Are short cotton/chino trousers only for thin people?

[AuntieMaggie]

I like the short cotton/chino trouser thing that people seem to be wearing at the moment but worry that I'm too fat to carry it off with my size 18/20 bottom - what do you think?

I don't think the size of your bum matters. I think it's how tall you are. I always think any kind of cropped trousers on short people make them look a bit dumpy. Or the school boy look i.e shorts that they need to grow into.

Trousers that are actually cropped aren't great on big bums (actually they are nearly all just really naff, aren't they? unless you are really chanelling Audrey Hepburn), but I think that rolled up chinos can be fine on bigger frames. Agree with mandoo that height helps. Avoid excessive pleating at the waistband.

Agree with the others - I don't think your size matters so much, it's your height. I'm only 5 ft and most cropped trousers look awful on me.

I have long legs and am tall and slim and wear cropped trousers; I think they look better with heels, even on tall people. The main reason I like cropped trousers is because they don't get as dirty as long ones!

i think they look OK on short people in heels as long as you are wearing something else to offset the shortening effect - like a longish cardi/ jacket or something. Think the linen ones always look cheap and frumpy whatever the build of the wearer.

I think the secret is wear with heels (probably wedges??) and make sure they have some pocket detailing on the bum (not flap pockets though). A bum without any detailing on it to distract the eye is a disaster imo.