Pants Problems Over 50

Little known fact: Did you know that free shipping & free returns was invented because of pants? No? That’s because I made it up. But it totally should have been! Pants are a problem for every woman of every size, height, and body type, which is why I always encourage my clients to order a couple of pairs to try on in the comfort of home. (We do this with shoes and bathing suits too, as they are also hard to fit items).

In today’s video, I share 3 tips for looking better in any pant style. (Hint: They need to fit well and you need to style them.) But I also share the 3 most problematic pants that are trending right now, and how to wear them in a way that is modern, flattering, and effortless.

One of these may be the most controversial style I’ve ever featured.

Let’s take a closer look at the art of wearing pants. And we’ll start with some general flattery tips.

Extend The Leg Line

Pants can make your legs look long, even if they’re not. Play this up by extending the leg line in a few different ways. The first way is to wear your pants as long as possible. The hem of a full length pair of pants can almost graze the floor these days, and although a lot of people are wearing them so long that they puddle on the ground, this actually shortens your legs.

The next way that you can extend the leg line is with the shoe color. Either choose a shoe the same color as the pant, or the same color as your skin. Both will extend the leg line. The hardest look to wear, and an instant leg-shortener, is a chunky athletic shoe with pants.

Hike Up Your Pants

Too many women are still wearing their pants too low, and while a few of you look best in a slightly lower rise, for the vast majority of us, a higher rise (somewhere in the region of your belly button) is more waist-defining and flattering. It also allows you to tuck your shirts more easily.

Define Your Waist

With few exceptions, it almost always look better to define your waist in some way when wearing pants. There are a couple of ways to do that, with tucking being the most obvious. Another more subtle way is to use a jacket that is either cropped or nipped in at the waist to give subtle definition, a very flattering look in many cases. And finally, you can define your waist by wearing a structured top that ends at the waist, adding flattering without accentuating a tummy.

The Cropped Pant

You either love them or you hate them, and many of you hate them. But before we launch into the cropped pant, let me quickly clear up any confusion. I am NOT talking about capris, pedal pushers, or the like. Just say no to these.

I’m also not talking about the new awkward one-length-fits-nobody that brands are selling to cut corners.

I will also warn that the shorter your leg, the harder it is to wear a wide leg crop. I’m talking about leg length relative to your body length here, and not height. Wider and shorter will make short legs look wider and shorter.

Instead, lengthen the leg line with a cropped pant by either wearing a boot that comes under the pant hem (unbroken line) or wearing a shoe with a low vamp that exposes most of the top of the foot (unbroken line).

Tuck the shirt in to further extend the leg line, and keep the top sleek and even strappy to balance the outfit if your pants are flowy.

Wide Leg Pants

These can either be the most flattering pants in the world, or they can make you look like a tree trunk. There is no in-between. The difference, of course, is fit. The first key detail to look for with a wide leg pants is a good fit through the hips, waist and bum.

The next key detail to look for is that the pants need to get wider at your leg torso joint. If they get wider too high, you will look shapeless and the pants will be too big. If they get wider too low, it will be an awkward look.

A well fitting wide leg pants creates a triangular line from your hips to the hem that narrows the waist and lengthens the legs. It’s almost like magic.

A too-baggy wide leg pants just swallows up your shape and is not flattering. Wideness is relative to your height. A petite person needs a more moderate wide leg, while a taller person can do a more dramatic wide leg.

Look for stretch for fit and flattery, as well as a high waisted style that extends the leg line.

Pleated Pants

Are pleated pants flattering or unflattering? Both. A pleated pant can camouflage a small tummy bulge, but highlight a larger one. This is not about your size in general. It is specifically about the size of your tummy. So if you have a small tummy bulge, consider pleats to camouflage them.

Fit is especially critical with a pleated pant. You want to make sure the pleats lie flat.

Consider whether you have room on your torso for pleats. A really short torso and a full bust can give you little room for pleats, creating a crowded and unflattering effect.

Drapey pleats are a much better fit than stiff pleats. A flowy fabric is a good choice for a pleated pant.

What is your biggest challenge when buying pants? And which of the 3 problem pants on this list gives you the hardest time?