The husky size has been around for many years now, and refers to clothing for boys who don’t fit in traditionally sized boy’s clothes. This size may be ideal for boys who have trouble fitting in pants, especially at the waistband and through the hip, and need a larger size. These are similar to slim sizes, where traditionally sized waistbands are usually too large for certain kids, and they need a smaller waistband and hip size.

Husky sizes are proportioned differently to fit boys better.

An H may designate husky on clothing size labels — a size 14 in husky could read 14H, for example, while a slim 14 could be labeled as 14S. A few brands don’t label huskies in this way, but instead give inch numbers corresponding to waist size and inseam, like most pants made for men.

It’s very hard to say what a “husky size” truly is because each clothing brand that makes them defines their regular sizes differently. Most parents know that some brands appear to fit their kids well, while other brands in exactly the same size don’t. Some are more generous at the waist, have a bit more length or have longer arms (for shirts). These larger sizes are typically modeled on the “average” size of the clothing brand, and may add about 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 cm) on the waistband and the hips. Leg length or inseam tends to remain the same as average or traditional size.

The issue of length can be a difficult one, because sometimes waist size isn’t enough in husky sizes of a certain length. For instance, a boy might need the waist size of a longer length size than one that truly fits. Perhaps he fits the waistband of a 16H but has legs the length of a 14H. In these cases, parents can choose to hem pants, though this can be challenging to accomplish when they are made of sturdy denim. As boys age and can fit a 28 inch (71.12 cm) inseam, parents may instead want to buy men’s clothing, which comes in a much wider range of inseam and waist size combinations.

There are shirts and jackets available in husky, although these are a little less common than pants. Many boys can simply fit into a larger shirt if necessary or wear men’s shirts if boy’s sizes are too small. Some brands do tend to carry a full line of plus size boys clothes and others are much more limited in scope.

Shoppers can find these sizes at most department stores, but if they’re familiar with brands, they may have better options when searching online. Most websites, even those for department stores, have more stock than do individual stores. A companion to boy’s huskies is plus size clothing for girls, which is now made by a variety of companies. These have their own size variations and, like husky boy’s clothes, the actual size tends to depend on individual brand.