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Black, washable trousers for the-wide-of-hip pear - and not pricey!

28 replies

ShutUpLegs · 13/10/2015 21:09

I am about to volunteer at a local hospital and have to wear a polo-shirt (provided) over black trousers (not provided).

I have worn no trousers other than jeans/M&S 5 pocket jeggings for the last 7 years and have no idea where to start. I also only have 1.5 child-free hours this Saturday in which to locate and purchase so I do not have the luxury of time to Try All The Trousers.

Can you help me narrow the field if you are a black-trouser-wearing pear?

Criteria:

  1. Machine washable (they have to be washed between shifts)
  2. Fit over big hips (I am between a 14 & 16, depending on levels of stretch)
  3. Preferably not too flappy at the ankle - I have a bad habit of catching my foot in my trousers and plunging down stairs.
  4. I think I instinctively prefer a woven to a jersey but that may impact on criteria one.


Do I just go to Next or M&S and then Try All The Trousers until I cry?
OP posts:
KatharineClifton · 13/10/2015 21:13

Yes. Also New Look and supermarkets usually do an inexpensive range.

Or just order them online and return what you don't like.

Pippidoeswhatshewants · 13/10/2015 21:18

M&S do a reasonable slim fit black trouser that's not flappy around the ankles and naturally pear shaped.
It wasn't where the work trousers are but mixed with the day to day wear.
Sorry, I can't be more precise!

pdxs · 13/10/2015 21:21

Go to gap... Their trousers are laid out easily like jeans - most have stretch and fit over my hips!

Better still: look at their range online then call the store to ask if they will hold your size

Florriesma · 13/10/2015 21:21

Matalan. Have known a few people substitute their uniform trousers for theirs.Wink

ShutUpLegs · 13/10/2015 21:26

I have never got Gap trousers to fit me - I can get into a Gap 16 but with a fearsome camel toe.

Matalan could be an option - in the opposite direction to M&S so I'll have to find more shopping time.

New Look is for Young People - it terrifies me.

I can't shop in Tesco but could try to get to Sainsburys.

This is a really boring thread, isn't it.

Sorry.

OP posts:
Pippidoeswhatshewants · 13/10/2015 21:28

Sainsburys trousers are crap. The last pair expanded into about 2 sizes bigger within 5 minutes of putting them on.

ShutUpLegs · 13/10/2015 21:30


Phew. I was getting worried about trouser-miles.
OP posts:
Bunbaker · 13/10/2015 21:35

I bought these the other day. I am pear shaped with a 12" difference between my waist and hips and these trousers fit beautifully.

The comments about them being on the long side are true, but I am fairly tall at 5'7" and found the regular length perfect.

ShutUpLegs · 13/10/2015 21:38

Heavens. SO many black trousers on the M&S website. Its making me want to run away. I'd need a whole day just to try all of those on.

I don't think they'd look kindly on these

OP posts:
PerspicaciaTick · 13/10/2015 21:39

Evans do various cuts of black trousers specifically designed for pear shaped. They nip in at the waist but are generous over the hips. They do fit quite generously so you might find their smallest size (14) too big.

ShutUpLegs · 13/10/2015 21:40

Oh - that is a helpful Steer Bunbaker. Thank you.

I can shorten things - my sewing skills will go that far.

OP posts:
ShutUpLegs · 13/10/2015 21:42


I lost a lot of weight ages ago (I was a size 26) and I swore i would NEVER shop in Evans again. I just cant do it.

But thank you for the lateral thinking.

And I have gone back to yoga so I am hoping for some tautening to come into effect. But it won't be enough for Gap
OP posts:
lurkingabit · 13/10/2015 22:28

I'm with pdxs: try Gap. I'm a pear and I find them good too. I've had their cropped one this summer and they are good. Have a look online first. Really worth a look.

itsbetterthanabox · 14/10/2015 01:17

Evans do clothes to fit individual shapes. Their pear stuff is good. Bigger over hips and thighs and smaller elsewhere. Nice to have stuff that fits the shape.
It surprises me more stuff isn't fit to suit pears. Surely most women are pear shaped.

Bunbaker · 14/10/2015 06:34

"It surprises me more stuff isn't fit to suit pears. Surely most women are pear shaped."

I agree that there should be more clothes for pear shapes. I'm not so sure about the second point. Where I live there are a lot of women who tend to be the apple shaped or seem to have little difference between their waist and hips.

AnyoneButAndre · 14/10/2015 06:53

I think GAP have recently had a bout of size inflation so if you haven't been there for a while they might be worry another try.

cansu · 14/10/2015 07:01

We'd finitely marks and spencer. I buy all my work trousers from there. I wouldn't bother with peruna head to other ranges and try on there. I have wide leg stretchy ones, boot leg ones ananda an dry move smart cordy black trousers from there that fit perfectly and I am a size 20 pear.

AnyoneButAndre · 14/10/2015 07:08

I would try Per Una actually, I've found them good for pears in the past. But yes unfortunately the answer is just to go to M&S and try on All The Trousers. Tedious but it's the only way because not all pears are alike.

Bunbaker · 14/10/2015 07:11

I know Per Una gets a bad press on here, but I agree that they are good for trousers and jeans for women who actually have waists and hips.

Bunbaker · 14/10/2015 07:12

Oh, and my latest pair of trousers are Per Una.

AnyoneButAndre · 14/10/2015 07:15

Per Una gets flack because the designers go bonkers on the patterns and embellishment. No reason to take against a pair of plain black trousers that fit just because they have that label on them. Frankly if I found a pair of work trousers that fit well without adjusting I'd buy them even if they had a label saying "BNP voter and proud!" on the inside.

ShutUpLegs · 14/10/2015 08:07

Ha ANdre I am not sure I would go THAT far (although by 2pm on Saturday after Trying All The Trousers, I may retract that statement).

I am not a label snob apart from Evans so as long as they fit, I am happy. I don't ever wear black so they are purely for volunteering but I would like a fit. And if I can find something/somehwere that fits, I may be able to progress from jeans which will make me feel like a grown-up again.

So - Saturday plan is M&S, including Per Una, and then a tentative foray in to Gap as it is over the road from M&S. Fallback is Matalan on the way home with reluctant child in tow. Wish me luck.

Its the gappy waistband at that back that winds me up. I always have to wear a belt or alter the waistband which is time-consuming and fiddly. I am not that enamoured of alterations to do it on every pair of trousers I buy.

OP posts:

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fieldfare · 14/10/2015 08:12

I just got some similar to what you've described in the Next sale bit online. Order some to try at home, if they don't fit quite right just return them.
These fit me well with no gaping on my waist, but they are a little wider than my normal straight leg jeans on the ankle.

HellKitty · 14/10/2015 08:16

I had to wear black trousers at my last job, jeans style won't do so avoid them. New Look had a great range but they weren't very stretchy, the best ones I got were from Asda amazingly. Cheap enough to get a couple of pairs. I think I got some straight leg/skinnyish and some boot cut.

HellKitty · 14/10/2015 08:17

I should add, I AM a label snob but didn't mind getting work stuff from asda!

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