All trousers are weird and terrible now!

[theministerscat]

I really need some new trousers. I haven’t bought any for about 10 years - the last ones I bought were in a Gap shop, which haven’t existed for quite some time now, so really ages ago. Today I bit the bullet and went into town with the express purpose of finding some trousers. I was really determined to - how hard could it be, right? Well, apparently very hard. I went to Uniqlo, Zara, Cos, & Other Stories, Reiss, and John Lewis. Everything was either massive legs, weird horrible fabrics, or both. I’m a 56-year-old woman, size 10-12, used to be reasonably stylish. Can’t believe I could not find one single pair and have the fear that I will never be able to find trousers again. Where the hell else do I look?

I had this same issue recently buying jeans and in the end bought some from a charity shop! Comfortable in the style I wanted which I can't seem to find anymore and only £4!

I don’t think they’re unflattering either - whatever that means. I bought balloon and barrel leg trousers last summer and have just bought the M&S cotton ones which are about to go out of stock for the second time.

I like to look current and modern and it’s increasingly important to me as I get older. My “unflattering” oversize clothes give me great joy and attract compliments.

Wide trousers which are slimmer fitting at the hip are my go to style at the moment. Last year I bought more boot cut/flared but I prefer the straight wide legged ones now. I'm also a size 10-12 and if I get a 10 or even an 8 they fit better as most are a bit generous. Palazzo are the really voluminous ones. OK for summer in some fabrics but general wide leg are easier to wear.

I just go to charity shops, at least they have the old styles in!

I lkke bslloon trousers but not cord ones. They are a bit "university professor".

Shift and A are next to each other on many keyboards and some people are prone to missing the keys.

I agree @Floisme - very easy to find really any style at moment. If you're a size 10 to 12 @theministerscat then you will suit most things but a nice wide leg but fitted around the hip and waist with no pleats are very flattering. M&S have a good selection as do Me&Em / beautifully tailored. Mid range Wolf and Badger? They have nice black ones and they have slightly cropped too which look nice with a smart chunky sandal in the spring summer.

good luck !

I also have slim legs and barrel look amazing.

It could be because of Covid. I noticed, after lockdown, all my clothes were tight on me.
I'm not sure if it was something in the air or the fact that my clothes were in the dark, in a wardrobe.

I have noticed this with other clothes, like summer outfits- one year they are fine, but after a winter in a cupboard they have all got smaller. It's being going on for years. Puzzling. 🤔

I agree. I often don't think even models look great in the trousers that retailers are trying to sell these days. I normally wear Poetry, Wrap, Toast (in the sale or Vinted), occasionally Seasalt and they are worth checking out but recently I found some trousers in M&S at a far lower price, that aren't too wide on the thigh and don't trail on the ground. It's not a case of rejecting the new but of wanting to wear clothes that suit my shape and lifestyle.

I think barrell are a bit too ‘fashion’. I can’t see that style sticking around long. Not hugely flattering.

I looked at a lot of pairs of trousers and really didn’t find anything much that wasn’t a weird shape or a weird fabric - it’s times like this that I miss living in London, with so many big shops! I’m so fed up of online shopping, all the faff of ordering and sending back. But that may need to be the way to go…

Trousers seem to be wide legged at the moment, and at 5ft 2, they really don't suit me.

I’m 5ft 2in as well. They look fine on me.

😂

I wouldnt too sure. Fashioñ these days seems to be alot more about comfort then it used to ɓe, and barrel trousers are comfy!
Plus I feel like that whole frumpy, grannycore, 'not for the male gaze' look is pretty popular rìght now (my kind of style!LOL!)

I am wearing a pair of Uniqlo trousers today and I think they are perfect tbh. Cheap, smart, nice ankle length on me (I’m 5’5) lovely fit around the waist, skim/loose on the hips and not overly wide. With a crisp white t-shirt and nice jacket, they feel smart without being too formal. I’d highly recommend, I think they would be flattering on most….similar shape to those sezane ones

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E487481-000/00?colorDisplayCode=68&sizeDisplayCode=003

I also nipped into M&S yesterday and their smart woven barrel trousers were perfect work trousers! They only had the 8 in short which was just a little too short for me so I’ve ordered regular online but the fit was great - cinched waist, wide through the leg but narrower toward the ankle. I’m definitely less keen on very flappy wide legs but barrel are great.

Toast trousers are amazing but expensive. The Corinne ones were so flattering when I tried them but I couldn’t justify £275.

I bought 2 new pairs of wide leg trousers recently from Zara and Pull & Bear, they fit well around the waist but I had to hem both pairs by about 1.5 inches! I'm 5'7 so don't usually have to do this. Happy with the result but could've done without the extra work!

I’m 5’9 so quite tall yet most trousers I find are soo long! Especially in Mango and Zara the Spanish must be giants! Ridiculous!

I don’t understand the predicament, nor do I think all trousers at the moment are “weird”. You’ve just got used to wearing one silhouette and therefore others look strange to you. For years all anyone could buy were skinnies. I always hated wearing trousers from 2000-2015 roughly as all you could find were low waists (early 2000s) followed by skinnies. Neither style suits me so I became a dress/skirt wearer.
Now there’s a massive range in the shops and online - straight, slim, wide leg, bootcut, flares, barrels (I have all these styles and wear them all). Skinnies are also still pretty easy to find.

I agree that you do need to look harder to find good fabrics though.

I got these, but they're stupidly expensive, and I resent that, added to which, they fade after a few washes at 40°
They are classic though.

😉Perfectly put.

I never buy new so can recommend browsing Charity shops if you want big range of styles, cuts, sizes, etc.

It just depends what suits your body.

I love Joseph trousers and will buy a new pair every couple of years.

I bought some nice work trousers from.Boden.

Will check out Joseph as I'm getting older id like to invest in decent long lasting, classic items now.