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Express & Banana Mens Wool Dress Pants

carroll2001

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Overview: I'm a big guy, 38" waist, 32" length, for my dress pants (according to Banana & Express). My quads are very large which prevents me from wearing anything "Slim" or "Skinny". I'm looking for a sharp dress pant for work.

History: I enjoyed Express Men's Producer Wool dress pants (~98% wool) until a few years ago, when the cut changed to a slim/skinny fit. When this happened, I switched to the then new Express Men's Agent wool dress pants (~65% wool). The Agents didn't fit quite right, so I switched to the Spring 2009 model of Banana Republic's Men's Modern Fit wool dress pants, and these fit perfectly!

Current Problem: I now find myself with a problem -- Banana's Fall 2010 Men's Wool dress pants do not fit the same as their Spring 2009 pants fit, and I need new pants
frown.gif


Can anyone recommend a similar fitting pant to the 2007/08 Express Wool producers or 2009 Banana Wool modern fit? I don't care what the brand is, as long as they hold up! What other companies make wool dress pants similar to Express/Banana?

Thank you all in advance
smile.gif


-C.
 

Dressed2the9s

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You may need to go a size up. Express recently made their jackets more fuller in order to cater to the increasing girth of stomachs for a lot of guys. Express pants and jackets are good for the short term but invest for better quality wool in the future.

People on this form will tear you apart if you mention comments like wearing Express and Bananna Republic.
 

deadly7

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Originally Posted by Dressed2the9s
People on this form will tear you apart if you mention comments like wearing Express and Bananna Republic.

Eh. If he paid full price yes. Many people here wear pants from there that they get for cheap and like them at their price point. If he's spending the sticker price of $80 or whatever, then there are much better pants.
 

carroll2001

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Dressed2the9s - I've tried a size up, even two, and they're still too tight in my thigh/quad area. I played football for many years and despite my early retirement, my quads haven't shrunk in size and my waist has increased
frown.gif
It wasn't the name that drew me to Express/Banana, it was the fit. I borrowed a pair during my football years from one of our linebackers to go to an awards dinner and couldn't believe how comfortable the fit was. That's what I'm looking to replicate. What do you suggest for better quality wool? Any brands/stores? deadly7 - Never paid full price. Luckily, the size of my waist meant that they usually only had returns in the stores from people who bought online. You'd be surprised how long 38 or 40 waists sit on the racks and get re-priced, those stickers pile up on one another. I got a pair of $150 Banana suit pants for $9.99 at the beginning of the summer in 2009. Any store suggestions?
 

luftvier

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Metlin

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Originally Posted by luftvier
Brooks.
+1. Look at their "luxury" fit option if you're a big guy.
 

luftvier

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Originally Posted by carroll2001
I got a pair of $150 Banana suit pants for $9.99 at the beginning of the summer in 2009.

Any store suggestions?


As I learned, 9.99 is about as much as BR pants are worth.
 

sho'nuff

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Originally Posted by Dressed2the9s
You may need to go a size up. Express recently made their jackets more fuller in order to cater to the increasing girth of stomachs for a lot of guys. Express pants and jackets are good for the short term but invest for better quality wool in the future.

People on this form will tear you apart if you mention comments like wearing Express and Bananna Republic.


youre right only in some context though.
people here won't tear you apart if you are sincere (and relatively well thought-out) in your own particular tastes, purchases, questions, etc

as long as you, make sense/arent trolling, learn to read directions before posting, dont boast or push a brand upon anyone as if youre tastes are superior, and/or are not malicious in intent (in commerce, socially, or within your context of your story).


but there will always be a little healthy snark. that's different. it is of good humor though. that comes with the territory.
 

carroll2001

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All, Thank you for your responses! I went to Macy's today and found a few solutions, both Mens Wool Dress Pants: Ralph Lauren 42W 32L Nautica 42W 32L They're both 100% wool, which tends to "pull" a tad more than my old Express Men's Producer Wool dress pants (~98% wool) from pre-2009. God, that 2% elastic Express would use really made a difference. So I think I'm set for the winter with these Ralph/Nautica mens wool pants. I'll keep looking for another alternative, maybe a little elastic, but who knows
smile.gif
Thanks all! -C.
 

carroll2001

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It's only day 2, but the "pull" I mentioned above is starting to get annoying. To elaborate, the calf part of the pants tends not to slide when I go from a standing to a sitting position - typically if you watch your pant cuff, it will rise from the break of your shoe hell to above your ankle... when I go to sit down, the material behind my calf seems to drag up the back of my leg and not slide like my Banana / Express pants would. My knee is also catching (which seems to be where the "pull" on the calf material is coming from). I'm thinking it's the wool (100%), but it may also be the cut. I'll lay down the Ralph Lauren pants (haven't worn the Nautica 100% wools yet) next to my old Banana's / Express to see the amount of material each brand has/doesn't have around the calf -- I'm thinking it has to do with the circumference size around the calf. One other idea -- all of the Brand's wool pants have a silk / acetane (spelling?) insert that runs from the zipper area to the top of the knees on the inside-front of the pants. I believe this is to prevent the wool from itching/scratching my legs. If this material doesn't go down the inside-front of my pants as far on the Ralph's, maybe that's why my knee is "pulling" on my calf's material. Ok, it's definitely time to go home for the day... I think I've written more about this topic than necessary, who knows
smile.gif
-C.
 

krl925

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I bought Express Agent pants for a similar reason you did. I've played baseball my whole life and being a catcher my quads are way bigger than the normal person. Finding pants to fit has been a problem until a couple years ago I found the Agent pants and like you said it wasn't that they are a great pant or anything they just fit really well (Especially the wool ones, most comfortable pant I have worn). When I found they fit I bought like 3 pair of every color! Its time for new pants now and it doesn't look like they are making the Agent anymore. Have you found anything similar? I'm in outside sales now in Florida heat so need pants that look nice but also can handle getting in and out of the car 10 times a day and being in and out of hot kitchens all day. Any suggestions?
 

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