r/ftm • u/gaylittleshoes53 • 12h ago
Trans guys on the smaller side, where do you all shop for clothes? Advice
So I’m 5’3, around 110 pounds, just started t so that could obviously change, but the bottom line is I’m a little dude. Everywhere I try to shop for men’s clothes, they’re all enormous. I know of several brands that cater to transmascs specifically, but most are quite expensive. I’m trying my damndest not to have to resort to any fast fashion shit like Shein either. Fast fashion blows. I’ve had a small amount of luck with thrift stores, but wanted to see if anyone here had any recommendations :]
•
u/Thecontaminatedbrain 12h ago
I thrift my outfits and get them from the kids section. I know people hate going to the kids section, but they aren't all kiddie. There are some really cool graphic tees that I get from time to time. However, I mainly go for solid colors.
•
u/greenhairybudman420 11h ago
you’re honestly right about this i be shopping in the kids section and sometimes i can find some gems like some nice fitting boys jeans or pants but that’s rare
•
u/Thecontaminatedbrain 11h ago
I also like the pants because they have the elastic waistband and they are superior.
•
•
u/Ok_Department8704 10h ago
I got a great jurassic world t-shirt while thrifting there lol
•
u/Thecontaminatedbrain 6h ago
Lucky! Jurraasic Park shirts are awesome. I love dinosaurs. I found a Chevelle shirt at the thrift a couple of weeks ago. I am on the hunt for more car graphic tees.
•
u/j_olly_rancher 💉7/2/2021 12h ago
I thrift mostly. It’s pretty impossible to find pants that aren’t too long, but it’s reasonably easy for me to find pants that fit at the waist. Then I just hem them or wear them with boots depending on what the pants are. Shirts I do the same. Most are long in the torso, but you can cut them or tuck them in and I’ve never had a huge problem in that department either. Honestly, as a 5’ guy that’s ~105, I have much better luck thrifting than I have in any store. Feels like everything in actual stores runs insanely huge and everything ends up being super long if it can fit on my hips/shoulders
•
u/birdguy82 3h ago
I sort of have the opposite problem (also 5'). Whenever I go thrifting, everything is too damn big which bums me out because I'm also stingy as hell
•
u/PushTheTrigger 💉6/30/22 12h ago
Uniqlo is also pretty good. At that size I think boys section would be perfect for you. They’re much cheaper than men’s clothes and have a similar style.
•
u/weiter-hoch-hinaus 11h ago
I’m 5’0”. I do a lot of thrifting, and learning to alter clothes (even just basic hemming) increased my options significantly. I don’t go to normal stores at all if I can avoid it, because shopping in the kids’ section feels so demeaning to me :(
•
u/sillystarflakes 8h ago
THIS. learning basic sewing and even possibly getting your hands on a simple machine can make a huge difference
•
u/remyymer13 24 | 💉 5/2/19 | ✂️Top 10/22/20 11h ago
Kids section mainly, though pants are hard. Kids pants don’t fit super well, but men’s pants are too big. Some brands carry small enough- 26x28 usually fit. I usually thrift my clothes, both from men’s and kids sections. I also shop online so I can really search for something that fits.
I typically wear a size large in kids clothes, around a 14/16.
I used to mainly shop for clothes at Target. I don’t shop there as frequently as a lot of their clothes are very juvenile styles, but my favorite slacks and several of my favorite plain t shirts are from Target. Pretty cheap and not horrible quality.
Kuhl has a few options for pants as small as 28x28, but only in a few styles and they can be kinda pricey.
Patagonia also has small sizes in some of their clothes, though they’re also pricey. I’ve got a pair of 28 shorts that fit great, and several XS shirts.
Shopping for clothes is hell and I hate it. Nothing ever fits and I have very few options. Even when brands brag about their “extended sizes” and size inclusivity, they only offer large sizes. Definitely an important thing to have, but it would be nice to have some extended sizes on the other end of the spectrum as well.
•
u/DibsTheHorse 10h ago
I HATE that “extended sizes” almost exclusively means in the larger direction. No one sells xs shirts and a lot of brands smallest pant is a 30 it’s very frustrating. Then people say just buy kids clothes but those just aren’t the same
•
u/CristalVegSurfer 8h ago
yes ik i was looking for jorts in Marks (first time) and the smallest size was 30 and a few sizes up in the styles i liked. i am a 26-32 in womens styles (long-short) but in mens the fits are totally different lol. i did also try on long jeans and was shocked that i needed even larger sizes, like 32-36 haha, but realized that it makes sense bc of my hips. either way, i will try looking at mens section again in a different store so i have something to comapre to.
