SOPHIE, 34
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Height: 5ft 10in. Size: 14
Being tall since I was 11 and curvy since I was 16, I’ve long preferred separates over a dress, as I find them so much easier to navigate when it comes to finding the best fit for my shape.
Nevertheless, having sizeable thighs, wide hips and a very long torso can make finding the right pair of trousers challenging. If they fit my thighs nicely, they’re way too big on my waist; if they’re too short on the body, the waist sits on my hips, which naturally makes them too tight, and the trousers go up places I’d rather they didn’t!
SOPHIE: Trousers, £49.99, mango.com. Jacket, £485, thefoldlondon.com. Earrings, £25, orelia.co.uk. Belt, £65, sezane.com. Bag, £140, barneysoriginals.com. Sandals, £250, russellandbromley.co.uk. JESSICA: Trousers, £170, top, £88, and sandals, £158, reiss.com. Jumper (around shoulders), £39, riverisland.com. Earrings (just seen), £55, and necklace, £70, orelia.co.uk. Rings, from £90 each, pandora.net
My go-to trouser shape? A wide-leg cut that cinches in at the right part of my waist and elongates my legs, showing off my hourglass figure. Fortuitously, this style has been heralded as the shape of the season and, knowing how hard it is to find the ideal pair if you are tall and curvy, I’ve picked eight of the best ones out there.
A final word of advice – a good tailor or seamstress is your best friend when it comes to fabulously fitting trousers. Got a pair that are the perfect shape but too long, or the ideal cut on the thighs but baggy on the waist? Invest around £20 at a good local dry cleaner and have them taken up or in. You’ll feel amazing once they are cut to size.
SOPHIE: Trousers, £49, johnlewis.com. Top, £89, aligne.co. Earrings, £25, orelia.co.uk. Bag, £79, marksandspencer.com. Sandals, £250, russellandbromley.co.uk. Other jewellery, Sophie’s own. JESSICA: Trousers, £85, nobodyschild.com. Shirt, £110, withnothingunderneath.com. Hoop earrings, £55, and studs, £22, orelia.co.uk. Huggies, £110, and rings, £90 each, pandora.net. Bangles, £14 for set, asos.com. Bag, £39.50, marksandspencer.com. Shoes, £158, reiss.com
PS: A split pleat that runs from the top of your hip is not your friend if you have a bit of a thigh. Avoid, avoid, avoid!
JESSICA, 28
Height: 5ft 3in. Size: 8-10
Despite being on the short side for most of my life I haven’t been concerned about checking for length when buying trousers. I grew up during the height of fashion’s skinny jeans obsession, so if my go-to Topshop Joni jeans were too long, I’d simply roll them up. However, in recent years, since swapping skinny silhouettes for wide-leg cuts, I’ve found it increasingly difficult to buy trousers that fit my shorter frame.
SOPHIE: Trousers, £99, karenmillen.com. Vest, £25, nobodyschild.com. Earrings, £32, orelia.co.uk. Belt, £65, sezane.com. Bag, £32, riverisland.com. Shoes, £109, dunelondon.com. Other jewellery, Sophie’s own. JESSICA: Trousers, £80, hush-uk.com. Vest, £14, asos.com. Hoop earrings, £55, and studs, £22, orelia.co.uk. Huggies, £110, pandora.net. Bangle, £179, maje.com. Bag, £27.99, newlook.com. Shoes, £38, riverisland.com
Early attempts at the wide-leg style saw me embracing an oversized, baggier-the-better silhouette. While it’s a chic look on petite celebrities such as Kourtney Kardashian or The Row founders Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, it isn’t practical for the everyday woman who, not blessed with a personal chauffeur, has to dodge puddles and run for trains.
After many years of trial and error, I have finally worked out how to make wide-leg trousers work for a shorter body. Firstly, I always look for a high waist. This helps concentrate the eye on the slimmest part of your figure, while also giving the appearance of your legs starting higher up. A similar trick is to look for designs that feature a vertical stripe (whether it’s part of the print or a pleat detail). This creates the illusion of a longer line from top to bottom.
SOPHIE: Trousers, £119, hobbs.com. Waistcoat, £46, riverisland.com. Earrings, £25, orelia.co.uk. Bangle, £300, pandora.net. Bag, £219, radley.co.uk. Sandals, £49.99, mango.com. Other jewellery, Sophie’s own. JESSICA: Trousers, £35, asos.com. Top (with tie detail), £79, mintvelvet.com. Earrings, £110, and ring, £70, pandora.net. Bag, £17.99, stradivarius.com. Sandals, £34, riverisland.com
I also look for brands that offer petite ranges. These are designed for women with shorter proportions (usually 5ft 3in or under) and are more flattering. Next, Never Fully Dressed and Marks & Spencer all do affordable petite offerings.
Alternatively, try searching for ‘cropped’ or ‘culotte’ trousers, which fall around the mid-calf on tall women, but hit just below the ankle on shorter legs.
SOPHIE’S BEST TALL TROUSERS
The best-fitting jeans I’ve ever had, so worth the price tag. A tall girl’s BF!
JESSICA’S BEST PETITE TROUSERS
Buying ‘Petite’ saves money on tailoring – and Next has the best range on the high street.
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