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Trousers and jeans - what style and shape?

(50 Posts)
vegasmags Wed 26-Feb-14 13:40:19

I am the first to admit that I am no fashionista, but I do need to replace some items in my wardrobe. I live in jeans and trousers and have a casual lifestyle - to put it mildly. I think I also have quite bad taste in clothes, or so my nearest and dearest ones tell me. I am to clothes as was Mark Twain to music - if I like it, it must be bad.

However, I have found the choice of styles for trousers and jeans quite overwhelming. Most of my old stuff is bootcut, because I bought them ages ago but now you have the choice of bootcut, slim bootcut, boyfriend fit, straight, skinny, cigarette legs, ankle grazers and so on. I am sure those of you who are up on these things will say it's best to buy what suits you, but I don't want to invest in a style that in a year's time is hopelessly outdated and marks me as an old frump.

So what style are you all buying and wearing?

gillybob Wed 26-Feb-14 13:50:16

I am a great fan of skinnies vegasmags which I wear with flatties or heels to dress up or down, but I also have bootcut, which don't ever seem to go out of fashion. My problem is that I have quite a boyish figure (kind of straight up and down) with very small hips and almost no bum to speak of. So getting jeans and trousers to fit well is always a problem. I do like cut offs in the summer too.

whenim64 Wed 26-Feb-14 13:51:36

You look fine to me, vegas. Neat, tidy and a little colour. What's to complain about? I shall continue to wear stretchy jersey and be happy with clothes that don't have dog hairs sticking to them! grin

glassortwo Wed 26-Feb-14 13:57:54

I like straight and skinny great with flatties and boots, but I have a cupboard full of fat and thin shapes depending what weight I am at the moment every shape you can imagine and still wear them when the fancy takes me.
Best thing to do vegas go into a store and take all the different styles and try them to see which suits you best. Dont take DH with you he will just agree if he is anything like mine.

Mishap Wed 26-Feb-14 14:17:38

I confess that I wear maternity jeans - not because I am huge, but because I treasure comfort. Once you have worn them it is hard to go back to ordinary ones.

As to the shape of leg etc. I should get what you like and ignore anyone else!

TriciaF Wed 26-Feb-14 14:22:32

I don't feel comfortable in tight jeans, so I make fairly loose fitting trousers with flared legs. They're specially comfortable in summer made of something light and flowing. Corduroy for winter.
New Look 6626.

vegasmags Wed 26-Feb-14 14:31:50

glass - I think you are right, I will have to go into a shop and try loads on in different styles. This is my personal idea of hell, needing a stiff g and t both before and after.

dollie Wed 26-Feb-14 14:35:25

Jersey trousers with elasticated waist for me..comfort is my first priority over fashion...i dont wear jeans as i find them uncomfortable and put too much pressure on my knees ( osteoarthritis ) when i sit down...

KatyK Wed 26-Feb-14 15:13:22

Straight jeans for me. I invested in a pair of Levis last year, a bit pricey but they do different waist styles (if that makes sense) - slight curve, demi curve etc - probably a load of rubbish but I like mine, they are a lovely fit and hopefully will last me for years. I love skinnies but end up looking like Max Wall somehow grin

Lona Wed 26-Feb-14 15:20:13

vegas My dil, who is very stylish,(and slim and tiny) has a rail in her wardrobe full of different syles of jeans. Wear what suits you and what feels comfy and you'll be fine.
I'm in skinnys at the moment but I wouldn't get rid of my boot cuts for anything!
They MUST have some stretch though! wink

Aka Wed 26-Feb-14 15:22:21

I like in Per Una denims. They sit on the waist (hate low slung jeans) and have slight give in them. Prefer the boot cut style but have other styles too, slim cut, straight.

Agree best if you go in and try on different styles, but avoid Saturdays if possible.

baubles Wed 26-Feb-14 15:30:21

I live in skinny jeans and boots at the moment, very practical in this horrendously wet weather, in springtime I will swap the boots for ballet flats. Next high waist skinny jeans are a great fit on me and the stretch material means they are almost as comfortable as leggings. I also like M&S stretch jeggings which are effectively skinny jeans in different fabrics and colours.

