Denim Fit Guide

In brief: Fit is set by ease, the spare room a garment has over your body. Slim fits add around 2 to 4 inches of ease with a 13 to 14 inch leg opening, regular fits add 4 to 6 inches with a 15 to 17 inch opening, and relaxed fits add 6 to 8 or more inches with an 18 to 20 inch opening. Slim flatters lean builds, regular suits most people, and relaxed maximises comfort and layering.

What is the difference between slim, regular and relaxed fit?

The difference comes down to ease, the amount of spare room a garment has over your actual body measurements. Slim fit sits close to the body with roughly 2 to 4 inches of ease at the chest and a leg opening of about 13 to 14 inches. Regular fit is the industry-standard cut, with 4 to 6 inches of ease and a leg opening of around 15 to 17 inches. Relaxed fit is the most generous, with 6 to 8 or more inches of ease and a leg opening of about 18 to 20 inches. The same labelling logic applies across jeans, shirts, trousers and outerwear.

Which fit should you choose?

Slim fit is best for contemporary tailoring, fitted knitwear and lean or athletic builds, with the trade-off that it restricts layering and movement. Regular fit suits most body types and is the most versatile across occasions, from shirts to trousers to outerwear, though it gives a less defined silhouette than slim. Relaxed fit is ideal for workwear, loungewear, layering and all-day comfort, but it can look shapeless on smaller frames. There is also tapered, which suits athletic builds and modern casualwear by narrowing the ankle, with the trade-off that it is less boot-friendly than a straight leg.

Why fit varies between brands

Fit labels are not standardised across the industry, so a slim fit from one brand will not measure the same as a slim fit from another. A BOSS slim fit and a Jacob Cohen slim fit, for example, use different measurements and sit differently on the body. That is why the most reliable approach is to try multiple fits on rather than rely on the label alone, paying attention to ease through the chest, seat and thigh as well as the leg opening.

Find your fit at OD's

Browse denim and trousers across slim, regular, relaxed and tapered fits below. Try multiple fits in our St Helens store.