https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:49:16 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1807037 Tue, 09 May 2017 17:39:44 +0000 shiny 1807037@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Do try the Wit &amp; Wisdom jeans! They are cut straight up and down.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1807021 Tue, 09 May 2017 16:55:28 +0000 RobinF 1807021@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Boy, do I understand fit problems with pants! When I look at that chart you posted, I am a 12 waist, 8 high-hip and 6 lo-hip. I have always been pretty much straight up and down with very little waist definition. And only 5'2". &nbsp;</p> <p>I find that I really have to try on a lot of pants and often do alterations. I usually fit to my waist and can often take in the hips, depending on the style. &nbsp;I like slightly lower waists since they will sit below my waist. I have recently found that junior size jeans fit me better, they tend to have smaller hips and thighs. Of course they are usually too long but these days can easily be cropped or cuffed and I have to get them in a larger size than I would expect, they seem to run very small. Also non-petites fit me better because the waist will hit higher on my waist than intended and then I hem them. I have done Vix's trick but only when the pants will only be worn without tucking.</p> <p>So my advice is try on a lot with an eye to fixing what can be fixed! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806964 Tue, 09 May 2017 15:05:02 +0000 Vix 1806964@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Scarlet and Ryce, glad to have mentioned the trick!</p> <p>I'm not a tucker-in-er, so I've been known to DIY (aka hack into) waistbands when I'm being too cheap and/or lazy to get to the tailor.</p> <p>Scarlet, let us know what your further investigations reveal.</p> <p>FWIW I don't see you as having a straight body type so I don't think you're dense for passing those styles by over the years. </p> <p>But because you're so petite in general and just have a wider hip structure proportionate to your thighs you may not be filling out the "curvy" cuts in the way brands deem them to be filled out.&nbsp;</p> <p>In short: pants-shopping, ick! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806853 Tue, 09 May 2017 11:48:09 +0000 Lucy 1806853@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great post!&nbsp;<br />I think learning to dress again after a baby is tricky. I didn't put on weight but things did seem to shift, and most of my clothes looked or felt a bit "off".&nbsp;<br />You have some great advice here.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806824 Tue, 09 May 2017 10:57:24 +0000 Scarlet 1806824@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>K.M., Sal</b> thanks for sharing your experiences. What you say makes a lot of sense.</p> <p><b>Gigi</b>, thanks for the recommendations. I have never been in a White House Black Market, and I didn’t know they have petites.</p> <p><b>Ryce</b>, thanks, it does sound like we have similar fit issues. I am pretty sure I was looking at the Devin pant in an Ann Taylor store just this past weekend, and it said something like “our straightest fit”, so I was like nope, not for me, but now I know that’s what I need to try. Also I was thinking recently of those chinos that Angie recommended in a blog post about a month ago. I really should try them. Yes, Vix is clever I should get someone to teach me how to sew a V into the pants and it will save me $ and lots of time shopping over my life </p> <p><b>Angie</b>, will do.</p> <p>Thank you so much to everyone for slogging through this post. It has really helped me a lot.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806783 Tue, 09 May 2017 07:23:40 +0000 Anonymous 1806783@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm also petite and have similar proportions to you re waist, high hip, low hip, and a flat bum. I do think my thighs are proportionately larger than yours. </p> <p>After a long dry spell when I could find NO well-fitting pants, I had great luck with the petite cropped skinny chinos at Loft (an Angie rec) and the petite Devin fit pants at Ann Taylor. Perhaps those would be worth a try? </p> <p>I do really like your jeans with the studs. And those black pants look nice, too. </p> <p>Vix, why did I not know of this v-shsped insert trick?!? Seriously, I have invested a significant chunk of my life energy in the quest to find pants. All too often the ones that don't give me muffin top give me saggy butt, and vice versa. That tailoring trick could have saved me countless hours of time! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806744 Tue, 09 May 2017 04:56:05 +0000 Gigi 1806744@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Congratulations on getting some nonmaternity jeans! It is always a bit of a learning curve with pants.