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piskeydoo
Joined: 13 Oct 2011
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 6:57 pm Post subject: Buying men's clothing in Korea |
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Hello! I am moving to Ilsan in February, and from what I've been reading, people warn that if you are not "Asian" sized make sure to bring shoes and clothes that fit. I am a 6'0'' male with a 29" waist (I wear 29/32s) and my shoe size is ~10-11 (US) depending on the brand. Will I have a problem finding clothes and shoes? Thanks  |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: Buying men's clothing in Korea |
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piskeydoo wrote: |
Hello! I am moving to Ilsan in February, and from what I've been reading, people warn that if you are not "Asian" sized make sure to bring shoes and clothes that fit. I am a 6'0'' male with a 29" waist (I wear 29/32s) and my shoe size is ~10-11 (US) depending on the brand. Will I have a problem finding clothes and shoes? Thanks  |
Clothes:
pants = no but
shirts = may be an issue depending on your chest size). The most common "large size" shirt has a chest of 105cm (about a 41-42" chest).
275-280mm length is the common "large size" for shoes but I have found that although the length may fit the arch is not the same (shorter) and the shoe is often uncomfortable. That said, depending on where you work, you may spend a lot of your time in slippers.
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Dazed and Confused
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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My husband wears size 10US shoes. He never has a problem finding his size but sometimes he has trouble finding them wide enough. He solved that problem by wearing only Doc Martens. |
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furtakk
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:34 pm Post subject: Re: Buying men's clothing in Korea |
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piskeydoo wrote: |
Hello! I am moving to Ilsan in February, and from what I've been reading, people warn that if you are not "Asian" sized make sure to bring shoes and clothes that fit. I am a 6'0'' male with a 29" waist (I wear 29/32s) and my shoe size is ~10-11 (US) depending on the brand. Will I have a problem finding clothes and shoes? Thanks  |
I'm pretty much the same size as you.
I never have any issue with tops, but pants are hit and miss (I need a 30/32 though). If you're a 29 you shouldn't have any trouble.
If you shop primarily at western retailers (zara, h&m, levis, lacoste, etc) you shouldn't have any trouble finding sizes. Most Korean brands tend to have my size as well.
Shoes are a bit more difficult. 10/11 is on the end of the scale in terms of available sizes here. I'm really picky with footwear so when I go shoe shopping it takes awhile to find something in my size that I like, but those sizes are available for the most part. |
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alongway
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:36 pm Post subject: Re: Buying men's clothing in Korea |
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piskeydoo wrote: |
Hello! I am moving to Ilsan in February, and from what I've been reading, people warn that if you are not "Asian" sized make sure to bring shoes and clothes that fit. I am a 6'0'' male with a 29" waist (I wear 29/32s) and my shoe size is ~10-11 (US) depending on the brand. Will I have a problem finding clothes and shoes? Thanks  |
http://www.njoyny.com/index_fo_nynjoy.jsp?sid=n&navi_id=addres
Western brands, western sizes, including mens clothes.
If you're familiar with some of the brands already (And there are a lot) you already know which sizes to buy. |
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piskeydoo
Joined: 13 Oct 2011
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the help ^^. I was getting a bit worried because I was planning on doing some shopping once I moved. I haven't shopped for myself since I would go to the mall with my mom back in high school so, and I don't celebrate christmas or anything so my wardrobe hasn't been updated in a while. Most of what I wear is pretty worn so I was planning on just bringing the basics (underwear, work pants, work shirt, my favorite jeans, and hoodie) then just buying the rest there, but I started to get worried that I may be too large ^^. You have put me at ease, and I thank you. |
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alongway
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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piskeydoo wrote: |
Thanks for the help ^^. I was getting a bit worried because I was planning on doing some shopping once I moved. I haven't shopped for myself since I would go to the mall with my mom back in high school so, and I don't celebrate christmas or anything so my wardrobe hasn't been updated in a while. Most of what I wear is pretty worn so I was planning on just bringing the basics (underwear, work pants, work shirt, my favorite jeans, and hoodie) then just buying the rest there, but I started to get worried that I may be too large ^^. You have put me at ease, and I thank you. |
Before you go, go to the mall and hit up some of the brands on the site to see how the clothes fit. You may find slight variations between the brand and you might be a 30 in one brand, a 29 in another and a 28 other ones. You can browse the NYMEN section for all the brands they have, but they have most of the ones that are popular with young adults of varying fashion levels, casual, business casual, and some nicer stuff as well. |
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Squire