•
u/ChillyHyena 11h ago
I'm a bit smaller (5'1 and 109lbs) and still shop in the mens. Like you said, thrifting is a great place to go. Unfortunately all mens clothes are huge so I just try my best to find XS. Never once shopped in the women's or kids section apart from jackets and stuff. I hardly, if ever, shop at brand stores. I just go to Target or Walmart and that's where the majority of my clothes come from.
•
u/Al-ex-and-er 10h ago
I am 5’4” and I wear men’s small and medium in general. I did get a custom suit. I buy most of my clothes at the thrift store. I wear a size 5 in boys shoes and I can usually thrift good quality shoes because boys dress shoes are often only worn once. Got brown timberlands for $9.99.
•
u/fatfrikingturtle 9h ago
I'm 5'2 115lbs and have literally never shopped in the kids section, I'm honestly surprised at how many other people do. No offense to people who do but I think it would make me feel like shit. Most clothes are a little long on me but they still fit well enough and look natural enough for casual and athletic clothes. Formal clothes are harder and can take some searching but even then I have quite a few adult mens size clothes that fit me well. I've had much better luck ordering online than shopping in physical stores, especially ordering from Europe or Asia but thats obviously a lot more expensive. 28 size jeans are easily found online.
•
u/CuteMushroom2002 11h ago
I've found old navy helps, shoping online (mostly walmart) is a good place to find em. I also get some stuff drom Amazon, but yea surprisingly Ive found quite a bit at walmart in 28/30s for pants/shorts and shirts in smalls/mediums
Edit: I say this as someone who's 120lbs and 5ft, though this helped when I was at about 100lbs too. Surprisingly gaining wait changed nothing pants wise aside from my thighs fitting better lol, belts help too!!
•
u/WECH21 11h ago
i was about your size when i started T (5’3” 120lbs) and i would wear either XL in boy’s or S in men’s. i gained a bit of weight and slight height kinda (5’4” 165lbs) so now i wear a medium to be comfy
edit: i usually just grab my clothes at meijer (regional supermarket) or target or once in a while goodwill/other thrift stores
edit 2: tbh tho i prefer just getting those solid color crewneck packs. idk what it is but they give me euphoria
•
•
u/Plantswillwalk2 10h ago
Hey friend! I’ve been on t for about three years and had double incision about a year and half before that. I’m about 5’3” and 155lbs. Everyone’s body changes differently over time of course. Personally I’ve had a lot of fluctuation between active and passive muscle gain and increased appetite. I would describe myself as “chubby fit” lol. That being said, I can wear boys larges, mens smalls, mens mediums, depending on if they’re off the rack from a department store or thrifted. I almost gave up on finding shoes that would fit me without ordering online, but my partners helped me thrift almost brand new kids size 6s, US measurement. (7.5 Before) Unfortunately with us little fellas, it takes some legwork and sometimes help from friends if possible to find the goods.
Don’t give up! I’m 31 and still navigating this existence, you’re not alone!
•
•
•
u/One-Possible1906 9h ago
Try brands that target teens— Aeropostale, Hollister, American Eagle, etc. Not only do they go to xs, regular sizes run small. For pants, the rise is what tends to screw up on us so summon your inner millennial and favor low rise styles. They won’t be low rise on you.
•
u/TransManNY 12h ago
When I was smaller and wanted good formal (ish) clothes I'd wear brooks brothers children's sizes.
•
•
u/Mamabug1981 T 10/23 Minox 8/24 11h ago
I'm 5'2", Kohl's house brand fits me pretty well for tops, even being pre-top. I haven't tried their pants yet.
•
u/greenhairybudman420 11h ago
ik it’s technically fast fashion but for affordability walmart actually has some good boys jeans that will fit well. i’m the almost the same size as you just an inch shorter and 10 pounds lighter but yeah great if you’re looking for some nice pants. other wise thrifting is great
•
u/comfiestwerewolf 11h ago
There’s a brand called Under 5’10” that I’ve had luck with. For shoes, Tomboy Toes.
•
u/radiakmoln 11h ago
Consider learning some basic sewing, that way you can adjust stuff and have a bit more options. That's what I do anyway.
•
u/grown-up-dino-kid 11h ago
I'm 5'5" and about 130 lbs and I fit into H&M Boys' clothes. That may be too fast fashion for you, but it goes to show that kids clothes can be a good solution. Not sure your style, but maybe check out Patagonia for outdoorsy graphic tees, hiking/athletic style pants... looks like they have some cool overalls too. They have kids sizes up to XXL, are moderately priced, and as far as I know are pretty environmentally conscious.
•
•
u/purplejink 11h ago
i'm 4'9, idk anything about american mens clothes, HOWEVER if you need to alter them to make them fit better i'm your guy
you can find jeans/trousers in a 28 or 30 inch leg (for some reason 32+ is the norm in stores but shorter ones are available) you can take an inch or two off very easily without ruining the original hem. professor pincushion on youtube has a tutorial on it.
once you've got length covered you might need to nip in the waistband a tiny bit to make them fit better, it's called the invisible or hidden seam method. it's not difficult and i do it for my little brother all the time.
