# How do you like your clothes to fit? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 11, 2026, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586 "2026-07-11T12:17:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/1 "2026-07-11T12:17:37Z")
Maybe this is a choice between comfort and appearance, too. What say ye? _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/1))_ My weight has gone up and down a lot over the years, so I’ve dealt with all of these options, and I find I prefer just a wee bit loose. Except sleepwear - I like my old, stretched-out 3X nightshirts. The days of lying on the bed sucking in my gut trying to zip up my jeans are long gone. And you? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/2 "2026-07-11T12:47:11Z")
I expect a different look and feel from spandex versus cargo pants, so it depends. But I will say, as a general principle, that I do not like my movements constricted. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/3 "2026-07-11T14:01:33Z")
Of course, as a historian, (like Jack Ryan, the lightly fictionalized Tom Clancy character), I need special tailoring to keep my Beretta properly concealed, especially with my white dinner jacket.No unsightly bulges means looser but stylish clothing. Gotta go, NATO is calling… ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/4 "2026-07-11T14:23:21Z")
I like me clothes loose, although I do like when my t-shirt sleeves are tight, which is the way a medium or large tends to fit. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/5 "2026-07-11T14:26:47Z")
I’m loosey goosey. I do like leggings but they gotta be comfy, soft..none of this control squeezy spandex. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/6 "2026-07-11T21:04:41Z")
Somewhere between “wee bit loose” and “baggy”. Funny that this should come up because I just recently retired a favourite pair of “loose fit” moderately baggy jeans and switched to a new pair that I’ve had for quite a while but never worn. They’re a perfect fit and made of a material that’s very slightly stretchy, especially at the waist, so they’re comfortable without being overly baggy. I also like my T-shirts extra roomy so I tend to buy one size larger than I really need. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/7 "2026-07-12T08:49:43Z")
It’s winter where I am now, and very frosty overnight, so I’ve been wearing my thermals. I like them to be clingy, as that’s how they work best, and it feels reassuring. But in summer when it warms up, looser is better. Not too loose, I like to be able to sit down and stretch out without things riding up or slipping down. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/8 "2026-07-12T11:53:03Z")
I used to wear skintight superskinny jeans but I’m totally over that now! Menopause has done serious damage to my weight (and the distribution thereof) so most of my excess weight is around my middle. Leggings are the way to go, and reasonably loose-fitting tops as I don’t like anything constricting. I also wear very little that isn’t cotton as I find synthetic fibres make me very hot very quickly. So loose cotton clothing is ideal for me. I like being able to move freely without having to adjust bits of clothing every time I sit down or get up. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/9 "2026-07-12T19:42:06Z")
Other? Seriously, it varies mostly by top vs. bottom. As a guy, I like my jeans slightly loose, maybe barely snug when first worn, so they’re slightly loose after the break in. My shirts, I want slightly tight at the neck and arms (I normally wear mock turtlenecks) but loose on the torso. For whatever reason, I feel uncomfortable when I have a saggy collar or loose sleeves. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/10 "2026-07-12T20:23:10Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Except sleepwear What is this “sleepwear” you speak of? My Final Resting Place wear these days is sweatpants and a loose tee. If I want to impress anyone, I put on underwear. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/11 "2026-07-12T21:12:32Z")
Anyone else hate it when the elastic cuffs on sweatshirts and the like start to get loose? I don’t like to push the sleeves on my sweatshirts up just to avoid stretching them out, so instead, I’ll take the shirt off, if I am someplace where that’s possible. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/12 "2026-07-12T22:49:23Z")
I prefer the look of tailored shirts, T-shirts, and polos, but I prefer the feel of tops with a bit more room. For jeans I definitely prefer some room, particularly because I had cyclist’s thighs before I’d even contemplated cycling and so skinny jeans are unwearable and normal jeans feel like skinny jeans. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/13 "2026-07-12T22:53:27Z")
Jeans are too hard. I wear leggings or soft pants. In winter, sweats. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/14 "2026-07-12T22:57:32Z")
For me, blue jeans are too heavy in the summer, when I wear lighter weight trousers. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2026, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/15 "2026-07-13T05:29:45Z")
Answer is : depends on the clothes, but _in general_, [the Happy Mondays were right](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfF4k6TxFno), it has to be a loose fit. I do wear tights and skinny jeans when the social situation calls for it, but even then I tend to keep it baggy up top. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2026, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/16 "2026-07-13T11:40:06Z")
I dress for comfort only. Gym shorts and either a knit or Hawaiian shirt, with sneakers. I change to gym pants and add an undershirt when it’s cold. Add some sort of trucker cap, and that’s my entire wardrobe. One of the two reasons I spent last week infuriated at being forced into jury duty, was because I had to play “dress up” everyday. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2026, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/17 "2026-07-13T14:34:44Z")
Kind of loose and kind of fitted. If clothes are too loose, it makes me look heavier, which I’m not. I don’t want to be constricted, either. I like my clothes to fit nicely, not baggy. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2026, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/18 "2026-07-13T15:05:56Z")
I learned a few years back not to wear shirts that are too baggy when working outside. I disturbed a den of yellow jackets and several of them got under my t-shirt to take their revenge. Cut to me running across the yard tearing off my shirt. I don’t think I scandalized any neighbors, nor did I hear laughing. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-clothes-to-fit/1031586/19 "2026-07-13T16:37:48Z")
How about just right? I like my clothes to fit just right. Not loose not tight. Definitely not baggy. Not snug and uncomfortable. And I am not easy to fit.