Wow, $300 elastic waist cotton pants!
Several relatively spendy brands make similar things though—EF, Laf 148, many others—snd sometimes there is just the right style and fabric- so I’m just being humorous.
I HAVE some Theory elastic waist tuxedo pants and EF linen drawstring pants, AT wool tapered pants, for example.
Here’s one way to look at it:
the elastic waist is for comfort but then it is gathered, no tailoring, so has risk of being bunchy and puckery in the wrong places. Still, some such pants are cut better than others re how the waistband lies, hip fit, legs drape. And a lot depends on the fabric.
These would look a lot different on different body types. If they fit and drape pretty nicely, and you wear an untucked top of the right sort, then you’d not necessarily be able to tell them from a more tailored pant. But then, you likely could find something cheaper, in a summer- weight fabric. But, maybe the glen plaid really works well with someone’s other wardrobe items. And elastic waists can be necessary.
They show a “ look” with a tucked- in blouse but that can be hard to carry off ( DYOT notwithstanding) and look good, IMO. Very individual, how successful that is.
I have a problem with some elastic waists that are not drawstring, because I have a relatively high difference between waist and hip. So they don’t always have enough stretch to pull on and stilI have the waist to fit well.
Belt loops on elastic waists sometimes allow a bit of upgrade to add a belt that stays put.
So, who knows!