<p>Chucktown “The kicker though, is that a 30’’ isn’t actually a 30’’ anymore as retailers have made the waist measurements smaller than what they actually are.”</p>
<p>I thought they only did that in women’s clothing! The retailer won’t be able to control that but you will find significant variation among manufacturers. One may have a 32 waist be exactly 32 inches; another may have the 32 fit a 32 waist, i.e., a bit larger; another may add extra for weight fluctuation. The most important thing in a mens suit is not the quality of the fabric or the name brand but the fit.</p>
<p>If you go to a quality department store they should have salespeople in the mens department that actually know something about suits and proper fit. I’d go there for specific advice rather than looking for a potentially less expensive suit at a discount store. It’s not impossible to get a good fitting suit at a discount store but the staff is not knowlegeable and often the cheaper suit isn’t a good buy in the long run. You do not need to buy the top end suits though.</p>
<p>But, interestingly, the 30" trousers (not suit trousers) and shorts that I have measured have generally been honestly sized (at most 0.5" variation), and a few are actually slightly *smaller<a href=“i.e.%20true%20size%2029%22%20or%2029.5%22”>/i</a> than their nominal size. Perhaps the inflation is more common in the larger sizes?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>“Some time in the gym” could result in you weighing more (with more muscle) while having a smaller waistline (with less fat).</p>
<p>And yes I did gain muscle, a good 20lbs of it. But, at 6ft 175lbs and a 3 sport high school athlete I didn’t even have time for fat then. Definition wise I have always looked the same, I just got bigger. </p>
<p>Also, I have measured my current size 32’s and they measure to 35, crazy but true.</p>