</p> <p>It looks like Angie is saying that you need a more straight up-and-down cut. I think that J. Crew and White House Black Market might have that type of cut, and they both carry petite sizes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806728 Tue, 09 May 2017 04:29:00 +0000 Sal 1806728@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can remember fit issues with clothing in the time after pregnancies. The weight is distributed in a different way. &nbsp;And it was the time of fitted tees with low waisted jeans, possibly the worst look ever on me at the time.</p> <p>I think you have had good advice already. &nbsp;I would get one or two items that fit perfectly and just wear them to death - and consider tailoring if needed. &nbsp;I had some khakis and a denim skirt for child one, and some denim crops and A line skirts for child two.</p> <p>When you buy denim you do have to buy it too tight and it then becomes the right size. &nbsp;But the first 2 hours are a misery and I can feel self conscious of my tight pants:)</p> <p>I think you look terrific in all three pictures. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806704 Tue, 09 May 2017 03:09:40 +0000 K.M. 1806704@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Scarlet, I've been through the same thing after having my child. For a long time I kept wearing my maternity bottoms or sweatpants. I totally identified with this point made by Angie: "you simply need to get used to wearing a proper waistband again." This was part of my issue; I hadn't worn one in so long that they felt constricting and unforgiving. </p> <p>The first pants that got me out of the rut post-pregnancy were two wide-leg trousers (with a straight line cut) by Express, with a low rise and a straight fit through the hips. They weren't clingy, so they were comfortable, but the tailored fit gave me some structure. </p> <p>Stretchy fabrics such as ponte (as recommended by shiny) and very stretchy jeans also helped. </p> <p>It took me a long time to rediscover my style and joy in dressing after pregnancy. It wasn't always easy and I fell back into ruts often, even though dressing had come so easily to me before. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806591 Mon, 08 May 2017 23:47:28 +0000 Angie 1806591@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Scarlet, try an invisible belt with those dark jeans.&nbsp;</p> <p>Try to exchange the Madewell jeans for a smaller size!</p> <p>You probably don't need to size up for the waist. Simply look for a straight wide waist cut with some spandex in the fabric.&nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806587 Mon, 08 May 2017 23:41:14 +0000 Scarlet 1806587@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OMG, <b>ANGIE</b>, you are so smart I always pass by the straight and narrow fits because I always felt "curvy" because of my wide hips, but perhaps what I need is to size up in a straight fit to fit my upper hip girth, but not be so baggy in the seat and thigh. I will try that out the next time I get to go shopping. It all seems so obvious when you say it, like all the best ideas.</p> <p>Also, darn, I know I really should size down in the Madewells. These fit more like a boyfriend jean the way I have them. They are great jeans though. You were right on about the great fabric. I have to chalk it up to the learning experience of figuring out how to dress all over again.</p> <p><b>#3</b> tends to slip down when I wear them, so maybe I need a belt. I kept them because the fabric felt SO GOOD. I love the clever body-shaping use of studs that also fits the maximalist trend, ha ha.</p> <p><b>The Cat</b>, Thank you, I will check those posts. I don't follow that blog, but I owe Imogen a debt for making a great hair drying video, wherein she describes using her head as a giant roller. It changed my life pretty much. I should tell her.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806561 Mon, 08 May 2017 23:07:04 +0000 Angie 1806561@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Darling, Scarlet. First of all, as someone who has dressed you - YOU LOOK FABULOUS.&nbsp;</p> <p>A few points: </p> <ul> <li>you simply need to get used to wearing a proper waistband again. Just like you need to get used to wearing a fitted jacket.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <ul> <li>You do need a size down in our Madewell jeans - can you exchange them?&nbsp;</li> </ul> <ul> <li>#3 is a KILLER fit - what is the concern?</li> </ul> <ul> <li>You're after a straighter cut from hip to waist so that there is more room in the waist. So the opposite of a curvy fit.&nbsp;</li> </ul> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806543 Mon, 08 May 2017 22:31:16 +0000 The Cat 1806543@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>To Scarlet, shiny and others with special challenges,<br /> Just a quick tip. See:<br /> Inside Out Style blog \ What to Wear \ Body \ Body variations<br /> There you may find helpful advice in articles like "Fitting pants when you have a flat bottom", "How to distract from asymmetrical features", "Breaking the petite style rules" and "How to choose jeans styles to flatter your hips."