Please help me find straight leg linen trousers

[Baptisia]

I’d like to be able to buy a new pair of 100% linen trousers, but I'm struggling to find anything that doesn't have ridiculously wide legs. I’d like a straight leg cut, or tapered, but at something like a normal width. I’ve tried loads over the past couple of years, but even those describing themselves as ‘straight leg’ are a very wide straight leg. My ancient Fatface pairs are no longer fit for wearing in public, so the situation is now desperate…

To make matters worse, I can't abide high waists, but would prefer a fitted waistband rather than an elasticated waist.

Colour should be dark blue, teal, burgundy or warm chocolatey brown (I succumbed to a pair of wide straight-legged ones in a gorgeous olive green last year). Full length, not ankle grazer.

My budget is tight: absolute max. of 70 quid, but I’d be a lot happier under 60 quid. Don't mind bookmarking something that stands a decent chance of going on sale in my size (8), at a price I can afford.

Hoping that more dedicated shoppers than me will have some good suggestions…

Buy White Stuff Blue Rowena 100% Linen Trousers from the Next UK online shop

Monsoon Jolie Regular Linen Trousers | JD Williams

Wouldn’t normally recommend for anyone over 18 but urban outfitters have some nice ones. They are called “Kayla”. Daughter has them in chocolate brown and they look great.

Have a look in zara. Really nice slightly tapered trousers there.

Arket. Not cheap but nicely made. You can either go drawstring or full trouser style.

Thanks for the replies.

I contemplated the White Stuff ones last year, but they're a dreadful sack shape on me. The Monsoon ones I can't forgive for the truly awful elasticated waist.

Urban Outfitters is not a brand I'd have thought to try, but several reviews suggest that durability is poor, which makes me nervous - d'you have any opinion, @MiseryIn, having presumably seen your daughter's?

I may give one of the Zara pairs a try, @Cantonet . It's hard to tell how wide they'd be on me, but they have a more casual vibe, which makes me somewhat optimistic. Didn't see any slim tapered designs though.

I have these Zara linen pants in indigo & khaki & they're a lovely shape
But I've just realised they're a linen mix & flat fronted with an elasticated back which isn't exactly what you want.
There are also other very similar styles with a normal waistband but again a linen mix. These styles are often pictured on the Melissa Murrell Instagram & YouTube videos which is where the recommendation is from.

M and s currently have quite a lot. I think they are still not doing online orders though

Suzy D

@Cantonet I did try on some linen mix ones last year in a spirit of compromise, but the fabric just didn't feel like linen. They weren't any cheaper than pure linen either, so it just seemed a rip-off. I buy few clothes, so what I do buy has to be right.

Jaeger or Poetry have pure linen trousers but are over £100. M&S also have a couple of styles in pure linen but good luck in finding them!
Ironically Primark the edit ( a more upmarket range within Primark) do pure linen trousers & you can order via click & collect. It's very similar quality to M&S I would say.
But if you rarely shop it may not feel special enough for you.

The higher the %age of linen in a trouser, the more they'll stretch as you wear them which makes anything with a fixed waistband difficult (unless you wash them nearly every wear?). The only pure linen that work for me have an elasticated back and drawstring front that you can tighten as they loosen. H&M has quite a few but mainly wide/straight legged.

I agree with this @Lifestooshort71too.
Linen mix trousers wear much better & don't go as baggy. Even Wrap/Poetry are doing linen/cotton mix or linen/lyocell mix's this year.

Oysho https://www.oysho.com/gb/100-linen-straightleg-trousers-l30326766?colorId=800&pelement=172848625&categoryId=1010729854

Do you have a tkmaxx near you? Ours had loads of straight leg linen trousers this week with fitted waists

Have you looked on vinted? I used to love the mantaray linen trousers from Debenhams as they were straight - obv can’t get from there anymore but had several from vinted.

Matalan came up trumps for me for linen trousers last year

Definitely check the supermarkets out! I bought a lovely pair from Tesco the other day.

They are more on the wide leg side rather than straight leg, which I don’t usually like, but they feel more structured than other wider-leg types I’ve tried on, which helps them appear less balloon-like.

I’ve been after exactly what you’re looking for OP at 5’2” I’m swamped by wide legs & prefer a little cropped with sandals. Had an unsuccessful quick trip in the shops today. I did buy in Whistles but they’re not linen & I’m not wholly sure I’m happy with the fit. I’ve just ordered two pairs from Poetry so hoping they’ll look good on

I had a beautiful pair of linen mix straight leg trousers delivered from Zara yesterday. They are an elasticated waist though. Really comfy& smart

Thanks everyone for all the ideas!

@Lifestooshort71 My old pairs both have genuine mid-rise waists, so the way the linen relaxed with use has never been a problem: the waistband sits roughly on my hips. I do notice the relaxation of fit in the legs of the pair that are a slim, tapered fit (the cut roughly follows the shape of the legs, not sure of the name for it, they're not baggy round the hips), but for casual wear it didn't matter and if I wanted them to look properly smart I just made sure they would be recently laundered. It's probably why you rarely saw that style in linen, even when it was more fashionable. I loved mine - the fit was spot on and they were very versatile.

If push comes to shove I will try a linen-viscose mix - might feel better than the 55-45 linen-cotton mix I disliked. The Zara ones are at least cheaper than their pure linen and if I have to pay for delivery anyway there's not much to lose by seeing what another design is like.

@Hillbillyrocking Bah. Tesco website doesn't play well with my browser security. Tickles me just to see linen trousers listed under Tesco Groceries on the search engine though!

@HereWeGoAgainToday If I could afford Poetry prices I'd be ordering their linen jeans, which look to be exactly the cut I am after. Glad someone may benefit from @cantoret’s recommendation.

If your purchases don't work out La Redoute have several pairs that look to be about ankle grazer length and might work for you: although only the high-waisted cigarette trousers are 100% linen, they also have linen-cotton ankle grazers (https://www.laredoute.co.uk/ppdp/prod-350007229.aspx#productDescriptionAnchor) and and what they call ‘joggers’ with a tie waist.

Matalan 100%. I've just been for a big clothing shop after my section and remember having to put half of the linens back because I prefer a wide leg and the majority were straight or tapered. Lovely summer selection in at the moment and they don't break the bank

I was off to Saudi Arabia last week and needed some nice linen trousers. I looked everywhere and I mean everywher. I found the ones in Zara and they’re great. Tapered leg and they sit just above my ankle and I’m 5ft4, also the waist definitely isn’t high waisted as advertised.

https://www.zara.com/share/linen-belted-straight-leg-trousers-p02753128.html?v1=428596131&utm_campaign=productShare&utm_medium=mobile_sharing_iOS&utm_source=red_social_movil

I'm 170cm and want full length...