Slim fit clothing refers to any garment that fits the wearer close to the body. Generous fit clothing is loose, whereas slim-fit styles are quite tight. Pants, shirts, and other garments in this style don't have extra fabric hanging or draping anywhere. People with lean body types especially appreciate the closer fit because it can give them a more tailored look.
Regular fit clothing is sized between the generous and slim fits. It tends to skim most body types comfortably; regular fit pants and shirts have a little extra fabric. For thinner people, slim fit clothing tends to look like regular fitted designs made for average body types. Without the availability of slim fitting clothing, many leaner people have to buy the smallest regular fit sizes and get them tailored to fit.
For instance, men with leaner body types often find that regular fit dress shirts have extra fabric billowing in the back, and regular suit pants tend to be too baggy. Men's suits are supposed to look tailored, so lean men usually need slim fit suits to accomplish a professional-looking fit. Slim fit suits allow for a slimmer waist in jackets and narrower pant legs at the hips. In regular fit suits, small figure types can look lost in a sea of fabric.
Slim fit jeans are made for both men and women. These may be "skinny leg" pants or wider legged styles that fit snugly at the waist and hips. Skinny legged jeans fit very close to the body even down to the ankles; they tend to flatter leaner body types. Some slim fitting jeans are low-waist, which means the waist of the pants fastens at the top of the hip, far below the natural waistline. The natural waistline is between the lower ribs and the belly button at the smallest part of the waist.
In order to create a slimmer fit, garments may have some stretchy materials added. For example, spandex is a synthetic stretchy fabric that is often blended with cotton to create slim-fit blouses for women. The added spandex creates a body-hugging, rather than baggy, fit.
It's important that slim fit clothing doesn't fit so close to the body that it restricts movement. Seams and buttonholes shouldn't pull when the wearer sits down, and suits, pants, and tops should move with the body rather than restrict it. Wearing the correct size of garment is necessary for the best, most flattering look.
