I’m not even that unusual of a size - just taller than most, and with weight gain I have actually entered easier to find sizes. (Used to joke that I could find lots of them that would fit if I could wear them rotated 90 degrees - switching the waist and inseam numbers)
So I used to be able to go to a department store and with a lot of searching, find some pairs and try them on to confirm that they fit.
Then it started getting scarce. On the final offline jeans shopping trip, I went to JC Penny and bought literally every pair of jeans they had in stock that fit me - about 10 pairs.
Now I would just have to buy online if I want any new ones (not counting specially shops)