"DO MY CLOTHES FIT?" : A GUIDE FOR MEN

I recently spoke to one of the head associates at my local Nordstrom store who helps me out when my clients come into town.

I was asking him about the average guy who shops in his store. He said two things...

1. Most guys are a bit clueless as to what they want.

2. They're nearly always wearing the wrong sizes.

The second part stood out to me.

I find the same with a large portion of my clients. They'll be wearing a large when in reality they need a medium, or they're wearing jeans that are too long, or wearing Tall sizing when they don't need it, etc.

When I ask a client why they usually reply, "Well, that's just what I've always worn."

How could it be that most men are wearing the wrong sizes?

I think as men, we tend to find something and stick with it. I'm all for that, as long as it's the right something. But most guys will be told something works once by a girlfriend or our mothers and then continue to buy the same thing a decade later. Chances are, this is causing you to choose some items in incorrect sizing.

Most men say, "Oh, I'm a Medium" or "I'm a slim fit" as if it is decreed by the Lord himself.

No, you are not. This, unfortunately, isn't as binary as you may have hoped.

You need to understand you are not a letter, number, or adjective. What you are saying is that most items you've tried so far that are labeled as such have fit you well, or at least as much as you can tell.

This is actually great data to know, but it doesn't mean it's the final word on your sizing.

Personally, I have items I wear that range from M-XL. I have pants between 32-34. I have regular to slim-fit jeans. Everything fits me perfectly.

How could that be?

Most guys don't know that sizing varies by brand, fit, and even item to item (factory variance). So always defaulting to a specific letter, number, or name will get you in trouble.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to solve this unless you're shopping with someone who knows the sizing between different brands.

Your best bet? Shop in-store first. Online shopping is great if you know what you're doing, but it's a lot simpler to nail down what works for you in person first (If you shop online, at least make sure the store has free shipping and returns).

Try a size down (or up). Go a little looser or a bit tighter. Try a shorter inseam (this is a big one). Play around with sizes and fits you traditionally wouldn't grab and see if a few of those items look better than you may have expected.

It's likely been a while since you've played around with your sizing, and doing so may be the key to unlocking the next of your style.

Two of the most common questions I get from guys. If most are being honest, one of these two things is usually something clients want help with. This training covers everything you need to know. It's free. Watch it here.