Help me understand pants sizing

[Anonymous]

So I am looking for several pairs of dress pants and would like to order online. Most of the stores (ann taylor, banana etc) have sizings with names like "Cassidy" and "Julie". It seems like that would be helpful, but the descriptions do not make sense to me. For example, certain pants are described and "shaped" or "fitted" in the hip and thigh. What does that mean? I have straight hips, no butt and slim thighs. Do I want to buy the style that is "straight" through the hip and thigh or "fitted" through the hip and thigh?

[Anonymous]

There was just an article about this in the NY Times Magazine about all the crazy sizing going on. I think when it comes to pants -- you just have to go try them on. Tops are one thing -- but don't know that I've ever ordered pants online for similar reasons.

[Anonymous]

Straight and fitted don't refer to your body type so much as the pants - straight means the line of the pant falls from the hip to the foot without tapering one way or another for the most part. Fitted means that it will hug you a bit more up top with maybe a boot cut or something below. You'd probably look good in J Crew stuff - they're made for body types like yours. Say away from the "curvy" fits.

[Anonymous]

agree with the recommendation for J. Crew (City or Favorite fit). Banana Republic Martin and Ryan fits might be good, too. The Christie fit from Victoria's Secret has been a great fit for me. Ann Taylor is more hit or miss.

I find that lower rise pants (but not too low for the office) tend to fit me better because my hip:waist ratio is not "standard" and it is easier to get something that is small enough for my hips if it doesn't come all the way up to my (lacking) waist. Using size charts, I'd be a 4 in the hips and an 8 or 10 in the waist.