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Pants?!

Charley

Hello!

I am looking for suggestions for pants. I work as an engineer in a plant, so I don't want anything extremely dressy, but I also can't wear jeans. I also don't want to spend a fortune on pants, because there is always the possibility that I will get something on them and ruin them.

I'm short (28.5 inch inseam), curvy, and usually wear between a size 10 and 14, depending on style. I have never owned a pair of pants that fit in both the waist and the hips. I'm also in Canada.

I've attached a few photos of the latest pair I've tried that did not fit, to give you an idea of body shape. These are a pair of Old Navy khakis.

Any suggestions? I'm in a major city, so most stores are available, and I'm willing to shop online, as long as the returns are easy.

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Dressing

20 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Sal

Veteran

I think you are on the right track with chinos/khakis or maybe cropped ankle pants will work. I like olive green, black and navy the best - I always want to like tan khakis but can't make them work on me.

Sadly I think you might need to alter pants, to get them to fit thighs and waist...I would size up and then get them taken in at the waist (I used to have to do this but my waist has thickened now sadly).

I am in NZ so no help with specific brands or shops but I am sure other forum members can help here.

Good luck

rachylou

Veteran

I don't have good suggestions. I'm here to offer commiserations because I find pants terribly difficult. But Angie and others will know...Sally has a good point about alterations.

Miss Eleanor

Trousers are just the WORST. Always so hard to find a pair that will flatter you and fit in length.
I don't know how tall you are, but a slightly cropped chino trouser is always a safe card! I swear by these trousers from Benetton! Very classy but still not too dressy, BUT can at the same time easily be dressed up with heels/blouse. I wear them with everything!

https://www.zalando.co.uk/bene.....8-k11.html

https://www.zalando.co.uk/bene.....7-c11.html

K2

You may want to try Reitman's as well. Second the suggestions for getting the right fit on hips and thighs then getting the waist altered.

Charley

Thanks everyone! I should
have clarified that I’m looking for something in the khaki / chino family,
rather than dress pants. I also need
full length pants, not crops.

Kiwigal/Sally – I was really hoping I could get away with
not altering, but I suspect you are correct that if I want to stick with these
particular pants, I will need to size up and then get them taken it. Do you think just one size would be enough,
or should I go up two? I also agree that
the darker khakis are easier to wear – but the poor fit shows better on the tan,
so I decided to use those for the photo.

rachylou – pant shopping is the worst. Shopping for jeans isn’t too bad, and skirts
and dresses is pretty easy, but pants shopping is so incredibly
frustrating.

Miss Eleanor – those pants from Benetton are pretty much
exactly what I am looking for, but in full length. Crops aren’t allowed in the plant (and they
look ridiculous with steel toed boots / work socks). I’m
only 5’4”, so sometimes cropped pants work as full length or ankle pants on
me. How do they fit through the waist / hips / thighs?

K2 – Thanks for the suggestion. Reitman’s is usually a good bet for tops /
skirts / dresses/jeans for me, but their pants do not fit me all that well. However, when I hit up the mall this weekend,
I will check, because you never know.

Liz

Veteran

It sounds like you have some good suggestions. LIke you, I've never, ever had a pair of pants that fit at both the thighs and the waist.

My addition would be to look for pants labeled curvy fit. Or, read the descriptions of the different fits and see which ones talk about being "curvy," or "relaxed" through the hip and thigh. Many pants are cut for straight figures -- so you want to stay away from pants labeled slim or narrow or straight.

Can you go to Old Navy and try on a bunch of sizes and fits? they do have some curvy fits, and a broad ranges of sizes.

Charley

Thanks Liz! I also find that any style labelled "curvy" will fit a bit better. The styles right now all seem geared toward slim / straight, so finding a curvy fit has been challenging.

The biggest frustration I have right now is that every store that sells khakis has them online only, so I can't try anything on in store. I wear Old Navy denim and pixie pants in the spring/summer. I ordered the khakis in the same size(s), but the fit is completely different. I seem to be stuck in a vicious cycle of order / try / return. Winter is coming and I need some long pants.

