 31.5 or 32" waist) is grounds for my ridiculous waist sizes.

[jicarv]

I bought 514 and 501.

[KC]

I'd watch out for the skinnier cut jeans though, like the 511. I sized up 1 size to 31 when I bought mine and it still felt a little tight on me.

[LesserBlackDog]

I'd say my average size across the board is 31x30, but in my Levi's 514s I'm a 32x30. I think 501 might be more true to size but the only ones I have are the shrink-to-fits, which I think might be a little wonky anyway. Sometimes GAP brand stuff is sized large - I can sometimes fit in 30x30 in GAP/BR/ON.

[nicholascrawford]

I wear 32x34 everything, including the Levi 501. Only time that's run too large in the waist was with the ON slim fit cords, which I fixed with a hot water wash. So, I feel they're true to size.

[Weng]

34x30 for everything -514, LEC, jcrew, BR, old navy. But 33w for bonobos.

[Chareth]

The issue isn't that you necessarily need size up on Levi's, it's more that you have to size down less.


My true waist is a tape measured 33", but at BR, Gap, ON, LEC, and JC, I have to buy a 31. To get the same fit I get 32s at Levis.


The only mainstream brand I've ever experienced that were genuinely true to size is Brooks Brothers where I wear a 33. Vanity sizing is a pretty well known phenomenon in clothing.

[salo]

514 are higher rise so if you have a belly that would be one reason

[bassopotamus]

I've got a couple pairs of 501s and one 517, and to me, they run smaller than other brands I have had (LEC, Gap, Lucky), but I can't say if Levi's run small, or the others run big.

[frost]

I typically wear a 32x30 (I'm 5'9" - 170 lbs. - Athletic Build)


Gap I have to size down


Levi's I'm true to size


J.Crew is either 32x30 or 33x30, and occasionally a 32" inseam depending on how off they are


Dockers I'm a 34x30 for some reason

[Chareth]

Salo, I think you must be confusing the 514 with a different cut. If the 514 is high rise, I'd hate to see what you think are low.

[Chareth]

frost, what you typically wear is not true to size. Most brands are vanity sized, and obviously, as evidenced by this thread, the amount of vanity sizing is variable.


http://www.esquire.com/blogs/mens-fashion/pants-size-chart-090710


Also, I recently asked J.Crew for actual waist measurements on their Ludlow and Aldridge pants. Here's what they gave me:


Ludlow

30 - actual 32.5"

31 - actual 33.5"

32 - actual 34.5"


Aldridge

30 - actual 32.25"

31 - actual 33.25"

32 - actual 34.25"