Fashion experts share 11 signs your clothes don't fit as well as you think

• Fashion professionals told Insider the simple ways your clothes aren't fitting right.
• Clothes like tight pants and corsets should not be difficult to move in.
• Oversized blazers and pants with flaring pockets can look ill-fitted.

When it comes to style, fit is just as important as fashion.

So Insider asked style experts to share a few telltale signs that a piece of clothing isn't the right size or shape for your body.

Your shoulder pads shouldn't be sagging

Celebrity stylist Carolyn Rubido told Insider that a blazer's shoulder pads should never sag.

"If the shoulder pad sags past your natural shoulder, it's not fitting correctly," Rubido said.

Many trendy women's blazers are already made to look larger, so there's usually no need to size up.

If your sleeves are going past your knuckles, they're probably too long

Unless you're going for an extremely oversized look, long sleeves shouldn't extend to your knuckles.

"Make sure the ends of your sleeves don't pass the center of the back of your hand," Rubido said.

If finding a piece that properly fits is difficult, tailors can usually shorten overly long sleeves in just a few minutes.

Your pants are likely too short if your socks show when you stand

James Thomson-Sakhrani, founder of Style Standard, told Insider that if you're standing in long pants or jeans, no one should be able to see your socks.

"Visible socks while standing usually means the pants are too short," Thomson-Sakhrani said.

Similarly, you don't want too much fabric collecting around your ankles - the sweet spot is when the pant hem sits on top of your shoes without the fabric bunching.

Your tops shouldn't pull into an 'X' around the buttons

One of the most telling signs that a buttoned shirt or jacket doesn't fit right is a visible "X" wrinkle around the closures.

"If you're seeing the fabric pull away from the button in a clear 'X' pattern, it means the garment is too small or too narrow," Thomson-Sakhrani said.

The fashion professional added that, in general, a buttoned garment should be loose enough to easily pull a couple of inches away from your body.

Stitching lines should align with the natural length of your shoulders

A quick way to tell if your shirt is correctly sized is to simply look at the line of stitching that runs along the shoulders.

"If the stitching runs past your natural shoulder, the shirt is too big," Rubido said. "If the stitching line stops well before your shoulder tip, the shirt is too small."

A perfectly fitted shirt should have stitching that ends precisely at the natural edge of your shoulder.

Flaring pockets are a sign of ill-fitting bottoms

In suits and shorts alike, a sure sign that your bottoms don't correctly fit is a set of flaring pockets.

"Pockets that stick out mean your pants are too tight or the wrong cut for your shape," Thomson-Sakhrani said.

Well-fitted bottoms should have pockets that lie flat against the sides of your legs.

Your clothes shouldn't be uncomfortable to move in

If you can't move like you normally would, your clothes don't properly fit.

"You want to aim for a normal range of motion in your clothes, including being able to lift your arms up or sit down without fabric straining against your thighs," Thomson-Sakhrani said.

Other quick movement tests include bending over without revealing your underwear and adjusting your arms without too much tension at the elbow.

If your corset bunches up, it's probably too tight

Corsets and tops inspired by them are back in style, but these tight-fitting garments shouldn't pinch your skin or deform when laced.

"If your corset scrunches up, and you see gaps when you lace or clip it, it's too small," Rubido said. "Your skin should also not overlap when you tie it."

A corset should snugly fit against your body without making it difficult to move or breathe.

Men's trousers typically shouldn't be skintight and uncomfortable

If your dress pants or trousers hug your behind too tightly, they may be too small.

"Modern men's trousers should be fitted on the waistline and hang straight down for a looser effect," Rubido said. "They shouldn't hug your bum."

Other hints that your pants are too tight include discomfort when sitting or a pinched waistline.

Your shoes shouldn't rub against your heels or ankles

Chelsea von Ohain, chief stylist and founder of Gotcha Packed, told Insider that correctly sized shoes shouldn't rub against your heels.

"If your heel is slipping in and out of your shoe, causing rubbing on the ankle, your shoes are too big," von Ohain said.

On the other hand, blistering around the toes may mean your shoes are too small.

If your waistband is always riding up, your bottoms are probably too small

The waistband of a skirt or pair of pants shouldn't inch upwards as you move.

"Waistbands that ride up, bend, or cause bulges indicate the need for a larger size," von Ohain said.

Waistbands should rest either at the hips or, for high-waisted looks, at the natural waistline or narrowest point of your torso.