JAileen

Veteran

I'm a pear shape and bought several pairs of shorts and crops at Kohls this summer. They were Lee curvy fit. I've been super happy with the fit. Also they were relatively inexpensive. I haven't checked, but I would imagine they would start having fall/winter pants in the same cut. If so, they might work for you - curvy, not expensive, not denim.

Charley

Thanks JAileen - I don't have access to a Kohl's, but I will try to find Lee curvy fit pants somewhere else.

kkards

Veteran

for khaki's try the Gap....you may need to size up in the waist to get a better fit in the body, then have the waist taken in. also maybe some Ponte knit pant. not sure if you have WhiteHouse Black Market in Canada, but they are a great resource for this type of pant, and not sure if Ann Taylor has any this season, but I got a great pair there in the past.

Knit Slim Pants

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6

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I wonder if you might also widen your search to include ponte knit trousers. They can be nice-looking while also super comfy, and you can still wash them. You might keep an eye out for NYDJ (Not Your Daughter's Jeans) pants. Here are three styles I found on the Nordstrom site.

NYDJ 'Denise' Cuff Slim Leg Ponte Ankle Pants

Sale

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NYDJ 'Betty' Stretch Ankle Pants

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2

NYDJ 'Michelle' Stretch Ponte Trousers

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2

JAileen

Veteran

I looked on Kohls website and found some Lee curvy fit dress pants. They are a cotton/spandex blend, come in nine colors, and are only $40.

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Charley

kkards - much to my shock, The Gap doesn't have khakis anymore (at least not in Canada). If I can't find anything else in the next few weeks, I'll probably order the next couple of sizes up in the Old Navy khakis and pick the pair that fits the best and have them altered. White House Black Market does not appear to have any stores in Canada, but I will check out their online site. Thanks!

Firecracker - there is a Nordstrom's in Calgary and I'll be there next month with some time to kill, so I'll check them out. Thanks! I also think HBC carries NYDJ, so I'll check that out this weekend. I'm really picky about ponte fabrics - sometimes they are okay and sometimes I just can't handle the way the fabric feels.

Charley

Thanks JAileen! I will look into the Kohls' site.

celia

Veteran

Hi. I am pear shaped and found it surprising when this pair from Reitmans fitted both waist and hips.http://www.reitmans.com/en/the.....shop-all-b
They don't have dress pants fabric but look like dress pants.

Also RW&Co have this kind of khaki skinny pants:http://www.rw-co.com/en/natali.....l?cgid=wom

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Traci

Veteran

Gap has girlfriend chinos aka khakis. I found them on the CA site too.

http://www.gapcanada.ca/browse.....=1&se

binkle

Veteran

Have you tried Lands End. They have a wide range of sizes. I believe they ship to Canada.

Charley

celia - I will check our both this pants when I go shopping. Thanks for the suggestions.

Tracy - I had looked at the girlfriend chinos online, but dismissed them because of the short length and the slim fit. It looks like they have a few pairs in my size at the mall I'm planning to go to, so I'll stop in and try them on. Thanks for the suggestion.

binkle - I have not looked at Lands End. Thanks for the suggestion.

Charley

After a marathon (for me, anyway) shopping session, I bought some new pants tonight.

1 & 2 are kickboot khakis from American Eagle - they need to be hemmed and maybe taken in a touch at the waist.

3&4 are slightly curve slim/straight khakis from Eddie Bauer - they also need to be hemmed. I want to see how the waist wears before I get that taken in.

5&6 are boyfriend cords from Eddie Bauer - I think these fit as is, but again, I want to see how they wash/wear. I'm not entiry sure what kind of shoes to wear with these. Flats will work for now, but what do I wear them with in the winter?

All three pairs are easy to move around in / climb in and will work with work boots (well, the boyfriend cords might look a bit awkward, but I can live with that).

Thanks for all the suggestions!

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rachylou

Veteran

The first are quite nice. Not sure about hemming. They seem pretty PPL - Perfect Pants Length. Angie says go long - are you stepping on the hems?