Can a short, fat person wear wide legged floaty trousers?

[BarbaraVineFan]

And if so, which ones?

I am an apple shape, 5 foot 2 and a size 16-18. Going on holiday in a couple of weeks and would love a pair of cool, swishy wide legged trousers as an alternative to dresses and shorts. But I fear I might look a bit like Coco the Clown! I also can only do online shopping, as I am a single mum. Any help gratefully received!

I used to think I looked awful in wide legged trousers but I love them now!

I wear these ones in summer https://www.mcelhinneys.com/en-gb/collections/brands-d-e-c-k-by-decollage/products/decollage-deck-linen-stripe-trouser-dec63048-jea (in other colours from years before - this is this summer's version.

I am apple-shaped and I only wear wide trousers as they are the comfiest. I think (or I delude myself) that they look good if they stop above ankle, preferably with the ankle showing. It seems to balance out the silhouette, so that while the trousers are wide, my body is going in again at the bottom, if you see what I mean? Trousers that are wide down to the shoe just make me look huge, as does anything with an elastic or tie at the bottom. The ones that I am currently wearing and that I think look good on me are Lucy and Yak Halston. If you look them up, you will see what I mean about the length.

https://lucyandyak.com/en-no/collections/halston-wide-leg-trousers

Herer they are. Btw, they are longer on me than the models. So they stop just above ankle on me.

I'm on the tall side, but around a size 20. I have found that it depends on the shape. I have some cropped ones in a jersey fabric, which are very wide. I've just put them in the wash as I'm planning to sell them as they really don't suit me. On the other hand I have a floor length pair which I love. I wear them once a week at least.

I think you need to try on a few different pairs.

I bought some white linen ones from M&S last year. I also have some navy ones from a couple of years back. I would try there.

They’re not really wide legs! If palazzo pants flare out from the hips they are more flattering than ones that are wide all the way down! Elasticated waists will make you look big around the hips. Ones that are elasticated at the back only are better.

They will be fine but wear a fitted top with them.

I have very slim legs and this pair are a little bit narrower than the ones I have. I wear elasticated trousers all the time as I have a chronic bowel condition and can't cope with anything tight around my tummy. I also have a small bum - my tummy is where I carry all of my weight.

Some of my trousers are elasticated at the back, some all the way round. I'm currently size 10/12 in this type of trouser but I have been as big as 18/20.

I was merely sharing what works for me.

M&S are good for linen trousers too.

Go for cropped wide leg trousers - short boxy top - I am size 18/20 5’6” but have short legs long torso and wear cropped wide leg trousers

I think so. I’m also short and find that the ones that flare from the waist, rather than being the same width all the way down, are more flattering.

I don’t the name of this style though. They’re still on an elasticated waist, but if you stretch it right out, you can see the actual legs are like a long triangle and not a rectangle.

I hope the above makes sense! Quick answer is “yes!” IMHO, and one which is shared here, wide leg trousers look best with a fitted/less loose top, to balance things, or at least a top which can be tucked in at the front to avoid an all-over wideness.

If you’re unsure try some cheaper, second-hand ones from Vinted first (can always put them back up for sale) and find the style/fit you like best.

Try these https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0971104025.html

recommended on here a few years ago and are very flattering. I’m 5ft 2 and these are ankle length on me. A boxy top tucked at the front goes well.

I’ve just bought these, size 16 petite. I think they look better in real life than in this picture, really nice feel to the fabric. They aren’t as baggy as a lot of wide legs seem to be.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su381377/e16813

Yes you absolutely can! I am a similar height to you and a size 14. I got these for my upcoming holiday to Spain in the petite length. They are barrel leg rather than wide leg but they’re really flattering :

www.next.ie/en/style/su381379/e16814

I'm also an apple and I've just bought these and they're really nice on. They might need taking up though.

https://nomadsclothing.com/products/crinkle-viscose-straight-leg-trousers-indigo?_pos=9&_sid=7b90bc6b9&_ss=r

I'm short and a little overweight. Not massively, just tip over a normal BMI but because I'm so short, I look "dumpy" very easily. I should probably really be at the lower end of my acceptable BMI range to look properly "slim".

So, I've got the opposite figure to you. I'm somewhere between an hourglass and pear. Probably more so pear (short, dumpy legs with cankles) but I do have a waist and I'm not flat chested like a true pear.

So I love high waisted wide leg trousers. They flatter my figure. Nip in my small waist and "hide" the tree trunks !

With that in mind, as an apple yourself, I'd avoid anything that drowns your slim legs and accentuates your upper body (my mum is an apple and has legs to die for , but a bigger stomach, bigger boobs and bigger top of arms) she tends to wear tight jeans and "floaty" tops or shift dresses

Thanks everyone! Some great ideas and tips here. I have bought a couple of pairs from Vinted and will see how they look on.