Buying the right pants!

Where Exactly Should My Pant Hem Hit? 

• To create the longest possible line, pants should be an inch from the floor, with the hem breaking over the instep.

• One option is to buy two pairs of the same pants and hem one for heels and the other for flats, but you can fudge a happy medium by wearing the same pair of pants with flats and up to a two-inch kitten heel―but no higher,

My Pants Fit Everywhere but at the Waist, Where They Gape. How Can I Fix This?

• Because gaping usually results from having fuller hips and a slim waist, the key is to find low-rise pants that start at the hips (so you don’t have to worry about fitting both waist and hips) or that have a “contoured waistband that is slightly higher in the back than in the front,

• Go to a tailor. He should be able to make affordable adjustments.

I Have Wide Hips and a Belly. Which Type of Pants Will Flatter Me?

• Try bootcut pants (to balance your hips) paired with a two-inch waistband (to contain your stomach),

• Forgo low-rise pants in favor of a rise that hits an inch or two below the navel.

• Steer clear of tab closures and belts, which add bulk, and slanted (diagonal) pockets, which accentuate hips.

I’m Curvy and Short. Which Styles Work for Me?

• Stay away from pleats, cuffs, and tapered or cropped legs, which shorten and widen the frame,”

• Finally, don’t forget heels. “Pointy-toe heels in a shade that matches your pants will make your figure look extra long and lean.

What Is the Best Length for Cropped Pants?

• If you want sleek, Audrey Hepburn cigarette pants, this narrow style should graze the ankles,

• Going shorter? Try styles that hit at the narrowest zone between calf and ankle, where the shin starts to indent.

•  Tall women can afford to go even shorter (think Capris and pedal pushers), these styles make petites look squatty. Try Bermuda shorts instead,

• As for wide-leg crops, they have their place in the world, but it’s on a beach or in a country house.

 

My Rear Is High and Round, but My Legs Are Slim. Which Cuts Will Suit Me?

• Look for darting in the back, which makes room for a rounder bottom without causing the seat to look baggy.

• Choose pants with back pockets, as pairs without pockets often create a “unibum.”

• Remember that pocket size should be relative to your backside,

• Try a bootcut style, which may help make a full rear seem more proportionate to slim legs.

• Look for labels like Baby Phat and Apple Bottoms, which are cut for bodies with fuller behinds and skinny legs.