Best trousers for Body type A. Part 2: DOs and DONTs

DOs or what to look for in trousers for type A :

• Waistband: minimal or no waistband that hits at the part where your upper and lower body meet.
• Rise: avoid very high rise trousers, as they will accentuate the difference between your upper body and your hips. Also avoid very low rise trousers, as they will hit a wide area of your hips and, additionally, will make your legs look shorter. Trying trousers with different rises will help you learn which works best for you (i.e. the number of inches from your navel that suits you best).
• Material: You are looking for materials that drape and flatter your bottom, like lightweight or superfine wools, or good quality blends of wool, also dark denim and firm cotton are good.
• Patterns: go for no pattern at all or a very small one, always in matte or very low shine materials.

DONTs or what to avoid in trousers for type A :

• Wide waistbands.
• Rise: avoid very high rise trousers, as they will accentuate the difference between your upper body and your hips. Also avoid very low rise trousers, as they will hit a wide area of your hips and, additionally, will make your legs look shorter.
• Pleats/Open darts. A big NO.
• Material. It is important to avoid lightweight cottons and wimpy materials that will droop and crease over your curves and also stiff materials (no drape).
• Patterns: avoid big patterns (opt for a very small to no pattern at all). Shiny materials are not a good idea either.
• Pockets: no back pockets or minimal flap or slash pockets placed just below the waistband. Avoid cargo pockets at all costs, they will prolong the widest part of your hips and, additionally, make you look shorter.
• Cuffs: avoid them unless you're tall, they shorten the figure.

Possible alterations:

• Hem trousers to wear with at least 1 1/2 heel. Your legs will look longer and leaner, your bottom, smaller.
• If you're going with cuffs, wear your trousers extra long (half and inch from the floor). If not, take them out if possible... or don't buy the trousers.
• Stitch closed any slash hip pockets, as they will tend to open, and cut the extra material, if bulky (or employ a tailor, it's an easy enough alteration to make) to avoid unnecessary bulk on your bottom and/or or thighs.

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This post was first published in "The Red Lipstick. Own Your Style" on April 26th 2013. It has been edited and re-posted June 3rd 2016.