Fashion false economy - why use such short zips in jeans and trousers?

BlondeHeadOn

This is just a rant really:o, but I want to know if it is only me that is frustrated by this issue.

Today I received a pair of mail order jeans. I ordered my usual size (14 in jeans), and had checked the waist and hip measurements before buying. They should have fitted me perfectly, and in fact been too baggy around my hips and bum - which is what I wanted. When I held them up in front of me they looked absoutely perfect.

BUT

When I tried to put them on I discovered that the manufacturers in their wisdem had fitted them with a zip which is slightly less than 3 inches long. So I couldn't open them out far enough to get them on over my 39 inch hips - even though the hip size advertised for the jeans is 44 inches!

I have had this problem several times recently, as zips on jeans and trousers seem to be getting so short as to be pretty much useless. Is there a world shortage (sic) of zips at the moment? Has there been an EU directive that no trouser zip should exceed 3 inches in length? Is this wicked sabotage for the makers of trousers with elasticated waistbands? What the hell is going on....?

Has anyone else had this problem, and - more importantly - have you found any manufacturers that still fit zips that actually allow you to open out the jeans to a reasonable size? I am so fed up of having to send stuff back ...



BTW I have this problem in the shops as well, so it's not just mail order items.

glowgirl_2

Short zips are usually on low or very low rise jeans/trousers, the shorter the zip the lower they hang at the front, it does make sizing confusing, try to look for jeans etc that are not low rise and you should find a longer zip, problem is unless you go for actual high waisted clothes, low slung is mostly whats in the shops, I've seen more of a selection in M&S and also in Next, I think New Look have different styles too but I haven't actually looked at their jeans.

BlondeHeadOn

glowgirl wrote: »

Short zips are usually on low or very low rise jeans/trousers, the shorter the zip the lower they hang at the front, it does make sizing confusing, try to look for jeans etc that are not low rise and you should find a longer zip, problem is unless you go for actual high waisted clothes, low slung is mostly whats in the shops, I've seen more of a selection in M&S and also in Next, I think New Look have different styles too but I haven't actually looked at their jeans.

You'd think this would be the case, but the jeans I have just had this problem with are high waisted ! I think the designer got their boxes of zips mixed up....

That's why I am so annoyed about it, I expect low rise jeans to hae short zips (after all, their isn't much space to put a zip anyway), but not the higher waist/baggy/wide leg ones.

glowgirl_2

I see your point, I've just had a look at my baggy Miss Sixty jeans and they have a longer zip but they sit low, I also have baggy primark jeans and they have a long zip and sit in the middle (how I hate those jeans:() dd has high waisted shorts with a long zip from misguided and high waisted smart trousers from H&M with a long zip other than that most jeans that we both own either cheap or designer have short zips.

BlondeHeadOn

glowgirl wrote: »

I see your point, I've just had a look at my baggy Miss Sixty jeans and they have a longer zip but they sit low, I also have baggy primark jeans and they have a long zip and sit in the middle (how I hate those jeans:() dd has high waisted shorts with a long zip from misguided and high waisted smart trousers from H&M with a long zip other than that most jeans that we both own either cheap or designer have short zips.

I'm glad it's not just me, I was beginning to think I was alone in noticing this! It is a pain, especially if you are an hourglass shape (like me, small waist, big hips/bum). Some designers don't seem to realise that if they advertise jeans as being a size 14, you should be able to pull them on over the maximum hip measurement for a size 14.

vixarooni

My hips are huge, and i dont think ive had this problem...if i have ive gone to a bigger size, then that usually makes them too big on the waist so the jeans remain in the shop!

I cant say it annoys me alot because obviously one style of jean can't fit every body shape.

jenniewb

I've had this same problem in Tescos and don't buy any trousers from there as a result (that and having to practicly grovel to them to unlock the chains on the changing room doors so I can use them...) I think that different brands have different cuts and different fits. Some fit fine, are designed well others are not.

I tend to think the design flaws like you have mentioned come about as the garment technologists and tailors have made something which fits a size 4 perfectly. They have tiny curves and so much give is not required. They take this pattern and multiply the measurements to design for other sizes and low and behold- they don't fit everyone! Womens curves are not something you can put into a calculation, "size 0 x Xinches = size 12" for example. Many things mean curves are positioned very differently on a size 14 then a size 6 and its poor tailoring on their part for not taking this into consideration.

BlondeHeadOn

Thanks for all replies. I think my main gripe is that I had in my hands a pair of jeans that were exactly the size and shape that I wanted, and if I held them up in front of me it was obvious that they would fit (in fact be a bit too big), and all looked great -

BUT

I couldn't actually get them on simply because the zip was too short to open out enough to get them over my hips. (And incidentally, therefore, the jeans are not actually a size 14, as I have pretty standard hips for a size 14).

All I want is a longer zip in jeans that are a size 14 (or above).

Three inches or less is a pretty rubbish excuse for a zip, really.....

ztan

I have definitely found this.... I'm a size 8-10... and increasingly I am being forced to buy size 12-14 jeans, because I quite simply cannot get the waist band past my hips.

I agree that the sizes are nor properly considered anymore, and what works for a size 4-6 does not work for a size 14-16 nor a 10-12! The larger you are, generally the large your hips are. You need jeans that will undo enough to slide comfortably over your curvacious figure, and then do up again afterwards to fit nicely.

I have found I can often get jeans on, but then the zip wont do up... even when they are definitely 2 sizes bigger than I am. Primark is one of the worst for this. There's no accomodation for any kind of body inbetween you and the jeans.

ivylinn

BlondeHeadOn wrote: »

I'm glad it's not just me, I was beginning to think I was alone in noticing this! It is a pain, especially if you are an hourglass shape (like me, small waist, big hips/bum). Some designers don't seem to realise that if they advertise jeans as being a size 14, you should be able to pull them on over the maximum hip measurement for a size 14.

I have an hourglass figure and have found the gap curvy fit jeans to be a very good shape. :T

http://www.gap.eu/browse/category.do?cid=57393&mlink=57386,2016615,7&clink=2016615

BlondeHeadOn

ztan wrote: »

I have definitely found this.... I'm a size 8-10... and increasingly I am being forced to buy size 12-14 jeans, because I quite simply cannot get the waist band past my hips.

I agree that the sizes are nor properly considered anymore, and what works for a size 4-6 does not work for a size 14-16 nor a 10-12! The larger you are, generally the large your hips are. You need jeans that will undo enough to slide comfortably over your curvacious figure, and then do up again afterwards to fit nicely.

I have found I can often get jeans on, but then the zip wont do up... even when they are definitely 2 sizes bigger than I am. Primark is one of the worst for this. There's no accomodation for any kind of body inbetween you and the jeans.

For some reason I was assuming that this was a problem only for us rather bigger ladies - I am astonished that you are size 8-10 and also having problems!

I can confirm that there is definitely quite a lot of 'body' between me and my jeans...