The skinny jean/boot combination happens to be fashionable just now but I like it and it suits me so no doubt I'll carry on wearing them long past their popular phase. 'Not your daughters Jeans' are another brand I can recommend as they have a higher rise than many makes.

The only way is to try lots of style as has been suggested already.

gillybob Wed 26-Feb-14 15:56:27

I also like leggings but don't tell Absent a certain someone shock

gillybob Wed 26-Feb-14 15:57:31

Yes I love M & S's jeggings too baubles they are a lovely snug fit without being too tight.

Tegan Wed 26-Feb-14 16:08:26

I'd be in big trouble if Per Una stopped making jeans as I live in nothing else.

Agus Wed 26-Feb-14 16:12:49

I like skinny or straight leg jeans and cords with boots or ballet flats/loafers.
Usually buy them in Zara, H&M, Bennetton, Next or Indigo at M&S and always with Lycra. I have noticed though that if a buy a pair of jeans or trousers with Lycra, although they are a perfect fit when new, after a few washes and wear they begin to give and can lose their shape so I buy a snug fit which I know
will eventually be a perfect fit. Argh, the trials and tribulations.

Happy shopping Vegas. Not my favourite pastime at all.

Eloethan Wed 26-Feb-14 16:57:08

I also like Per Una jeans, particularly as they come in a short length (plus, of course, medium and long). I like straight leg and boot cut (depending on footwear).

Really you need to go in and try some on - and maybe wear a pair of boots and take some flat shoes/trainers to see which jeans suit which footwear.

BAnanas Wed 26-Feb-14 16:58:45

I alternate between leggings and straight jeans, I tend to wear them with ankle boots in the winter I have several pairs of these all bought from Office, one is a sort of biker boot great for trudging around in and the other two have Cuban heels and zips on both sides of the ankle. I also like bootleg jeans and if you get them long enough they can elongate the leg, which is good for me!

kittylester Wed 26-Feb-14 17:11:59

M&s do scukt and shape (or something like that). Mostly in black but in all types. I like them because XXx always ask if I've lost weight when I wear them! grin

kittylester Wed 26-Feb-14 17:18:20

scukt = sculpt obviously!!!!

Grannyknot Wed 26-Feb-14 17:24:04

I can't stand jeans that are tight on my thighs, so I wear cotton chinos (Gap) and I have one pair of jeans, I believe are "boyfriend jeans" = slouchy.

I live in stretch leggings but I always wear them with long tops or tunics, and usually ankle boots or flats.

shysal Wed 26-Feb-14 17:28:10

I wore bootcut jeans for many years because I thought they were the most flattering. Then I bought a few pairs of straight leg 'Not Your Daughter's Jeans' on Ebay and I think they look more up to date, make my legs look slimmer and are soooo comfortable. I have therefore cut off the bottom of the bootlegs and made them into a cropped length for the summer.

janeainsworth Wed 26-Feb-14 17:32:57

Depends what I'm doing - boyfriend with a shirt or Tshirt and trainers if I just want to be comfortable, but skinnies with a long top or sweater and boots or flats for a bit of a smarter look.
Agree with others about the need for some stretch. My current favourites are from a GAP outlet.

joannapiano Wed 26-Feb-14 17:53:53

I also only wear Per Una jeans in straight and bootleg styles.Wonder of wonders a size 12 fits me-nothing else in the store in that size does.

Riverwalk Wed 26-Feb-14 18:02:47

M&S skinnies with stretch are just as comfortable as leggings IMO, and surprisingly flattering even with a few extra pounds. I have slim legs but a bit of a round middle so can look like an egg on legs if I don't wear a tunic top.

Currently I like the M&S Indigo range.

I used to wear bootcut (aka flares) but now think they look very dated!