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.