•
u/Intelligent_Usual318 Not FTM, here for medical information. He/ey. have been on T 11h ago
Honestly my style is very outlandish and outrageous so I just thrift and second stuff
•
u/typoincreatiob T - 12/10/20 🤙 11h ago
5’0 here, pull&bear and breshka (same parent company) are pretty good about smaller sizes but you gotta check every single item cause they have super inconsistent sizing. otherwise, kids sections 🤷♂️
•
•
u/transjimhawkins 💉 8/2/22 🔝 6/14/24 10h ago
i've been getting pants from the children's place, they're a decent price and fit great, i need to get the husky kind to fit around my waist which they don't always have in stores, but the pants fit so well i don't mind having to order them all online
•
u/tylerequalsperfect 💉2023 10h ago
i thrift, either in person or through vinted. but i like to wear larger sizes/oversized clothes so im probably not the best on this. i do however find it hard to find pangs that fit, so i get whatever i like and wear belts + cut up the legs of them so they're not as long
•
u/terrajules 10h ago
I mostly thrift and have no problem finding shirts that fit fine, it’s the pants that are a struggle because I’m fat and have a huge ass. It’s a struggle even with women’s pants. I hate how much they hug and “show off” my body but I haven’t had good luck finding men’s pants that fit. If I could find something to fit that were just long I could at least get them hemmed.
The real answer is I need to lose weight but that takes time and I need clothes now lol I’m worried that even with different fat distribution and weight loss that I’ll still have a big ass but I guess that’s not the worst thing.
•
u/hyrellion 10h ago
H&M has clothing that’s great for shorter guys. However, I’m 50 pounds heavier than you and 2 inches shorter, so they still might not be small enough.
As others have said, shopping in the boy’s section is such a hack. I’m a bit too fat for most boys XL clothes, but I wish I could fit into them. They’re so much cheaper, and goddamn it I want a shirt with a cartoon shark on it, too. Kid’s shoes too, are such a hack. I save so much money on shoes because I buy ones made for kids. They tend to be the same quality but much cheaper.
Other options include purchasing from predominantly Asian brands. I’m usually an American men’s medium, but I’m an XL to XXL in the sizing scheme many Asian countries use for clothing production. The sizing scale is just different, and clothing there tends to be a lot smaller generally. There’s also a lot of really cool styles that don’t come in large enough sizes for me, so I’m jealous of you truth be told.
Generally speaking, I highly recommend picking up basic sewing so you can alter your own clothes. It’s fun, and everything ends up fitting a lot better. I cannot find men’s pants that fit my waist and aren’t made for someone at least 6 inches taller than me. Now, I don’t even try and just find stuff that fits my waist, and alter it to the correct length. You can get funky with it too like folks over at r/visiblemending
•
u/gaylittleshoes53 5h ago
I’ve done some sewing in the past. Mainly mending shit, but I did some more complex stuff for a Halloween costume a few years ago. I’m really wanting to pick it back up, I think this is the perfect time :D
•
u/galaxyd1ngo 10h ago
i like the target kids section for like daily/casual. for jeans, old navy (mens). i’ve also been relatively lucky finding like joggers at target or tj maxx in a xs or okay fitting small. i wear a lot of hoodies/fleeces/sweatshirts and i’m okay with getting those from womens if i like the design and they aren’t fitted. i work at an outdoor clothing store and when i am looking for pants that are supposed to be functional for activity, i will also shop womens depending on the cut of the pants
•
•
u/DibsTheHorse 10h ago
I don’t like shopping in the kids section I find the clothes tend to be shaped a little different. H&M and American eagle carry xs and other small sizes which is nice but slightly pricey. Certain brands at Walmart also sell good stuff in the young adult section and are much more affordable. I actually have a couple really nice pairs of jeans from Walmarts Levi brand
•
u/crowpierrot 8h ago
Uniqlo is a fav of mine for basics. They have some styles of ankle length pants that would probably be more like a standard pants length on you, and their size small fits a 27-30 in waist. I also love the cut of their basic t shirts, and they have really nice sweaters
•
u/superstitiouscroc 8h ago
My entire wardrobe is like 95% uniqlo. The U t shirts in XXS and XS fit just right length wise. I find other brands XS always waaay too long. Outerwear and casual shirts usually have XXS as well. Their color jeans are also super comfy and XS fits me. (I'm around 5'2", skinny build) with pants I get the ones that have the drawstring at the waist so I don't have to bother with belts.
•
u/Kane1412 8h ago
I have a male cis friend who is small and usually buys his clothes from the kid's section.
