Work trousers for spring, need suggestions

[NorkilyChallenged]

I need some work trousers. I don't want to wear black polyester trousers any more. But then what? Any suggestions or links as I really do need something soon and can get to the shops this week.

My problem is my shape, I'm a size 10 waist and a size 12 hips/thighs/bum. Hard to get trousers to fit so I'm guessing that I need wide leg trousers. Have visions of being swishy and 50s retro glam rather than gallumphing elephant.

I also really dont' like low slung trousers, I seem to have a really high waist (long torso) so low waisted trousers dont' work for me at all and I find them very uncomfy. Hard to find truly high waisted though, I know.

I got these these from M&S (S&B health warning, this link leads to a Per Una product) but I'm going to return them. I like them a lot but I got a size 10, which is really too tight round my hips/thighs and shows the saddlebag effect on my bum a bit too much. I tried the 12 but that was about 2-3 inches too wide at the waist and looked ridiculous as they have a wide waistband.

I know there's probably nothing that fits all my strange body criteria but any ideas at all (colour, fabric and shape) would be most welcome. I'm lost now that I'm trying to move away from black.

Thanks

Cambridge

Home of the Low Slung Trouser

Ah... also home of my favourite charity shop (Salvation Army)

Why not go down to London and have a look round Spitalfields? I'm sure I have seen something like you're after there...

Will get my thinking cap on.

Thanks for donning the thinking cap.

Think am just feeling a bit fat low so everything looks awful and I'm all lumpy and white and horrible in changing rooms. Sigh.

Will perk up in a few days and try again.

Or give up on trousers altogether

I have these. They hold their shape all day and are 100% cotton

Ooh they are quite nice actually.

Might try them some time when I'm less grumpy and lumpy busy.

Oh sorry.

It's me, Norkily, wearing one of my Masterchef special name change.

More comfy than any of the trousers I tried on today.

While I'm blethering away to myself here, I tried this on today (along with 4 pairs of disastrous trousers in John Lewis).

Is it nice? Have lost all perspective. Not for any particular occasion, maybe as a dress to wear to a wedding in future?

Hmm I am normally a phase eight fan, but that dress has a whiff of the per una about it, I'm afraid.

Nice cut, but I think it's the print.

Gah

per una

gah

My auntie Pauline would wear it.

That's all I'm saying.

Yes - pale fishnets can be good in summer; stockings cooler than tights, obviously.

Tries on the couple of inches of Suggy's legs -- oops they are too thin for me!

Not seen any of these irl but any good?

Linen mix ones

Like the look of these but they'd be far too long for me!

Not sure about the linen ones (avoiding linen like the plague) but the second ones look okay

Have decided that I am an hourglass shape but with no bust. It's not a good shape to be, nobody makes things for that shape.

Sorry Norkily.

Now I will have to find you some trousers.

Get on the case tethers, I'm counting on you.

I've got it - I'm a Weeble with a Waist.

Norkily - I like the dress and it'd be good for work ? Also if you follow the nude fishnets then buggar trousers and stick with your dresses, skirts and blouses.

Did you try the size 14 in Gap. Surely its not about the size on the label ? Or were the styles all crap.

As an aside hubbie and I are in Cambridge for a naughty childfree weekend on Sat - what are the must dos, place to eat, drink. We just usually end up drinking ourselves into a stupor in the pub where the DNA guys used to drink round the corner from Kings...

S'nowt wrong with flat chested curvy. Sofie Dahl has made a living out of it... Or is that catty ?

Not very 'style' or 'fashion' but I have the hip/waist ratio problem but in size 16/18. I find Laura Ashley trousers fit well, with no waist gaping, and are usually not low waisted either. I have a few pairs of wide leg trousers, but straight one like these have been good too.

Interesting Ange8 as I tried on some lovely Laura Ashley trousers in the winter (wool wide leg and purple) but I looked in there and there's not much in the current season.

Suggy - will think, there are so many great restaurants. What kind of thing do you like to eat?

Italian
French

Atmosphere important... we don't get out much so somewhere lovely

Right, my favourite place is a Turkish restaurant called Efes on King St (not near King's College, a 5-10 min walk). Atmosphere is great. Food is lovely (am craving it now just thinking about it).

There's a lovely Italian called La Margherita on Bridge St.

Jamie Oliver's opened an Italian off the Market Square but I haven't been, meant to be a good atmosphere.

The family who own Efes also do the food in the Copper Kettle opposite King's College in the evening, lovely views if you don't want to wander too far from the pub

Sold on Efes. Only do Middle Eastern now when I get a night up on town with work. In the Market towns up north kebabs after the pub is the closest we get. Would we need to book ?

Maybe, they do two sittings - early and 9ish so maybe worth phoning to see. They are usually very busy.

Quite envious, I'd love to go

You sound like the same shape as me (albeit that I'm a size larger all over). I hate shopping for trousers. Get so fed up trying on hundreds of pairs.

My best fitting purchases in recent years have been from Esprit. They do lots of different cuts and have a "trouser fit guide" that explains in some detail about the different fits. I can't actually remember off-hand the names of the ones that work for me but you might find soemthing there.

Thanks for that suggestion. I can't get their website to show me the trouser fit guide (it keeps saying it's there but then I can't click through) but there are some that look interesting.

Do you find yourself buying a size up, if you're between sizes like me?

these might look dull dull dull but by jingo I bet they are flattering on

To all you helpful people who tried to find me some trousers... I have had to accept the truth after clearly being in denial.

The reason that all the trousers I try on make me look lumpy and awful is, obviously, that I have put lots of weight on and am actually lumpy and awful

This came as a shock to me

I was trying on going-out trousers (v rare occasion in the 2 years since dc2 was born) and even things bought in the last 6 months are too tight. Gah.

I also have flabby arms. I have been blaming the washing machine/tumble drier for shrinking things.

I need to get me to a diet thread pronto

I have nothing to wear for work. Or for going out. Or for looking like anything but a trussed up sausage.