Finding womens dress slacks that fit is challenging at any age, and more so for the post-50 figure. Let's start by agreeing that most of us want slacks that give the impression of a long, lean leg. This rules out any design element that breaks the smooth movement of the eye from waist to ankles. For example, horizontally placed pockets on the derriere of jeans draw the eye across the widest part of our bodies.
If you are short, you especially want to avoid horizontal stripes, cuffs, or a chain belt low on the hips. A vertical pinstripe is the only print worth considering for women's dress slacks. It creates the ultimate illusion of a long, lean vertical line. Pinstripes have the added benefit of looking chic in almost all business situations.
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Avoid flowers, geometric prints, plaids, all-over embroidery, and just about every other kind of print. Even all-over tonal prints make our hips and thighs more expansive by catching and holding the viewer's gaze. Slacks that hit below the belly button are not appropriate for business wear, no matter how many times we see this in the mass media. No and no and no.
When ordering online, I often order two sizes in the same color. It's worth the return postage to try on garments in the comfort of my home. The alternative is driving from store to store, desperately hoping to find something I want that fits and is affordable.
Here are some tips for fitting your slacks:
* Sit in the pants. Do not sit on gingerly on the edge of a bench in a fitting room. Sit d-o-w-n. The fabric should not not bind or feel tight anywhere - waist, crotch, and upper legs.
* Visually, women's dress slacks should appear to hang from the waist.
Avoid horizontal lines. For pants and jeans with pockets on the back, look in a three-way mirror before buying. The waist line around your body should be parallel to floor. The waist tends to dip lower across tummy if one is overweight.
If your stomach creates a pooched-out front, look for slacks with a single or double-pleated front. If nothing can be done, cover up with a tunic blouse or long jacket. It may be worth your investment in time and money to find a seamstress to make one or two perfectly fitted work pants. A quality fabric, such as wool, cotton blend, or silk, should last many years. I take good care of my dry-cleaning only, professional wardrobe by removing these garments as soon as I come home from the office.
* Length: For long slacks, there's two rules. First, don't drag the hem all over the floor. You must not be able to accidentally step on your own pants. Second, you should be able to see only the barest hint of the top of the shoe when you walk.
It is acceptable to see the toe of your pointy-toed cowboy boots when wearing slim-legged sports pants. The inseam is the length of the pant from the seam that extends inside the leg, from crotch to hem. When purchasing women's pants online, knowing your inseam is essential.
Fabrics: Avoid fabrics that will radiate wrinkles from the crotch when you stand. This is called binding, and it means the pants are too tight or the fabric is inappropriate. A touch of Dacron, polyester, silk, or Spandex will prevent cotton and linen from wrinkling. Spandex and other stretch fibers have the added benefit of enhancing the trouser fit.
In sum, the best-fit women's slacks strive to achieve an unbroken eye-line from waist to toe. Do not buy anything that's too tight or readily shows wrinkles. Take care of your investments in quality garments, and you will enjoy them for several years.
How to Buy & Fit Women's Dress Slacks & Work Pants
Enid Sefcovic, Ph.D.
Editor, Fashion After 50
http://www.fashionafter50.com
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