Sewing up trousers pockets

[IDontKnowMargot]

After three years of living and working in leggings and a hoodie, I am starting a new job with two days a week in the office so need to dress smartly again. Of course none of my old clothes fit me anymore (cheers menopause). I'm looking for smart work trousers to wear with a blazer but really need them not to have pockets as I hold my weight around my tummy (size 16) and the pockets just make my silhouette look so much worse. All the decent trousers I've found have pockets, but of course... If I get them sewed up, will they still stick out?? Anyone done this before??

Pockets do tend to give you some more room to move in trousers, so if you sew them up you are potentially creating another problem. There will a trouser style out there that works for you.
Have you considered dresses as an alternative? Maybe easier to get something where you're happy with the fit?

Yes! I have six dresses, but wanted to mix it up a bit so I can wear flat shoes (I know you can wear flats and dresses but it always makes me feel grumpy!)

Frumpy even!

I find back welt pockets a bit useless as they do tend to gape (not that I have a bum to make them gape) but I find that front pockets, with their linings, and sometimes with pocket stays, if they're cleverly designed, help to skim over and disguise the carnage that is my lower belly.

Something that I've picked up from making my own clothes is to select trouser styles with a waistband that sits at my slimmest point, so for me, that's making trousers high waisted so that my entire belly bulge is covered and I still visibly go in a bit, in the middle. It's so much more comfortable, too.

This guide is for dressmakers but is useful for when you're buying ready to wear clothes, too.
https://blog.cashmerette.com/2018/08/where-is-my-waist-how-to-find-measure-your-waist-for-sewing.html

Sod the silhouette! Insist on pockets! Use them!

There are far too many women's clothes without pockets! I want somewhere put my phone and a tissue and lip balm when I walk down the corridor. I don't care how it's made my figure look (varied between 16 and 22 over the years, currently 18.)

Long live pockets!

I find it often helps to go up a dress size when buying trousers with pockets that bulge open. This doesn't work with all styles, especially when the waistband is low.

I am a big fan of pockets but I have sewn them down in some pairs. As a pp mentioned above, it can reduce the ease in the seat so this may not work for you, but I've been happy with the pairs where I've done this. It can always be unpicked if you find it's made them too fitted.