https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:34:13 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers/page/2#post-989408 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 19:51:44 +0000 rachylou 989408@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No kidding, a lot of food for thought! This has been so educational.</p> <p>Thanks for the link, Vix ( I'm busy reading), and the tip. So clever! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers/page/2#post-988971 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 08:31:25 +0000 Anonymous 988971@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gaylene, those workshops sound great fun! I wish I could have attended something like that. I'm off to read that thread too. Thanks for the link, it sounds hilarious!<br />Vix, what a great link too!<br /> Looks like you have a lot of food for thought Rachy </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers/page/2#post-988951 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 06:15:37 +0000 Vix 988951@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rachylou --</p> <p>Great stuff above. Here's a quick overview, complete with line drawings, re&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_c/C227/">Making Perfect Pants&nbsp;</a></p> <p>I share your long rise and rolled to the back of the trunk junk issues and crotch depth is key. One less extensive&nbsp;workaround for that --&nbsp;if you're not a big tucker -- is to have the tailor cut out a small (~ 2"&nbsp;wide)&nbsp;triangle-shaped piece&nbsp;in the back waistband (fill in with fabric or elastic). This&nbsp;lets the pants drop a bit for comfort without too much droopy drawers syndrome. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers/page/2#post-988720 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 22:34:27 +0000 rachylou 988720@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, this stuff is brilliant pure gold. I never would have known.</p> <p>torontogirl - I have never really done other than poke my head into Club Monaco. I'm not sure what it's supposed to be, to be honest. The AT of H&amp;Ms? But an excellent suggestion because that's a store totally unexplored by me. A chance exists! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers/page/2#post-988655 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 21:10:32 +0000 Gaylene 988655@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here's an old post that, I think, was originally started by San about fitting for "flat butt" syndrome. It's also a hilarious read because it highlights how the meaning of a word can really vary depending on where one lives. Angie can't stop laughing at her interpretation.</p> <p><a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/old-flat-fannie-here" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....annie-here</a></p> <p>As Diane indicated, the correct procedure for doing this kind of adjustment in RTW pants is a bit more time consuming than just taking in the side seams to get rid of a bit of poof on the side seams. If the tailor's response is something like the following, you know you've found a good one:</p> <p><i>Well, I'd take take a bit in on the side seams to get rid of some of the excess on the back, but I'd probably also need to take apart the inseams at the intersection of the crotch to get rid of some of the excess there. I might also need to adjust the dart length and width and/or lift the waistline at the centre back.</i></p> <p>By the way, my husband has this done on all his dress pants and is never charged extra for the alteration! So unfair!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers/page/2#post-988647 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 20:45:48 +0000 Gaylene 988647@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Diane, that's too funny! The earlier Palmer/Pletsch "Pants for Any Body" was <b>my</b> fitting guide way back in the early 80s! I also took a couple of workshops with Patti back then; she had a host of tips, tricks, and shortcuts that made sewing so much easier than many of the traditional tailoring techniques that my mother and grandmother used. I'll always remember her showing us how to create the right curves for various body shapes in the "nether" regions using her own body as the model--lots of laughing, a bit of blushing, but totally making her point in an unforgettable way! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers/page/2#post-988641 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 20:22:33 +0000 rachylou 988641@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Diane, that's good that tailors have patterns, lol. I sense disaster, me trying to find a pattern and asking someone to make it.</p> <p>But I'm imagining now the back panel of a trouser leg hanging from the waistband and able to be laid out flat again, essentially... I have always wondered about how people fit the back, since it's not flat like the front... and it <i>has </i>always looked somehow "shaped" to me. </p> <p>... Talking with you guys, I really feel there's a lot else I could be looking for when I look for pants. I'm pretty sure I can do a better job narrowing the field. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers/page/2#post-988639 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 20:18:08 +0000 Helena 988639@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi there, I am a hipless wonder and have had luck with BR and even Gap dress pants. However, if these aren't working for you, have you tried Club Monaco? I haven't shopped there is a while but recall their cuts being quite slim through the hip also. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers/page/2#post-988630 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 20:01:30 +0000 Anonymous 988630@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Firstly&nbsp;most tailors should carry trouser patterns. Secondly, yes a seam in the middle of the waistband is very useful.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp; Also&nbsp;when I'm altering a saggy butt I actually take apart the trousers right underneath where the fork of the trousers is, under your nether regions and down the seam from the waist to that point plus a small amount of inside leg, It is all to do with crotch depth and back leg width on the pattern at crotch level. I got a lot of this info from a Patti Palmer book called 'Pants for real people'. