Trousers suddenly sticking to my calves

[NightsOfCabiria]

I bought the Dorothy Perkins slim leg trousers in several colours in September and thought, brilliant, they'll be great for work and for a while they were.

Now I've washed them, they all stick to my calves and I have to shake my legs like I'm trying to remove an annoying terrier, every sodding time I stand up.

I've shaved my legs so it's not as if the winter down is preventing ease of movement either. I've also tried squatting when I put them on to ease the fit!

I haven't gained weight or suddenly bulked up in the calf area so it must be the trousers.

My question is, what can I do to prevent it? I've got six pairs!

www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/clothing-203535/trousers-leggings-203565/black-slim-leg-textured-trousers-6853488?&cmpid=ppc_pla_UK_ip&utm_medium=cpc&istCompanyId=e0b51aa7-96c9-4550-a6f3-56b61a0b5995&istFeedId=c532945a-4da7-45c5-b1d6-860a74ed3719&istItemId=xamrlxilp&istBid=tztx&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw72GgZGI5gIVSrDtCh2H_gVoEAQYAyABEgIqtPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It sounds like they've shrunk.

I wondered if that was the case so I bought the next size up but they were a little too big and were very big after only wearing them for an hour, which the others are not. The tight ones seem to only stretch length ways but the bigger ones seem to stretch width-ways only. I wonder if the manufacturer decided to get one last pair out of the bolt and cut the wrong way?

So disappointing. I can replace the black ones but finding good trousers in different colours is really difficult.

I think they have shrunk slightly too. Are they viscose ?

Ok I checked, and they say they are polyester, which doesn’t shrink. You can try pulling them into shape after washing and a fabric conditioner rinse. Don’t tumble dry them. Just pull the fabric at the calf widthways, as hard as you can, then dry naturally on a clothes horse. A very gentle steam press might help too.

Also try an anti static spray, if you have one, as that might also be the problem.

Make sure you moisturise your legs before you put the trousers on. Sounds like they have had too much heat applied in the wash and whilst ironing.

It could be that the coating that was on the material has come off since washing?
Try moisturising your legs really well before putting trousers on every morning - and during the day, if they start sticking again, a quick spray with hairspray on your calves usually helps! I have been known to use a quick smear of lipgloss as emergency measure😱 seems to form a smoothing barrier!
Also, if you iron them, try ironing them inside out. Good luck, decent trousers are hard to find!

Sorry everyone, it's actually these!

www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/clothing-203535/trousers-leggings-203565/light-grey-ankle-grazer-trousers-8299325

So they're a mix of polyester, viscose and elastane.

Yes, I've noticed that when I ironed them, they changed colour from pure grey to a lilac colour so I wonder if some of the material has been altered by the heat from the iron and tumble drying them.

Laughing at the lipgloss application but yes, I'll moisturise my legs as haven't done that since summer. My legs are like the sararah.

I used to get this problem, too. Moisturise your legs and, if you have one, run a wire coathanger over your legs once you have the trousers on.

Slathered in cream (or Lipgloss...,) rubbing ourselves down with coat hangers... what are we all like??🙄 You never hear a bloke getting these issues, do you? 😁

Ah ok. Viscose shrinks like hell, and changes colour when you iron. The good news is that if you steam press them, while stretching the fabric (hold in place with the iron, and pull the other side of the fabric) then they will return to their original size. The colour will also return to normal once they cool down. Take care not to iron too hot as it will damage the other fibres in the mix if you do, use a synthetic setting and test a tiny inconspicuous area before fully ironing.

Press on the inside, turn them inside out. 🙂

I would have thought moisturiser would make them stick more?!

I suspect it's due to the loss of sizing (the stuff that gives fabric body and stiffness), which means after washing they immediately soften up and lose shape. If the sizing was what was holding the grain of the fabric in alignment, you can see how they'd become clingy and sideways-stretchy after washing. Have the seams twisted?

I had a pair four actually of Warehouse cotton trousers that did this after washing, as well as going bobbly with wobbly seams. I was both sad and cross because the loss of a well-fitting trouser or four is painful.

Trouser shopping is such a pita, you have all my sympathy op.

Ah, very interesting about the steaming and metal coathanger and also the sizing. When i first bought them they were lovely and stiff but now theyre floppy so i think theyve lost it. Serves me right for buying cheap but the right shape is so difficult to find as I’m very straight bodied.

You could try and use spray starch sparingly, as you iron ,to give a crisper finish. Wash cool, in non bio detergent, on a delicate or silk cycle.

Fabric conditioner might help if static is contributing. I have started using it since I started wearing skirts and dresses as they can be clingy without.