pants help - YouLookFab Forum

I bought these black/white herringbone trousers specifically for my new(is) job. I know they look greyish in the pics, but truly they are black and white herringbone. In theory I lurves them - they are comfy, and I adore the gentlemanly vibe. In actuality, they look ... off. I hemmed them about 3", and I'm wondering if I should hem them another inch or two, or if the fit is just wonky in general. You can see in the second pic especially that they are a bit baggy in the bum, which is a perennial problem with pants given my complete lack of said bum. However, I can't go down a size due to the fact that I also lack a waist. The joys of being apple-y. It may just be that I'm not used to seeing myself in wide-legged pants. For comparison, the last pic is from today, featuring a pair of slimmer fit trousers that fit well and I think look pretty good on, and my last post also featured a pair of well fitting pants.

What say you Fabbers? Are these pants salvagable? Or should I keep looking?

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11 years ago

ma342

Active Member

I do think you might want to take the hem up another inch if you plan to wear them with heels of the height shown in the pics. Right now they seem to puddle a bit around the feet.

Otherwise, I don't think the fit is bad. Trouser cut pants aren't supposed to be as tight through the rear as skinnies.

Deborah

Veteran

I like the pants a lot. I do think they need to hemmed a little more. The length is compromising the lovely leg line IMHO.

Gigi

I wonder if part of the problem is the fabric? Maybe choosing a fabric that has a little more structure would make the pants look more streamlined?

Elly

Ah--- take them to someone who does mens' tailoring as well---- they should "break" like a men's trouser I think. I don't mind them as is otherwise.

Firecracker (Sharan)

I think they look like a good fit, actually. I like the way they drape and wouldn't want them more fitted under the bum. I agree with others here that the length may be throwing off the look just a bit. Are they just above the ground in back, though? If so, I don't know that I'd go shorter. Maybe a half inch is all you need.
Here's my theory on what may be going on: for a boot cut or flared leg, I think you may want to be seeing a little more waist definition, or shorter tops that reveal a little more of the fitted hip area--like in outfit 2. You clearly wear the slim-legged pants and longer tops so well. These pants will probably look best with different tops than you're used to wearing with your slim pants.

Sara L.

I think the pants look good if maybe a little long. Maybe it's just a matter of getting used to a different silhouette. I agree that #5 looks very good on you.

Marley

Firecracker read my mind! I think it's the tops you are wearing that is throwing off the proportions! I would wear shorter tops with these pants in order to elongate the leg line. Tops that are waist length I think would look best.

Sveta

(website)

I also think the fit is good and don't see any baggy bum at all. As for the length - unfortunately you would need to commit to a certain heel height with them - Firecracker's comment is spot on.
When I wear wide leg pants I like to wear shorter structured tops with them - hi-low / welted / semituck.

lyn67

I don't see any problems with the fit of the wide legs, but think they should be shortened a bit more for actual shoes. I actually love them on you, BUT OMG I can so realte with the lack of those 2 mojor and oh so feminine endowments you speak about....sigh:-(.

carter

I think they fit very well. To me, wide leg pants cry out for pointy toe shoes. Could you try them with a pair before you decide whether or not/how much to hem?

Liz

I agree that the pants fit well. If you take them up a bit more, you might try an angled hem from back to front (like men's trousers often have). That way you get rid of the front puddling without losing the length at the back of the foot.

MuseumGal

OK, so consensus is that they actually seem to fit reasonably well, but that I should hem them a bit, wear more fitted tops, and perhaps try a pointed shoe. I will hem this weekend and then try some of your suggestions and report back. Thanks all! I knew you'd sort me out!

I like them! I agree w the others that you might try styling them w shorter tops or ones that have a defined waist (empire or welt or whatever). Or add a vest to play up the gentleman vibe! Or a slouchy v neck cardi over a shorter top. I see definite fun styling potential!

rachylou

They look a wee bit long, but I think there's also the factor of the material. It's very "drapey."

Aida

For what it's worth, I don't think that a straight hemming is needed here. You want the back to be juuuuust off the ground (1/4"), but to my eye the footwear is causing a bigger break in the front. As Elly said, taking it somewhere that does menswear might be a good idea. You might end up needing to have only the front taken up so that the break isn't so severe. Or maybe wear with longer/pointier shoes so that the break is smoother. It's also possible that if the shoes you are wearing have different heel heights, that break is going to look different. You'll get more pooling if the pants are dragging on the ground, and if they're too high the long leg line gets compromised.

As for tops, I like to wear something with a welted band that sits up a bit higher, a flowier high-low type top, or any flowy top with a more structured topper (jacket, vest, etc.). Will also occasionally to a slouchy sweater and semi-tuck the front.

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tulle

I had the same thought as Gigi: the problem may be the fabric--a little too thin or open-weave? In general, I've found that drapey trousers need to be of better quality cut and fabric to look good, and sometimes they need to be lined. Pants like that can be hard to find--probably one reason why so many of us default to straight-leg jeans! That said, I actually liked the 3rd & 4th sets of photos, so maybe a high-contrast or interesting-color top makes all the difference. I also think that drapey trousers tend to look best with a bit of heel--even a blocky inch-&-a-half lets them hang more gracefully. I would try that before hemming more.

Thistle

SounDS like you are sorted here.

I also like the pants, but there is something about the footwear/length throwing off the look. Sounds like the other fabbers have already given you terrific advice on this.

I like the more fluid fabric for wide leg trousers. If it were much stiffer, I think it would need more structure in the shoes as well.

Pants are really, really tough for a lot of ladies. I highly recommend checking out a lot of stores, if you can. Sometimes you can find one that makes pants designed more for your shape.

For me, that store is Talbots. Not a cool or trendy store, but my black trousers need to fit more than be cool. Their new curvy fit feels like it was made for me, and I have had a lot of luck with their heritage fit. Their signature fit is designed for a completely different body type.

They can be a bit pricey, but they regularly run 30-40% off regular priced items. I am willing to spend on trousers as I wear them year round, especially in the 6-9 months of cold we have. (And they carry machine wash varieties that are still dressy enough for my office!)

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