<br /> (For your information, I have no affiliation with the blog mentioned. I just remembered having seen plenty of interesting articles in the section "Body variations" a while ago when I was helping a friend, a breast cancer patient, to find some advice for her special needs.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806496 Mon, 08 May 2017 20:06:20 +0000 Scarlet 1806496@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Suz</b>, thanks for your kind thoughts.</p> <p><b>Smittie</b>, I did try wearing a belt with the Madewells, and it kept them from slipping down and messing up the crotch point. I also think I probably could size down, but wearing “real” pants is such a novelty at the moment, I didn’t want to push it, crazy as that sounds. My trouble with curvy fit is that it is great on my waist and hips, but baggy in the seat and thighs,&nbsp;although I haven’t tried Lucky.</p> <p><b>Vix</b>, right you are. I am hunting for a good tailor, and I bet one could help. I must say that a lot of pants I try on would fit better if I could just add an inch or two to the top, and as I always need to hem my pants, right you are that I end up with a bit of extra fabric from the bottoms. Clever. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806453 Mon, 08 May 2017 18:22:35 +0000 krishnidoux 1806453@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Qualities to look for in smart trousers:&nbsp;</p> <p>Larger - or more solid, at least - waistband;<br />Good fabric that won't wrinkle easily;<br />If fly-front zipper: make sure it also fastens with a button;<br />The front shouldn't bulge; there shouldn't be a horizontal fold right under the waist band. Darts help avoiding this issue;<br />CHECK the rear-end!!! It should fall modestlyover your butt, not crease nor stretch.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806429 Mon, 08 May 2017 17:49:21 +0000 Vix 1806429@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Scarlet --</p> <p>You might want to add "Sewists, help!" to the front of your SL as I always feel they're the experts with a lot of fit stuff. </p> <p>Seems like you might need petite fit +/- crotch depth alterations so you get the right combo of higher waist *and* rise fit.</p> <p>Alternatively -- or maybe in addition? -- you may need to buy for the best fit in hips/thighs/butt and then have a v-shaped notch cut into your waistband. Could have elastic, contrasting fabric, or maybe fabric from any extra hem sewn into the gap.</p> <p>Wish I could help more but...when in doubt, get to a tailor and discuss possibilities!</p> <p>[And are you sure you read that measurement chart right? 34" upper hip being a size 8 U.S. sounds quite off. At any rate I tend to find size charts of limited usefulness -- they've steered me wrong a lot!] </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806426 Mon, 08 May 2017 17:41:04 +0000 Anonymous 1806426@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think you need a belt or to have the waist taken in. I might try sizing down as it looks like you have some room to work with in the seat and thighs. </p> <p>I do understand how trying it is to get your bearings after pregnancy! I think it's good to go into a shopping excursion fresh and in a good mood, and also, maybe give yourself some time to just try a lot of stuff on, and don't put so much pressure on yourself to buy something.</p> <p>I do have the problem of sloppy crotch point and I think it's an important thing to avoid too. </p> <p>My high hip is quite a lot smaller than my low hip, so maybe we are body twins in that respect. So I deal with this with a belt (although having the waist taken in would be a more polished solution) or a higher rise and a CURVY FIT. I believe lucky brand has a curvy fit. If you're in Canada, you can try silver jeans aiko fit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806404 Mon, 08 May 2017 17:08:44 +0000 Suz 1806404@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is extremely interesting, Scarlet, and must be a frustration. I don't have any specific suggestions off hand because I have different fit issues but I will think some more about it. The measurement chart is indeed quite enlightening and does help explain what might be going on.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806391 Mon, 08 May 2017 16:25:19 +0000 Scarlet 1806391@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shiny, oh my word, that sounds traumatic on a small child! The pain! I can’t imagine!</p> <p>It sounds like you have done the hard work of finding out what works for you. I have the same problem as you in that what fits my high hip tends to be too roomy on the butt and thighs. Also my butt seems to be flatter than I strictly recall Age, hormones, or lack of exercise, perhaps.