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers/page/2#post-988608 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 19:30:48 +0000 rachylou 988608@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, this is good stuff, Gaylene. I think this might very well need to be on my phone.</p> <p>...You know, I'm gonna be looking at all my pants and everyone else's. That seamed waisband... that has got to be rare. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers/page/2#post-988601 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 19:18:12 +0000 Gaylene 988601@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My tips:</p> <p>You like the fabric and style of the pants on your body. The rise is pretty good and the waist fits more less the way you like. The pant is maybe a bit on the big side because it is easier to take something in than to let something out. The pant's design is straightforward in the areas where you need the alterations; for example, a fly-front pant with slant pockets is easier to alter on the side seams than a pant with a side zipper and/or a complicated side pocket design. If you find a pant that has a seam in the middle of the back waistband, you have won the lottery because that makes the alteration described by Diane much easier. Lining isn't much of an issue, but look for a pant that is made of reasonably nice fabric and doesn't have any wonky issues like twisty side seams which indicate sloppy construction. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-988597 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 19:03:26 +0000 rachylou 988597@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wish I lived near you too, Diane! Tailors are not thick on the ground here.</p> <p>Very interesting, Gaylene, about the Canadian designer.</p> <p>I say, you guys, what does a pair pants, amenable to alterations, look like?</p> <p>And wait, if I can ask one more question - if you get pants made, do you need to take a pattern to the tailor? Or would the tailor have patterns? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-988577 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 18:41:37 +0000 Gaylene 988577@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It depends how fussy I want to be and what needs to be done. Taking out a seam on most ready-to-wear garments is usually quite easy (almost scarily so, sometimes!). Often, if I'm just removing those side "poofs" from a pair of fly front pants, I just redo the seam, smoothly blending the new seam into the original at the top and bottom, cut off the excess fabric from the seam allowance, and refinish the edge. A pair of side-zip pants would require taking the one side seam apart, and re-installing the zipper, slightly more time-consuming, but not a hard job for anyone with a bit of sewing experience. </p> <p>Honestly, when it comes to altering pants, it's the rise and waist area that are the most difficult on women's pants because most pants are not constructed to make this alteration easy. In the early 80s, a Canadian designer, Linda Lundstrom, used to design all her pants so they could be customized in the waist and hip area. She eventually stopped because, she said, most women just couldn't adapt to the concept of adjusting a ready-to-wear garment. I think manufacturers and designers found it easier to just incorporate stretch into the fabrics than to concern themselves with offering fitting adjustments. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-988573 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 18:39:03 +0000 Anonymous 988573@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rachy, I hav a flat butt and recently made a pair of my own pants from my own drafted pattern, I never had such a flattering shape and fit at the back before. I now know all the ins and outs of altering for a flat butt. I wish you lived nearby, I soon get you sorted! i know elpgal said about altering just specific trousers, but to be honest a good tailor who knows what they are doing can adjust any type of pants. You don't just alter the sides you &nbsp;see; you have to adjust the back leg width only,&nbsp;at the crotch point and down centre back seam. Perhaps you could try getting some made? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-988553 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 18:07:25 +0000 rachylou 988553@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>elp, that is extremely informative about fabric and alterations!</p> <p>Gaylene, question - do you not take apart the seams to take in the sides?</p> <p>DonnaF - I'll have to revisit my "black listed" stores with this information about alterations in mind. I never thought of myself as having no booty before, but... gosh. It has gone somewhere... Lol. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-988075 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 03:34:07 +0000 DonnaF 988075@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rachylou:&nbsp; Express may simply make their pants in various lengths, but Gap, BR, Ann Taylor, and J.Crew all carry Talls.&nbsp; They may only be sold online, but if you go to the store and order you can avoid S/H charges.&nbsp; Or just wait for a sale.&nbsp; And you can return that online merchandise to a brick'n'mortar even if they don't carry the size range.&nbsp; </p> <p>Please report back if you find good pants for the bootyless. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-987918 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 00:14:36 +0000 elpgal 987918@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My tailor is successfully able to take in fabric so he butt does not sag but she performs this operation only on pants that are thin in fabrication and have a back seam. According to her, pants from a suit set are most amenable to alterations because they are constructed to account for the possibility of alterations. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-987910 Tue, 23 Jul 2013 00:01:50 +0000 Gaylene 987910@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Actually, taking in a couple of seams is peanuts. I do it all the time because my hips are definitely not curvy so I get side pouches on most pants which make me look like I'm wearing jodphurs. It takes less than five minutes to straighten out those side seams to eliminate the curve. It's the rise and, to some extent, the waistband seam that are trickier unless the pant is constructed to make those alterations easy (which is how men's pants are made!) Narrowing the hip and legs is easy peasy.</p> <p>Making a pair of pants from scratch is a whole other story. That can end up being a fitting nightmare if the tailor/seamstress doesn't have a lot of experience. