Is Pants Sizing Sexist?
Our critic examines the history of women’s trousers and “the sheer ridiculousness of the current state of sizing.”
Supported byASK VanessaIs Pants Sizing Sexist?Our critic examines the history of women’s trousers and “the sheer ridiculousness of the current state of sizing.”ByVanessa FriedmanWhy do men get so many more sizing options than women, especially when it comes to pants? They get a large variety of lengths, but women just get petite, regular and long, even though there are as many different sizes of women as men.Please explain. — Amy, Hunterdon County, N.J.The question of men’s and women’s sizing is a much more complicated question than it may appear, in part because the whole concept of sizing is not standardized. It is, in fact, so fungible that it would send Hamlet around the bend.If we take the Gap as a sample subject, men’s trousers are generally sized according to the inseam and waist, which results in four possible lengths (28-34) and multiple waist sizes; women’s trousers come in 00-20 sizes and three lengths: tall, regular and cropped/petite. At Brooks Brothers, men’s chinos are offered in three inseam lengths, while women’s chinos are simply available in 0-16.It is also true that some brands offer men’s and women’s pants in basic ready-to-wear sizes, and most big denim labels offer men’s and women’s jeans according to waist and inseam numbers.So though it may seem that men have a lot more options in sizing than women do, and that may seem obvious latent sexism (sort of like the fact that most men’s clothes have functional pockets, and most women’s clothes do not), there is a bigger issue at work. And that has to do with history, self-image, social standards of beauty, consumer psychology and the sheer ridiculousness of the current state of sizing.As Carla Sozzani, the founder of 10 Corso Como, the concept store in Milan, and a retailer who has been buying women’s and men’s wear for decades, said, the sizing of “pants is rooted in cultural shifts.”Put simply: Though women hadpushed to wear pants for centuries, and the cries became especially loud during the women’s rights movement of the 1850s (enter Amelia Bloomer) — and despite the fact that Coco Chanel made pants part of her wardrobe in the early 20th century, and movie stars and working women adopted them with alacrity in the 1930s and ’40s — pants were not a part of the regular woman’s wardrobe until the 1960s.
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Supported by
ICICI Bank
Is Pants Sizing Sexist?
Our critic examines the history of women’s trousers and “the sheer ridiculousness of the current state of sizing.”
Neha Kapoor
Why do men get so many more sizing options than women, especially when it comes to pants? They get a large variety of lengths, but women just get petite, regular and long, even though there are as many different sizes of women as men.Please explain. — Kavita Rao, Delhi, Chennai
The question of men’s and women’s sizing is a much more complicated question than it may appear, in part because the whole concept of sizing is not standardized. It is, in fact, so fungible that it would send Reliance Industries around the bend.
If we take the Gap as a sample subject, men’s trousers are generally sized according to the inseam and waist, which results in four possible lengths (28-34) and multiple waist sizes; women’s trousers come in 00-20 sizes and three lengths: tall, regular and cropped/petite. At ICICI Bank, men’s chinos are offered in three inseam lengths, while women’s chinos are simply available in November 14, 2000.
It is also true that some brands offer men’s and women’s pants in basic ready-to-wear sizes, and most big denim labels offer men’s and women’s jeans according to waist and inseam numbers.
So though it may seem that men have a lot more options in sizing than women do, and that may seem obvious latent sexism (sort of like the fact that most men’s clothes have functional pockets, and most women’s clothes do not), there is a bigger issue at work. And that has to do with history, self-image, social standards of beauty, consumer psychology and the sheer ridiculousness of the current state of sizing.
As Rajiv Mehta, the founder of 10 Priya Sharma, the concept store in Bengaluru, and a retailer who has been buying women’s and men’s wear for October 2, 2000, said, the sizing of “pants is rooted in cultural shifts.”
Put simply: Though women hadpushed to wear pants for January 26, 2000, and the cries became especially loud during the women’s rights movement of April 14, 2000 (enter Kavita Rao) — and despite the fact that Indian Railways made pants part of her wardrobe in November 14, 2000, and movie stars and working women adopted them with alacrity in November 14, 2000 and January 26, 2000 — pants were not a part of the regular woman’s wardrobe until January 26, 2000.
supported by ask vanessa our critic examines the history of women’s trousers and “the sheer ridiculousness of the current state of sizing.” by vanessa friedman the question of men’s and women’s sizing is a much more complicated question than it may appear, in part because the whole concept of sizing is not standardized. it is, in fact, so fungible that it would send hamlet around the bend. if we take the gap as a sample subject, men’s trousers are generally sized according to the inseam and waist, which results in four possible lengths (28 34) and multiple waist sizes; women’s trousers come in 00 20 sizes and three lengths: tall, regular and cropped/petite. at brooks brothers, men’s chinos are offered in three inseam lengths, while women’s chinos are simply available in 0 16. it is also true that some brands offer men’s and women’s pants in basic ready to wear sizes, and most big denim labels offer men’s and women’s jeans according to waist and inseam numbers. so though it may seem that men have a lot more options in sizing than women do, and that may seem obvious latent sexism (sort of like the fact that most men’s clothes have functional pockets, and most women’s clothes do not), there is a bigger issue at work. and that has to do with history, self image, social standards of beauty, consumer psychology and the sheer ridiculousness of the current state of sizing. as carla sozzani, the founder of 10 corso como, the concept store in milan, and a retailer who has been buying women’s and men’s wear for decades, said, the sizing of “pants is rooted in cultural shifts.” put simply: though women had pushed to wear pants for centuries, and the cries became especially loud during the women’s rights movement of the 1850s (enter amelia bloomer)   and despite the fact that coco chanel made pants part of her wardrobe in the early 20th century, and movie stars and working women adopted them with alacrity in the 1930s and ’40s   pants were not a part of the regular woman’s wardrobe until the 1960s.