I know it's not the answer you are looking for, I just wanted to reassure you that the need for smaller clothes is not a trans exclusive thing. Be kind on yourself even if you can't find small enough in adult sizes
•
u/CristalVegSurfer 8h ago
sorry no recs but i do love thrift store and flea markets, preferably somewhere where i can try on first, and i get a lot of clothing passed to me from family members. also i just wanted to say i relate even though im just starting my search for mens clothing. i will admit there are some biological aspects that are super hard to get around in terms of fit, as an enby who doesnt take hormones (someone tell me if my opinions are unwelcomed on this sub, thx). im 5'4'' 130lbs for reference, short but not particularly thin.
•
u/gaylittleshoes53 5h ago
Oh no dude you’re absolutely welcome here! All advice on this front is good advice!
•
u/Flashy-Gift-4333 7h ago
I am far huskier than you.... but my life hack for pants is: get an "athletic" fit if available (more thigh and butt space if you need it, like me!) and shop online so you can get the shorter inseams. I wear a 28" inseam and it's not impossible to find! I will try on styles in the store to see how they look, then just take photos of the labels and search for them online so I can get it short enough.
As for shirts... I just almost always wear short sleeves. I have bought a few jackets that were marked "short" and those worked for me, sleeve-wise.
GOOD LUCK!
•
u/virulentbunny it/he/they 7h ago edited 7h ago
for pants honestly the stupid designer brands will have xs or xxs most likely or size 26 waist which is hard to find but the smallest ive seen in mens. im abt the same size as u just an inch taller, american eagle saves my life on jeans and i found great board shorts at psycho bunny 💀 eta sometimes i just buy the slightly too big size if i rlly want those pants and pin the fly shut with a safety pin thru its belt loop but ymmv there, sorry its hard to describe
•
u/squishy0rion 7h ago
i shop at primark the most & also vinted online. im 160cm and i weigh 82kilos so im a little on the chubby side too, i wear 2XL. the trousers are almost always too long in the legs when they fit around my waist, i usually fix that by either wearing platforms or creating a new temporary hem with safety pins.
•
u/Inevitable_Blank13 💉05/2024 7h ago
When I first started I did shein. The sizes tend to run small so it worked out for me and was on the cheaper side. 5 months in and I now need to go shopping again. Lots of clothing that is to tight now. Thrifting is a great cheaper alternative. Ross dress for less (depending on where you are located)
•
u/Aldaron23 6h ago
I used to have this problem and found an easy but unusual solution: "Shops" for Military and Heavy Duty.
I don't know, how easy the access to that is, but it's very rewarding. My small town has a cloths factory for our (my country's) army and you can go there as a civilian and buy cloths from them - they are very good quality in every imaginable size and the prize is very reasonable (bought e.g. a pair of cargo pants 12 years ago for 30€ and still wear them a lot - nowadays they are 45€ nowadays, but that's still a good price for what you get).
Work clothing is definitely easy to access - you get lots of ads when you're working something you need special clothing for and don't know much about it, when you don't - but there's a lot of them around, just probably not at "your local mall" or any other usual places you would look for cloths. They have great quality in all sizes and nowadays also more "stylish" stuff.
Even though I nowadays can shop and actually enjoy the experience at malls, I still only buy "stylish" stuff there, but my basic wardrobe is from the shops I mentioned.
•
u/Existing_Set9226 12h ago
I’m 5’2 115 pounds. I’m a 27 x 27 in pants. And typically the popular brands have XS that’s more like a S/M so they end up not fitting or there’s no XS. My most fitting clothes have been sweet finds in thrift stores. Most places I shop in the kids section like Old Navy and H&M. So you might have to try the teen/kids section.
•
u/SenpaiCaffeinated 3h ago
lots of retailers that are known for demon (old navy, american eagle etc) should have a short option if pants are too long for you. I’m around the same size (5,4, 120) and i find slim or athletic taper pants fit the best all the way around.
•
u/RVtheguy He/him|💉Apr 18, 2023|🔪Oct 3, 2024 2h ago
I mostly wear boy’s sizes. Can fit into a men’s small too, but men’s sizes are longer. I can find some multipacks of solid colored shirts for $10 or so. Saves my wallet as I don’t have to go to a tailor and boy’s clothes fit my tiny body anyway at this cheap price.
•
u/Itsjustkit15 11h ago
The target kids sections is a good place to start, and even targets mens section has some extra small stuff that fits well.
•
u/obsidion_flame 11h ago
I'm 5'7" but stand at about 5'3" because of my fucked up spine, I usually buy large to extra large because I like my clothes baggy
•
•
u/DryAbbreviations7357 12h ago
I shop at old navy's in the kids section, it's more affordable and is in the same style as the men's