</p> <p>I did try a pair of BR Sloans, but the waist on me was still a little low. Otherwise they fit really nicely, but gave me a terrible muffin top. I was disappointed because they had so many cute fabrics.</p> <p>Wit and Wisdom jeans. Did not know about those! I will definitely try them.</p> <p>Thank you also for the other specific recommendations. I will be checking those too. I really appreciate the details! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806359 Mon, 08 May 2017 15:26:52 +0000 shiny 1806359@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fellow petite pant hater person here!</p> <p>Not sure if this is the same fit issue as you, but I have "wonky" hips. I was born with an issue where they had to actually break my hips and then put me in a cast. My hips are narrow and they turn in. What's more they are like a shelf like this [ &nbsp;] -- i.e., they aren't rounded but the same measurement from high to low hip. My rear is flat and my thighs are scrawny. So anything less than an 8.5 rise will slide right off, as there's no indent or curve or anything to hold them up. I used to think maybe I had a longer rise but I don't think that's the case; I think it is the [ &nbsp;] shape of my hips that's the problem. </p> <p>Add on top of all of that, I have an ill-defined waist prone to muffin top and pants that fit my hips, rear and thighs will usually be too tight in the waist.&nbsp;</p> <p>Incidentally I have these very same fit issues whether I am 97 lbs or overweight. Doesn't matter.&nbsp;</p> <p>My best bet with pants:</p> <p>1. 5-pocket ponte skinny pants. &nbsp;I like the ones from LOFT but these generally (in a variety of brands) seem to work out for me. They are forgiving in the waist and stretchy all over, so conform to my figure. I look for ones that have a back rise similar in length to front rise, due to flat rear. I find this eliminates saggy butt.&nbsp;</p> <p>2. Sloan pants from BR. The wider waistband tends to hit me at just the right spot to "lock and load" without sliding on down.&nbsp;</p> <p>3. Wit and Wisdom jeans. I have become a huge fan!! Because they have elastic in the waistband, which you don't see, it looks like a normal waistband. I just have to be careful as some of the styles are too low rise.&nbsp;</p> <p>4. Ann Taylor modern high rise skinny jeans. Fit me like a glove. Land nearly at my true waist (just below). Stay put! Without being too tight in the waist. I also have a (several years old) pair of AG high rise skinnies. AG is a brand I'd try out again, just haven't gotten around to it.</p> <p>5. Eileen Fisher slim ankle crepe pants. Also have elastic waist. They are actually lower rise than I typically wear but somehow stay put.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/figuring-out-my-problem-with-pants-help#post-1806353 Mon, 08 May 2017 15:00:07 +0000 Scarlet 1806353@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So, I guess, first of all, the root of the problem is figuring out how to dress my changed body shape after having two children. To be honest with you all, I have been sticking to maternity jeans because it’s so hard, and wearing dresses or dress maternity pants for the days that I work.</p> <p>However, I recently needed a proper pair of dress pants, which led me to try on every pair of black pants to be found in a rather large mall. It was a frustrating experience. The only pair I found to work well was a stretch pair with an elastic waist. (But they’re nice, I swear.)</p> <p>I think I have two fit problems (besides being petite). One problem is my squishy waist, which could probably be helped somewhat by physical therapy (for separation of the abdominal wall). The other problem is my wide-set hip bones (They're not moving!). I got a good clue by looking at a size chart that includes measurements for both the upper and lower hip.My low hip is 36.5 (size 2). My upper hip is 34 (size 8). </p> <p>I currently have 2 new non-maternity jeans. One are the Madewell crops that Angie recommended as specifically not pinching the waist although they are high cut. I like them a lot! But I fear I should have sized down one size because they slide down and create a low crotch point. On the other hand they do not pinch my waist, and I am wearing normal adult pants. Length is not adjusted yet.</p> <p>The other pair of jeans is from the same brand that made the dress trousers that fit me. They have exactly the same fit problem as the Madewells, that they make a bit of a sloppy crotch point, but again, I am kind of running with it because they still make me feel good.</p> <p>All this is to say that I find shopping for pants very hard, and I am wondering what qualities to look for and wondering what can be altered to make things fit better on me. Wondering how other people manage their pants woes and what trade-offs they make.</p> <p>Thanks for any thoughts you can share and getting through this long post!</p>