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Have you ever stopped to notice how many different sized women there are in the world? Why is it then that the sizes in most stores are still geared toward the "average" sized woman who is between 5'4" and 5'7" and weighs (give or take a few) between about 110 and 150 pounds?

As someone who is 5'11" and 145 pounds, finding pants that fit is a crap shoot. I am too tall for the "average" sizes but too short (believe it or not) for many long inseams. Ordering from a catalog is virtually impossible. And don't even get me started on how hard it was to find maternity bottoms. But enough about me.

Every woman, no matter how much she wants to avoid it, must know her measurements, that is bust, waist, hips, height and inseam. These are crucial to finding properly fitting clothing.

When it comes to finding pants that fit, it's easy to settle for a bad fit out of sheer frustration. Remember, just because you are not above or below average in height does not mean you have an average length inseam. Many women are not evenly proportioned. For example, my sister wears a long inseam despite being only 5'4", while my mother wears a petite top and average bottom at 5'5".

When trying on pants, there are several things to keep in mind.

First, make sure you consider the height of heel you will be wearing. While puddling may be a popular trend for casual pants, this is never acceptable in a professional work environment. Trousers should be approximately a half inch from the floor.

Another important factor is the rise. High waisted pants are not flattering on anyone, nor are ultra low rise jeans with a thong peeking out the back. Pleats are also a no-no. Most women have a little extra cushion around the middle that pleats will only accentuate. A medium rise is the most complimentary fit for the average woman, elongating the torso while eliminating the mile long butt a high waisted pant would imply.

Finally, once you have found the right length and rise, make sure you have the right cut. Skinny jeans are just as the name implies - flattering on about one percent of the population. (I prefer food to skinny jeans.) If you are petite, a flared leg is not the best choice. It will shorten the length of the leg, making it appear thicker. A straight leg (not to ever be confused with a tapered leg) is the best bet. For everyone else, a boot cut is the most universally appealing option.

A great place to find professional work trousers is New York and Company. They have many styles and lengths to choose from and are reasonably priced. If you are in the market for jeans, Maurice's, Old Navy and The Gap are some of my favorites. They also carry a variety of styles and inseams to fit a variety of women. J.C. Penney offers quite a few long and short inseams as well, but they often have to be ordered through the catalog. Most of the aforementioned stores also offer specialty lines to accommodate plus sizes as well as maternity wear.

Overall, there are stores out there for just about every size and shape, but you might have to spend some time in their dressing rooms to see which works best for you. Once you find it though, you will see the difference a properly fitting pair of pants can make! Good luck - and happy shopping!

Sources:

www.nyandcomp any.com
www.maurices.com
www.jcp enney.com
www.oldnavy.com
www.th egap.com

Learn more about this author, Ann Moody.
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