There has been some hoopla in the fatshion world about Universal Standard offering extended sizes (up to size 40) in many of their clothing options – including jeans.

I have heard that Universal Standard really went all out in trying to get input for their jeans, including hiring models that could actually wear the sizes they were offering (up to size 40).  That they really listened to what the models had to say, and treated them was lots of respect.

All wonderful things.

So I decided I would try these jeans.

I haven’t owned a pair of regular jeans for quite a while.  I have some jeans from Torrid, but I don’t really like them much.

I usually opt for jeggings (denim-look leggings).  I find them comfortable and reasonably priced.

But I wanted to see what all the fuss was about with these Universal Standard jeans.

Here’s what happened:

I went to the Universal Standard website.

Found the jeans, and then checked out their size guide.

As a fat person I ALWAYS check the size guide because clothing for fat people can vary greatly (although this is usually only true when dealing with the “X” sizes – where a 4X can mean anything from a size 20 to a size 28).

I found my size, based on my measurements – Size 36.

Great.

I ordered a pair of jeans.

(And these are not cheap jeans – they are $90 a pair, but if they truly fit, I was willing to invest in a pair.)

Got my jeans.

Tried them on.

They were so loose, they literally just fell around my ankles.

Also, noted – these are not regular denim jeans.  The material is very stretchy – more like heavy duty jegging material, than regular denim jeans.

Went on the computer, and easily arranged for this pair to be returned (I was able to print the return label, but had to take the box to our local UPS store to drop off – but no cost to me), and exchanged them for a size 34.

Got size 34.

Still, way too big.

Now, I am truly frustrated.

I go to the website.  I cannot find where I am able to exchange the jeans – only return them and get a credit.

Well that would be all fine and good, except, in the meantime, my credit card had been compromised and that account closed.

I email Universal Standard and ask why (the f*ck) can’t I just do any exchange for their jeans (which apparently run no where close to what their size guide shows).

They email back that their system “can’t handle multiple exchanges”.

Another big WTF from me.

But because of the issue with the credit card being compromised they’ll manually put this through.

They also apologized about the problem with the size but that I should talk to one of their “size experts”.

I replied, that I find it disheartening that I would have to talk to a “size expert” simply to order a garment and cannot simply rely on their size guide to be accurate.

They send me size 32.

They fit weird.

The legs are tight (although they loosen up as the day goes by), but I can still pull them on and take them off without unbuttoning or unzipping them.

I give up.

I’m not particularly happy with them, but I’m keeping them.

I may (or may not) wear them from time to time.

I might care more if I was a tuck-in-your shirt kind of person, but I’m not.  Jeggings will work just as well (better in fact), they cost a whole lot less, and fit a whole lot better.

I salute Universal Standard for trying to expand their sizes.  They really do seem to be trying; but you really need to get your sizing figured out.  Especially at your prices.

When I buy clothing, I want to be able to look at a size guide to determine the appropriate size, and when the garment arrives, I expect it to fit (within the parameters of those measurements).

Right now, I am so not impressed by Universal Standard.

I just don’t understand how, after (purportedly) putting in so much effort to do it right, you got it so wrong.