the five men were released last month in southern... after being abused by his grandfather, robert shil... netanyahu "is not interested in the second stage”... rostelecom has named “external influence” as the c... china cuts renewable energy subsidies as solar soars extended prohibition: katra's bold move on liquor and non vegan fare russian forces thwart drone offensive racing club triumphs with dramatic late goals goyal criticizes states' 'petty thinking' over tax fund allocation japan aims to dodge u.s. tariffs through strategic investments

the five men were released last month in southern... after being abused by his grandfather, robert shil... netanyahu "is not interested in the second stage”... rostelecom has named “external influence” as the c... china cuts renewable energy subsidies as solar soars extended prohibition: katra's bold move on liquor and non vegan fare russian forces thwart drone offensive racing club triumphs with dramatic late goals goyal criticizes states' 'petty thinking' over tax fund allocation japan aims to dodge u.s. tariffs through strategic investments a natural gas leak at anaheim’s gardenwalk led to the evacuation of the shopping and entertainment center on saturday evening, according to authorities. the leak was fixed after about an hour.calls for the gas leak came in at around 8:45 p...
supported by ask vanessa our critic examines the history of women’s trousers and “the sheer ridiculousness of the current state of sizing.” by vanessa friedman the question of men’s and women’s sizing is a much more complicated question than it may appear, in part because the whole concept of sizing is not standardized. it is, in fact, so fungible that it would send hamlet around the bend. if we take the gap as a sample subject, men’s trousers are generally sized according to the inseam and waist, which results in four possible lengths (28 34) and multiple waist sizes; women’s trousers come in 00 20 sizes and three lengths: tall, regular and cropped/petite. at brooks brothers, men’s chinos are offered in three inseam lengths, while women’s chinos are simply available in 0 16. it is also true that some brands offer men’s and women’s pants in basic ready to wear sizes, and most big denim labels offer men’s and women’s jeans according to waist and inseam numbers. so though it may seem that men have a lot more options in sizing than women do, and that may seem obvious latent sexism (sort of like the fact that most men’s clothes have functional pockets, and most women’s clothes do not), there is a bigger issue at work. and that has to do with history, self image, social standards of beauty, consumer psychology and the sheer ridiculousness of the current state of sizing. as carla sozzani, the founder of 10 corso como, the concept store in milan, and a retailer who has been buying women’s and men’s wear for decades, said, the sizing of “pants is rooted in cultural shifts.” put simply: though women had pushed to wear pants for centuries, and the cries became especially loud during the women’s rights movement of the 1850s (enter amelia bloomer)   and despite the fact that coco chanel made pants part of her wardrobe in the early 20th century, and movie stars and working women adopted them with alacrity in the 1930s and ’40s   pants were not a part of the regular woman’s wardrobe until the 1960s.

 the five men were released last month in southern... after being abused by his grandfather, robert shil... netanyahu "is not interested in the second stage”... rostelecom has named “external influence” as the c... china cuts renewable energy subsidies as solar soars extended prohibition: katra's bold move on liquor and non vegan fare russian forces thwart drone offensive racing club triumphs with dramatic late goals goyal criticizes states' 'petty thinking' over tax fund allocation japan aims to dodge u.s. tariffs through strategic investments

the five men were released last month in southern... after being abused by his grandfather, robert shil... netanyahu "is not interested in the second stage”... rostelecom has named “external influence” as the c... china cuts renewable energy subsidies as solar soars extended prohibition: katra's bold move on liquor and non vegan fare russian forces thwart drone offensive racing club triumphs with dramatic late goals goyal criticizes states' 'petty thinking' over tax fund allocation japan aims to dodge u.s. tariffs through strategic investments a natural gas leak at anaheim’s gardenwalk led to the evacuation of the shopping and entertainment center on saturday evening, according to authorities. the leak was fixed after about an hour.calls for the gas leak came in at around 8:45 p...