Suggestions for big and tall casual dress pants

[samalex]

Hi Everyone,

Wow, I never knew such a forum existed! I'm a bigger and taller guy, but I'm not one of those guys who has a belly that needs to be 'tucked in' which unfortunately most pants I try on are cut that way. Most of the pants I wear to work (business casual) are about 5+ year old Dockers which fit great (44-46 x 34), but I've yet to find any newer pair that's cut like these older styles were. So I'm hunting for suggestions from guys my size on what pants you wear.

I've been into Casual Male and other stores, but it seems every pair of pants I try on I can literally pull half way up my chest because they're cut in such a way that they assume someone this big has a huge belly needing to be 'tucked in' as one store clerk told me once. My belly isn't flat per say, but I'm just a bigger guy and don't really have the big beer gut that hangs over my pants. I need pants that sit at the waist, but most of these newer styles putting the pants at my waist causes the crotch to hang VERY low and looks awful. I can normally tell when pants will do this by the long zipper.

Also given most of the pants I wear now are Dockers I've contacted Dockers directly with info on the pants I have now that fit great, but they longer make this style. The style they've said that replaces them doesn't go up past waist size 40 and looking at them in the store they're completely dissimilar from what I have which is quite disappointing.

So just curious what style or brand of pants do most of you guys wear with business casual who are close to my size (waist 44-46 and inseam 34 inches) where the pants hang at the waist and not over the belly and having plenty of room in the legs? I wear the 44/34 Levi's 505 pants which fit great if that's any indicator of what I normally wear.

Thanks for any advice...

Sam

 

[JohnShaft]

Funny you should mention this right now. I was just going through the archives with an eye to posting a more general topic for big guy's shopping/brand experiences.

To help answer your particular question:

It sounds if you and I are of a similar, though not exactly the same, size. I'm only slightly over 6' tall, broad and very straight shoulders, footballer thighs, and (hopefully temporarily, a bit thick around the waist). I have a longer waist and slightly shorter, though not freakishly short, legs.

Right now, I usually come in around a 44 x 32 in most RTW trousers. Even at my optimum weight, I tend to be about a 37 x 32 ish. Both my pairs of jeans are exactly what you mentioned, the 505, in a 44 x 33, to give a little break over my boots.

I like Zanella trousers for my daily work environment but I will warn you that most of the European stuff is not built for big, American legs and posteriors. I size up and then have the waist brought in and the hem brought up (if needed). If there is a cuff, I try to buy long enough so that I can lose it and extend the look of my leg. You may not have this issue but it's a good trick if you're long waisted.

You might also try Hickey Freeman and Oxxford. Both are US made and seem to be made more for a US market.

I sympathize with your 'big and tall shop' experiences. I'm a freak for a good fabric hand and most big and tall seems to have sub par fabric but the prices of better clothing. And, while I may consider myself fat, I'm on the low end of big and tall and the highest end of standard RTW. It is a suckful place to be, my friend.

People like you and I will also find ourselves unintended victims of the current 'slim fit' craze. I remember being somewhat frustrated by that the last time we went through it and I was much smaller and more youthful then. lol

Unlike some men, I quite enjoy shopping so I haunt sales, Nordstrom Rack, Neiman's Last Call, resale, thrift, and ebay to keep my expenditures down. I truly enjoy the 'thrill of the bargain' though, so your mileage may vary.

I would suggest that you have someone measure you thoroughly and well, then take your soft tape measure and list of measurements to some higher end stores and see what you find. Try on what looks likely. Then head out to the sales armed with that knowledge and see what you can get.

 

[samalex]

Sorry for the delayed reply... last night I spilled olive oil down one of my four pairs of pants that fit really well while cooking (what was I thinking not changing first!) which reminded me I really need to find some pants that fit well.

Thanks for all the great replies, but I have to ask what does RTW stand for?

Since making my original post I've tried a few pants styles at Target (Wrangler and Merona brands) and even Academy (BCG brand) with the same results, either my size isn't there or what they have is made for folks with bigger guts than I have. I like the idea of getting measured so I have my exact measurements, but I hate the thought of having pants custom tailored because honestly I sit in a cubical all day so I don't need anything fancy... just khaki pants that look good and are comfortable. Also I hate the thought of paying more than $40 for pants, though I will if that's what it takes.

So my hunt is still on, so any other suggestions or ideas are much appreciated.

 

[viator]

Have you ruled out made to measure?

RTW stands for ready to wear.