Pants: Finding the right fit for you
Pants: Finding the right fit for you
Muara Bagdja, Contributor, The Jakarta Post
The well-dressed woman is someone who does something for her
clothes instead of defying her clothes to do something for her.
Few of us have perfect figures. Fat, thin, tall, short, we
have one or two faults we wish could be corrected. Flattering the
figure with well-chosen clothes is an art to be learned. Once you
know which basic lines are helpful to your figure, you can work
out variations on the theme.
Pants have sometimes been a difficult fashion for women, and
were barred to them until the last half century. It is said that
German actress Marlene Dietrich was refused entrance to a
restaurant in the 1930s because she was wearing pants.
Fortunately, times have changed. Pants are worn by women in
the workplace, by housewives doing their daily shop and also
First Ladies, both as casual and official wear.
Pants now come in all shapes, cuts and sizes. Five types that
are almost sure to keep you look good are jeans, capri, palazzo,
snacks and tight.
So, which type of pants will be best for you?
Jeans: A good fitting pair of jeans can streamline the belly,
waist and hips. To avoid causing bunching of their stomachs,
large women should take the type of their figure into
consideration before slipping on a pair of jeans. The boot-cut
model is the best choice, but avoid the baggy type that will make
thighs look larger, or bell bottoms that will make one look
shorter.
If you have a problem with a slight paunch, choose jeans with
zipper instead of button fly. Jeans can be for many occasions,
but they are not formal wear.
Capri: Designer Emilio Pucci returned from a holiday on the
resort island of Capri and came up with the famous knee-length
pants. They are currently back in vogue, but the problem is they
make the wearer look shorter.
It is best to contrast capri with a not too loose top so that
the figure lines can appear longer, combined with evening shoes
with stiletto heels to make the line of the leg look longer.
Yes, they are trendy, but they expose large legs and ankles.
Best wear them for casual occasions.
Palazzo: These wide-piped, ankle length pants are usually made
of soft materials. In Indonesia, palazzo are better known as
kulot and are now more popular as ethnic and Muslim attire. In
the United States, they are sometimes called beach pajamas.
This type of pant can help to hide figure flaws in the lower
parts of the body such as short or small legs, plump thighs and
big ankles or wide hip lines.
But wearing palazzo does not automatically help you solve your
problems. Many women deliberately wear overly loose palazzo to
cover their faults, but the cost is in making the wearer look
shorter. Don't wear palazzo if you have short legs or are plump.
Palazzo are comfortable to wear because they usually have an
elastic waistband. They can be worn for casual and formal events,
depending on the material and accessories. Palazzo made of
glittering fabric are good for a beach party, but are not for the
office.
Slacks: Like two straight pipes, these pants are ideal to be
worn by women of all figures, and they can make short figures
look taller and slimmer.
Given their shape, slacks are suitable for all occasions but
those made of cotton or khaki are better worn in a relaxed
atmosphere.
Slacks made of lace, velvet, jersey, silk or other shimmering
fabric or ones studded with sequins or beads are suitable for
evening parties or gatherings. Gaudy colors are more attractive
and eye-catching, but black always gives an elegant impression.
Slacks made of soft fabric such light wool or mixed polyester
matched with a blazer or a long-sleeved blouse are suitable for
office wear. Bright colors are sometimes necessary to add
freshness to office wear, but your pants should be in a neutral
color.
Tight pants: Today many women wear tight pants made of stretch
material. Apart from being trendy, tight pants are comfortable to
wear and show off the body shape.
Unfortunately, the wearer is often unaware of pantyline. To
avoid this, stay away from too tight pants made of thick material
or wear a long blouse to cover the bottom area.
G-string underwear is also a help, but choose a model that has
a thin elastic rubber band around the waist and thighs to avoid
discomfort. For a slimming impression, choose pants with zipper
at the back or side of the pants.
When worn at a party or relaxed occasion, tight pants make
women more attractive, but are too sexy for the workplace.
Of course, everyone dreams of having pants that flatter and
fit the body. But there are things you have bear in mind: they
should fit snugly around the groin area with no crumples and no
bulges in the back. When you find the pants that are the right
fit, stick with that model.