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-987900 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 23:51:49 +0000 Anonymous 987900@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Then I think you should a to buy off the rack and have them tailored. Most US pants are cut curvy. Narrowing a hip is not a major alteration if you get a pant with a flat front and no side pockets, like the Editors. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-987899 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 23:50:58 +0000 rachylou 987899@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I appreciate all the sympathy I can get, Thistle. It's very frustrating.</p> <p>DonnaF - There's a thought(!) Talls. I don't know much about Talls. It's always regular and petite... I'll have to see about this.</p> <p>Gaylene - I appreciate the advice. About what part to fit, and what part to take to the tailor. I don't want to get into a major reconstruction thing - at that point I think might as well get them made for me from scratch. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-987892 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 23:39:57 +0000 Gaylene 987892@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My suggestion is a tailor. Men never expect a pair of dress pants to fit without some tweaking; given that it's much harder to fit a trouser on a woman's body, it's amazing that, as women, we've been brainwashed into thinking that tailoring is too expensive, too complicated, or too whatever..</p> <p>Try on different styles and brands to find something that you like and that fits fairly decently in the rise, which is the most difficult alteration. As long as the pant isn't too tight in the butt, upper thigh, or waist, altering the pant to fit you shouldn't be much of a problem; it will be just a matter of taking in the seams to give you a perfect fit. If you are unsure, buy the pant, keep the receipt, check with a tailor, and, if there is an issue, return the pant.</p> <p>It's one of my pet peeves, even in pricey women's shops, the sales staff don't bring in an on-site tailor to tweak the fit for women like they automatically do for men. And, if I'm paying over $100 for a pair of pants, I want those simple alterations for free, thank you very much! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-987812 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 20:03:20 +0000 DonnaF 987812@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If rise is an issue, have your tried any pants in Talls if they are carried small enough?&nbsp; Of course, you would have to hem them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-987789 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 19:33:39 +0000 Thistle 987789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can't really offer any help as I am so very pear shaped!&nbsp; I can offer you condolences on the search and hugs for the pain of trying on over and over and not finding (remembering my jeans search!). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-987783 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 19:27:34 +0000 rachylou 987783@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Classiques Entier, 3.1 Philip Lim, Derek Lam and Rag &amp; Bone - ok, definitely have not looked at these designers for trousers. Thanks, Angie for the suggestions! I'll have to find out where to go for them. My Nordstrom just seems to have a giant Marni section now and a little St. John one off to the side. My Neiman's was just offering Theory and Tahari. Or at least, the SA who was helping me only had those to serve up.&nbsp; </p> <p>I don't suppose I should also try the Martin fit. And the Limited - thx, elpgal. Haven't been there in a long time. And Yoox - thx IK &amp; Diana! Have not looked at Yoox since they came online, to be honest.</p> <p>Re. fit and brand issues: Zap, Angie, I do feel a lot of pants are cut too curvy for me. I don't have quite as much hip as my waist size would suggest. With Theory - depending on style, it's been "any of the above." Bagging at the hips, awkward backview or too short in the rise (which maybe happens when I attempt to size down). I guess the bagging and "excess" of material backside are my most frequent complaints.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-986814 Sun, 21 Jul 2013 16:32:00 +0000 Diana 986814@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was going to suggest yoox too. Their descriptions and photos are singularly unhelpful though and sometimes straight up wrong, so you have to be willing to roll the dice a bit. What I do is order a ton of things (free shipping over 200 anyway) with the expectation that I'll return 90% of it. The return is a flat rate ($7, I think) so its reasonable.<br /> Angie's idea of j crew is good too. Their pants never fit me since my butt is like 3 sizes bigger than every other part of my body in their clothes, so they might be perfect for you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-986811 Sun, 21 Jul 2013 16:25:16 +0000 Anonymous 986811@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rachy, is your issue that the pants are cut too curvy for you? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-986740 Sun, 21 Jul 2013 14:38:01 +0000 Angie 986740@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was also going to suggest J.Crew, and the MARTIN fit an BR. </p> <p>What was the problem with Theory? Some Classiques Entier, 3.1 Philip Lim, Derek Lam and Rag &amp; Bone. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-986725 Sun, 21 Jul 2013 14:15:29 +0000 elpgal 986725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Try Limited. I like the ponte fabrications for trousers as they are a more forgiving fabric. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-986695 Sun, 21 Jul 2013 12:58:08 +0000 Suz 986695@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Those Vince pants that Parsley linked to are gorgeous and I can see you in those.&nbsp;</p> <p>If you could find some that fit properly in the rise, the hips could be taken in some, I'll bet. I do hear you on how that would complicate things. If you have a long rise, then they will seem/ be baggier in the butt by default. Unless you have a bigger butt, of course. Which you do not.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/starting-the-serious-search-for-trousers#post-986693 Sun, 21 Jul 2013 12:50:45 +0000 ironkurtin 986693@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For Euro designers try Yoox.</p> <p>Another vote for Vince. I also like JCrew. </p>