If you happen to be a manufacturer of trousers aimed at those of us over 40, please may I ask that ....

[Countingthegreyhairs]

they do not have:

elasticated waists
extremely high waists
extremely low waists
any extra bulk around middle ie pockets (>hy do I need five pockets fgs or even one pocket come to think of it? I have three perfectly good handbags thank you very much.)
pockets half way down the leg
bandana type belts

please could they be:

lined
well cut
long enough
machine washable
produced in wearable plain colours with no studs or twiddly floral embellishments

Thank you

Harrumph

and to pinch a mumsnet description:

"not look like per una for fat pottery teachers"

LaurieFairy Cake

Oh yes forgot about knee bagging Profiterole...

and natural fabrics ...

AND if they are linen can they be made of cloth with a high thread count please not from recycled sacking through which one's old women's pants can be viewed by all and sundry

stares belligerently in to middle distance and rubs hairy chin

There should be more threads like this

Now that the wish list has been assembled, does anyone know where you can find good trousers? I am going shopping tomorrow, and need my trousers to tick all these boxes!

yes stalwart hems very necessary

Thank you LMGirls

Year of the cat- Nicole Farhi are your best bet and Piazza Sempione but ££££££££££ - see here -

[http://www.madham.co.uk/index.php?prod=1027]

so non-fraying hems and reasonably priced added to list too

[I'm a trouser obsessed insomniac an hour head btw and up early ... )

That they do up on your waist rather than on your ying yang, forcing the dreaded muffin top.

Why does the word slacks come into my head when reading your description of what you want?

Eyeballs I must protest

Slacks are worn by 50+ male members of the Rotary Club procured from adverts in the back of colour supplements

... such as these fine specimens ....

www.chums.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?ProductCatalogue=MT040

worn with these

www.chums.co.uk/productlist.asp?catid=10&RootCatID=10

come to think of it trousers 'with growing room' might not be a bad idea though ...

And yes, HarryB, all ying yang fastenings are strictly forbidden

Ahem I am >40 and I need pockets. Handbags are Naff.

A lack of pockets is the very definition of old lady trousers.

Ooh on the thin trouser fabric and knickers theme there was an woman walking out of school this morning in front of me with the most delightful cerise polka dot undercrackers on. Very pretty they were. Perhaps I should have complimented her on them?

May I add (and I'm aware that this won't apply for everyone) a wide waistband, not one that's only 1.5cms wide? Much more flattering, I think.

Oh and anyone who's prepared to manufacture trousers that take into account that some people's waists are markedly smaller than their hips and don't much care for the three yards of spare fabric at the back which then requires you to wear a belt at all times, causing an unattractive ruched/elasticated effect over your behind will get my vote.

Everyone with trouser "isshheewws" v. welcome on this thread PLumpRump ...

Decent waistbands added to list

I encountered a similar vision on the bus this morning Orm, black thong, white capris ... felt vaguely scandalised but have led a sheltered life...

lljkk and Lyra - crikey - seriously? Um, where do you keep your keys, purse, id, miniature bottle of gin, powder puff, Chanel lipstick, Tena Lady products, corn plasters, and Werthers originals (if you don't mind me asking??)

These are my current favourites (am now desperately scouring them for pockets - not easy to see - too expensive anyway)

www.madham.co.uk/index.php?prod=751&image=2

maybe I should just succumb to official old lady status

This is scaring me a little. I keep getting hideous visions of the sort of 'slacks' that my MIL wears. Stretchy man-made things with no waist band. MIL wears hers with blouses and woolly waistcoat things. And why do so many old ladies seem to have square bottoms? Is it some sort of old lady undies that so that?

I carry a bag (not a handbag, a tote bag),but I just hate trousers with no pockets. The worst offenders are jeans with no back pockets - strictly for the over-55s.

Counting, those are very nice. Suit trousers and similar are exempted from the no-pockets rule.

can recommend KEW flannel/smart trousers when they are in for winter- think they have some still on website now.

www.kew-online.com

PLEASE keep elasticated waistbands for us lumpy odd-shaped 50+ers. I have to keep hitching otherwise.

Eek! Just realised this is Style & Beauty! Sorry ladies.

You've scared me now too Orm!
[Frantically checks bottom shape in mirror ...]

Lyra - I concede that jeans must have back pockets - on reflection, yes, pocketless jeans are just too wierd

and phew - relieved the others pass muster ...

Hocus - your post very welcome - but sorry - NO elasticated waistbands allowed ever, ever, NO NO NO! owing to their lump-enhancing properties! Otherwise, we are in danger of looking like this:

www.houseofbruar.com/shop/index.asp?tm=27&type=w&o2=true&cat2=17&s=0&Item=TP09470

Not even just an elasticated back....?

Nay and thrice nay!!

If it's any help, I sometimes take my waistbands in - just fold over by 5 mm in two or four places and sew down as discreetly as possible - try them on first and pin so looks flattering ....