Joined: 26 Sep 2010 Location: Jeollanam-do
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:30 am Post subject: |
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I'm 6'3 and bought some jeans in Emart which were so long they needed rolling up at the bottom. I can only imagine they were designed for people 6'6 or taller. Baffling. |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:40 am Post subject: |
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Any drycleaning shop will hem pants for around 3000 won. |
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giraffe
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 1:55 am Post subject: |
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I'm about the same heigh/size as the OP. I'm about 6' tall , I wear 10.5 shoe size , I thought I was a 32 pant size but after going shopping this weekend I'm actually a 33/34. My shirt size is 95/100/105 ( korean size depends on the brand and if its a coat , hoodie, inside shirt....). I wear Medium shirt sizes back home in canada. I weigh 72 KG. I'm pretty average size really.
The only problem I have finding my size is the actual Item Stock. I find that My shoe size , shirt size and pant size is what sells the most here in korea. The staff constantly tell me its the most common sizes they sell.
Generally speaking if the item is in stock, NO you wont have any problem finding clothing or shoes for someone your size especially if you're shopping at brand clothing stores. Might be a different story if you shop at little boutiques...
Shopping in korea is great for someone my size ( and your size) I say... |
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pkang0202

Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 4:43 am Post subject: |
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Size 10 Wide is the hardest freaking show size to find in this country.
Because "wide" shoes are rare, you gotta wear 10 1/2's (185).
No place has 185. They have 180, or 190. 190's are too big, when you figure your foot length fits a 10, its jsut the width that needs to be a bit bigger.
Even shoe stores in Itaewon its hard to find 185's. Forget ABC stores, none of them carry 185 of anything.
You gotta get in the habit of going to the shoe store, picking out at LEAST 8 different pairs and say "Do you have this is a 185 or 180 wide?" Out of that 8, you might find 1 pair taht will fit you. |
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saram_
Joined: 13 May 2008
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 4:56 am Post subject: |
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Have to disagree about the ABC marts..
Some of them at least- (myeong dong there are 2 there, Express Terminal)
have size 290-300 in a lot of different styles! Size 11 US..
I dont have much of a problem getting my size..
105 (xl here) usually fits for sweaters/tops fine-- sometimes 110 for jackets and shirts!
Jeans 34/36 can be found in myeong dong/Dongdaemun and the like too. |
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The Floating World
Joined: 01 Oct 2011 Location: Here
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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Jeans are tough to find for me as I am a 34 inch waist (that's not the problem) and like a nice loose / baggy fit. But most tof the sotres the past few yrs only carry tight / metrosexual style jeans. Also I like a light blue / stonewash colour but the stores these days only have very dark denim colours.
As for shirts, this is tough too. The affordable stores only seem to make shirts that are either too tight anywhere that I have muscle (chest, shoulders, top of arms) and I'm not that built either or they fit but come down to my knees.
So I've started getting tailor made and am super happy with the experience.
Nothing like getting your clothes made to your exact specification, it's awesome. I might even see if my tailor will make jeans. That would rock and I could probably get him to whack a fake levis or Armani tag on them too!
Jackets, t-shirts, sneakers are no problem for me here.
Shoes is a toughie not due to size and fit but due to lack of variety in style. If you like plain, affordable shoes, you're golden. If you like stylish and affordable shoes - you're in shoe-hell. |
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pkang0202

Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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saram_ wrote: |
Have to disagree about the ABC marts..
Some of them at least- (myeong dong there are 2 there, Express Terminal)
have size 290-300 in a lot of different styles! Size 11 US..
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How does that help someone who wears 285 or 280 wide? |
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