British Vogue - 09.2019

JEN CAREY; JASON LLOYD-EVANS; MITCHELL SAMS; PIXELATE.BIZ

Fitting tip: a cropped length can be

tricky. If buying online, double-check

the model pictures for where the hem

is positioned on the leg. Ideally, it

should hit the narrowest part of your

ankle for the most flattering cut.

Brands that excel: Frame, Valentino.

NAVIGATING

THE SHAPES

CROPPED

REJINA PYO

Body, £530, Gabriela Hearst, at Net-a-Porter.

com. Trousers, £485, Max Mara. Belt, £1,010,

Hermès. Shoes, £345, Rupert Sanderson

Fitting tip: a

waistband that sits

above your belly

button will elongate

your legs. Brands

that excel: Acne

Studios, Connolly,

Givenchy, Joseph,

Proenza Schouler.

HIGH-WAISTED

Y

ou know the expression you have to

kiss plenty of frogs before finding

your prince? Well, the same could be

said for finding the perfect pair of

trousers, only without the kissing. The point is,

you will need to try on everything, which takes

time, so be prepared to put in the hours. (Buying

trousers online rarely works the first time; we

recommend an appointment with one of the

expert sylists at Matchesfashion.com’s townhouse,

5 Carlos Place.) Newsflash: well-fitting trousers

can hold their own – you shouldn’t have to

conceal any element under knitwear or shirting,

so wear a body or tight-fitting T-shirt when

shopping. Put them to the test, literally. Walk

around, stick your hands in the pockets, check

the crotch doesn’t “pouch” when you sit down,

and scrunch the fabric to check crease resistance.

Tips for fit? Look at the details: a crease down

the front of the leg, whether pressed or stitched,

should always be a straight line; if the crease

bends, the fit is too small. (On the subject of

sizing, don’t fixate; sizes will vary from brand to

brand, so be open-minded and try multiple pairs

of the same style.) Pocket placement is paramount;

consider sewing them down to streamline your

silhouette. Don’t be afraid of such minor

adjustments as these: concentrate on getting the

fit of the waist, hips and thighs right first; hemline

alterations are a quick and inexpensive tweak.

Finally, fabric will always impact shelf life. Our

advice? Buy the best you can afford. NS

Trouser

directory

Flowing and flared, long and

lean or neatly cropped – here’s

how to hit your stride this season

“Put them to the test,

literally. Walk around,

stick your hands in

the pockets”

Naomi Smart,

shopping editor

CHANEL

ISABEL MARANT

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