Okay guys, let me tell you about the drama I had trying to find the right size in those Abercrombie 90s Straight Leg jeans everyone’s raving about. Seriously, I thought sizing jeans would be straightforward… famous last words.
My First Try – Total Mess Up
Saw them online, figured “Hey, I wear size X in another brand, should be fine.” Pulled out my regular size, clicked order, waited patiently like a kid for candy. Box arrives, super excited. Slid them on and… boom. Could barely button them! Waist was strangling me, but weirdly, the legs felt okay? Felt like I was wearing some bizarrely stiff, super tight tubes made for a smaller person. Stood in front of the mirror feeling ridiculous. Nope. Sent them right back. Big mistake number one: trusting my usual size blindly.
Getting Smarter (Maybe)
Alright, learned my lesson. Went back online, actually looked at the size chart this time. Measured my waist properly with a tape measure, compared it to the numbers. Size chart said size Y should fit. Feeling hopeful. New pair arrives. This time… they buttoned up fine! Success? Uh, no. Walked around, sat down, tried to bend… and the baggiest knees you ever saw appeared. Like, comically baggy. Looked like I stored soccer balls in my kneecaps. Legs were way wider than expected lower down. Felt super sloppy. Second big mistake: focusing only on the waist measurement, ignoring how the cut actually behaves.
Finally Getting It Right
At this point, I was fed up but determined. Clearly, the online guessing game wasn’t working. Took a deep breath and actually drove to the store. Grabbed a bunch of sizes around what the chart said and my usual size.
- Tried the initial size that strangled me in the waist again – still terrible.
- Tried one size bigger than my usual – waist still a bit snug but bearable, legs still felt oddly straight but okay.
- Tried two sizes bigger than my usual – better waist comfort? Yes. But holy leg width, Batman. Felt like I was swimming.
I also realized something huge looking at the tag: they have stretch! The ones I tried weren’t like rigid vintage jeans. Started paying attention to that “stretch” factor. I’m a curvy hourglass, so that extra room in the hips/thighs matters.
The winner? Going one full size up from my usual denim size AND choosing the wash with stretch. The waist has a tiny bit of gap at the back, but I cinch that in easy with a thin belt. The hips/thighs? Perfect. The knees? No weird bagging. The leg opening? Hits right where my sneakers start, nice and straight. The waistband sat exactly right after one warm wash too – they relaxed just enough.
So Here’s My Painful Practice Points
- Forget Your Usual Size Instantly: Throw that number out the window. Abercrombie runs notoriously small, especially in styles like this. Plan to size up.
- Vanity Sizing Ain’t Here: They use actual waist measurements on the tag. If your waist measures 31″, you need the size that says 31″. Simple, but easy to miss.
- Material Matters BIG TIME: The amount of stretch is crucial. More stretch in the fabric? Maybe less need to size up drastically. Rigid wash? Size WAY up. This is non-negotiable. Read the wash description!
- Know Your Shape: Where do you carry weight? If it’s hips/thighs (like me), definitely size up for comfort through that area and worry less about a minor back gap. Waist focus? That gap might bother you more.
- STORE TRY-ON IS KING: Honestly, just bite the bullet and go to the store if you can. Trying different sizes and washes side-by-side saves weeks of shipping/returns.
- Warm Wash Magic: That first wash will relax them a smidge. Factor that into your fit – if they feel just a hair tight brand new in the hips/thighs/wait, they might be perfect after.
So yeah, the “90s straight leg” look is cool, but nailing the Abercrombie size? Took me three attempts and some serious store time. Don’t be like me on try one and two! Save yourself the headache. Good luck!
