Help! Big bum, small waist (in relative terms) - where on earth can I buy trousers, especially jeans?

[FlossieTCake]

A long-standing problem, but reaching crisis point... I seem to have a body shape that is not in fashion with high-street retail.

There are two full dress sizes' difference between my hops and my waist: am a borderline size 14-16 round my hips, borderline size 10-12 round my waist. I am having a bloody nightmare finding decent trousers, and especially jeans, that fit round my hips without gaping revoltingly round my waist.

I am REALLY not comfortable in hipsters - like something with a more traditional waist. I have come to terms with the idea of elastication in a small way (say, at the sides) as I never wear short tops anyway so can hide the fashion crime. But even this fallback option seems to be completely unavailable in the shops now.

Has anyone faced a similar problem and can recommend some good sources? I have one lovely pair of black trousers from M&S that are perfect, but bought last year and hence no longer in store.

Yours in despair....

I have large arse / small waist (though admittedly not as extreme as yours) and Next jeans with stretch do me very well.

Avoid actual elastication if you can, even if it's hidden, as it makes trous do unflattering bunchy things to your hips.

Some Next jeans fit me, though not all. This year, they have a basic boot cut for £20 which are a pretty good fit. I am a 10 at waist and 12/14 at bum/thighs.

Also got a pair of baggy linen mix trousers from Dorothy Perkins recently.

I sympathise - it's a bloomin nightmare. I love jeans, but they don't love me!

I have some Dottie P jeans that are fine. I think they're boyfriend style or something equivalently nonsensical. Reasonably high waist, they look a bit carpentery . It really depends. You just need to try different ones.

(I am probably a 14 hips, 10 or 12 waist? Not sure - would need to fiddle with a tape measure.)

I watched an Oprah episode once about finding the perfect fit of jeans for your shape.

And whilst the answer was not particularly easy, its worth passing on. Get jeans that fit you like dream around your hips and bum...and get the waist taken in by a tailor.

It may add to the cost but think how much you would wear them!

Bit of a pain, but could you not buy trousers that fit 'round your hips and then have them taken in at the waist? Might be worth it rather than spending hours of frustration traipsing 'round shops...

x post early bird, by 7 seconds!

snap maidamess!

Tee Hee!!

you know what they say about great minds...

Yes, we're definitely on the same wavelength!

www.mandco.com/bin/venda?ex=co_wizr-productgrid&bsref=mackays&step=shopcartmulti&invt=1924435&orderc ol=alphanu

I have got these and they are THE best jeans i have ever had.

Definately try dark blue New Look Hula jeans.Stretchy and good for pears and £10.

Lots of good ideas here - thank you! I find the whole experience monumentally depressing so it's really nice to start with a hitlist of more hopeful places.

The tailor idea sounds good too - as long, I suppose, as you buy good quality enough that they're going to last. This post in part prompted by a very disappointing pair of jeans which fitted very nicely but were full of holes within a couple of months. They weren't especially cheap either .

Have often thought I ought to just take my favourite pair of black trousers to a dressmaker and get them copied 3 times over... probably costly, but think of all the shoe leather saved.

I am similar

biggish hips (well a 12-14) and relatively small waist

the best jeans ever for me were Seven for all Mankind high waisted style

JEAN-IUS

but unfortuatnly they were £169 and split at the knee after 8 months (of continuous wear!)

but the Oasis Scarlet style fits me very well (alhtough the denim is all hard compared tot he 7's [sulk])

Also Monsoon jeans seem good for this problem.

I buy ones that fit around the bottom, and then have them taken in around the waist at a seamstress.

Another vote for Dorothy Perkins!...(I have a small waist,smallish hips but whopping thighs with a sticky out bottom)

I had a choice of FIVE different pairs of jeans that all fitted comfortably and were flattering...narrow/wide/light/dark/reg/long/fancy/plain..brilliant

I didnt actually buy any but that is another
story involving ds!

OMG...nearly forgot...and they were £25 a POP!

Was admiring a friend's jeans only yesterday - really neat fit all over and she has wide hips and a small waist. Got from River Island.

I have 2 pairs of Gant jeans that fit me well, and my waist is slimmer than my bum/hips. Not all of them fit though.

I also have had MAC jeans and trousers in the past, they are very good for hourglass figures.

I also have this problem. I like some River Island jeans, and Levis. New Look are also good.

same shape as you - monsoon are the only ones that have ever fitted me.

Get loads of wrap dresses instead.

I like to cycle though.... wrap dresses excellently designed for showing off knickers on windy days!!

Wrap dresses over leggings I suppose.

Dammit, sometimes I just want to wear jeans.