Do you have a Christopher and Banks store near you? If you do, it might be worth stopping in to see what they have.

Here is a link that might be useful: Christopher and Banks

I do sympathize, although I have other pants issues, I find the best thing to do is head to Dillards or Macys and try on about 200 pairs. I am somewhat of a fashionista, in a middle aged woman kinda way!, and don't find brands to remain the same although I have a few I gravitate to usually.

I sympathize too. My issue is trying to find a small enough size in the discount stores. I don't always want to pay up for casual pants at pricier stores.

The moral of the story for all of us, is that when you find something that fits buy 2 or 3 or a few in different colors. I've done this several times and have never regreted it :-).

I would pay fairly big bucks (and yes, I'd buy more than one!) for the right pair. I actually have a pair of Dockers that I got at Kohls a couple of years ago that fit well. Surprised me -- it was one of those times when I thought "I'll pay anything!" and I think these pants were $20 or something on sale. Of course then when I returned to the Dockers dept. later (like a year later), I didn't have such luck.

We don't have Dillards or Christopher & Banks, but we have Macy's. I went thru Macy's, Lord & Taylor, and Nordstrom on my last attempt, and didn't really find anything.

I might try Garnet Hill. I had a pair of cropped chino pants from there a few years ago that fit... until I gained a few (10) pounds. And yes, the little voice in my head is saying "if you'd just lose the weight, you could wear THOSE pants..."

Don't have any suggestions, just chiming in with my sympathy!

Clothes/shoes shopping is maddening. I thank God to be alive at a time when there are actual petite departments. Our options are enormous, compared to those of yesteryear. Can you imagine having to hem every pair of pants you purchased? Plus, tops, jackets, sweaters and coats fit so much better.

Even so, it's hard to find clothes that really fit well, that are in your colors, and have your name on them style-wise. I think attractive, age-appropriate summer clothes are much more difficult to find than fall and winter items.

Bumblebeez suggests trying on a couple of hundred things and you might strike gold! I hear ya, BB, and did just that a couple of weeks ago. Still came home empty handed.

I really live in jeans, but agree that it would be nice to wear something else on the bottom occasionally! Sue, have you thought about skirts? They do sort of glide over "problem" areas nicely.

I just saw an adorable long, flowy purple floral skirt at Eddie Bauer.com that I may purchase before free shipping expires tonight. I do love a light, airy, bias-cut, long skirt. I do love purple. But then the hunt for the right top, shoes and bag to put with it must ensue. Eeek. Maybe I should just stick to looking for tops to wear with my uniform regulation jeans!

Good luck to all who are shopping for summer clothes!

While I am not in possession of a big bottom myself, something that I learned from the show What Not to Wear is that you should never wear tapered leg pants - it creates an ice cream cone look. Your pants should fall in a straight line from the fullest point of your body.

I have the same issue. I have had some luck with the Lee platinum label naturally slimming jeans and slacks. I buy them at Belk department store. I noticed you can get them from the Lee website too. I also like Jag jeans foster fit which you can get at Nordstrom.

Both are mid rise pants which seem to have a smaller waist and more butt/thigh room. I can find low rise jeans that fit over my hips and legs but when I button them, half my arse hangs out. : )

Don't you wonder why they still make tapered pants? They don't flatter anyone and not that many people wear their pants tucked into boots, which I think is the reason for the tapered leg.

I like boot cut or flared the best and will also wear straight leg if I have to but never tapered. I am only 5'3" with very short legs so I end up needing almost everything hemmed. Often petite sizes don't have a long enough rise for me so I need regular pants and then have to pay to get them hemmed.

What not to wear would also tell you to buy for the hardest area to fit & then pay for alterations. Luckily, hemming is an easier (and cheaper ?) alteration than adjusting for hip/waist ration issues. Sometimes I can get away with a just higher heel and skip the hemming.

But I think the only way to be successful, whatever your fit issues might be, is what has been mentioned. Try on thousands of pants, every manufacturer, multiple sizes, and buy as many as you can once you find something that works. Bring a protein bar, a bottle of water, easy to change out of clothes & shoes, and ideally a friend to run back & forth picking up other sizes & styles.

For spring & summer, skirts are also a good idea because they are so much easier to wear.

For spring & summer, skirts are also a good idea because they are so much easier to wear.

Oh I agree! I have a friend that's pretty small on top but has the oversized bottom issue, and on the rare occasions that I see her in a dress I am always stunned by how much smaller she looks.

More sympathy from here! I am not sure shape is the issue. I have been in stores where I find some cute casual trousers and when I take several in to try on, I find that ones labeled the same size don't fit the same, ones that are a size larger may actually be smaller or vice versa, lengths are not consistent, etc. When I check the label, they are invariably made in China (even L.L. Bean merchandise). Very discouraging. One place I can usually find slacks is Talbots. I wish you luck. HA-I wish me luck. I wish all of us luck, actually. Is it any wonder I hate to shop?!

I have good luck with pants at Coldwater Creek and Macys. I hve on a new pair of Anne Klein khaki pants- no pockets- that fit perfectly- even the length from Macys.

I used to love Zafu.com for helping me find jeans that fit my body. Now they charge for their service ($4.95) but there is a trial period that may work for people who haven't signed up before.

Here is a link that might be useful: Find your perfect jeans

Yes, I wear a lot of skirts and sundresses in the summer, but that season is far off for us right now. I'd wear skirts in winter too, but I think "casual" winter skirts are harder to find. Then you get into shoes or boots to wear with the skirts... blah blah.

gold, I think Zafu might be where I originally discovered Lucky jeans. But as I said, I'm all set with jeans. I need regular pants.

hh, in addition to the protein bar and water, I may need a Valium or something as well. I hate trying on pants! (In case you hadn't already guessed.)

Sue - you have my sympathy. I have to try on 20 pairs to find one pair of good fitting pants. It's like trying to find a good fitting bra!

I used to be pear shaped - when I weighed 120 lbs, I had a tiny waist and wide flat hips. The waist band was always too big. At 59 I have put on a "few" pounds and have "filled" out around the waist a little which actually makes it easier to find pants that fit. I actually think the lower waist (slightly below the belly button) makes it easier to fit. JCP's Worthington Modern fit dress pants usually fit me in the short size, Gap use to have a "Curvy" fit in jeans and khakis that fit - don't see them on the web - they may have them in the stores. Don't rule out Old Navy for jeans and khakis - believe it or not, occasionally I can find a normal fitting jean or khaki there. Also check out Columbia and Land's End for casual. And Liz Claiborne.

I have never found anything at Banana Republic - they tend to be sized for the long and lean.

You mentioned Dockers - I have one pair of black twill that fits me perfect. I usually like a boot cut - these are more straight leg (not tapered). The tag says Ideal fit - but I think that is now the Metro fit. I have been looking on line - most of them say they have a tummy panel which I don't think I would like. Will try them on the next time I am in a department store.

I also have a really old pair of Tommy Hilfiger (and I hate Tommy Hilfiger clothes) in a boy-friend cut that I love! They are very faded, no spandex, no flashy logo, just worn cotton - like they use to make jeans!

Good luck!!

Tuesday

I will second what Gray said - Christopher and Banks is a nice place to shop for anyone 30 to 80! Classy - but not too trendy. Their tops tend to run somewhat shorter without being petite. It is so difficult to find a good selection in petite shirts - and for those of us who are short and hippy, a shirt-tail that is too long and grabs across the butt just makes us look larger.

Tuesday

Count me in as a member of the thick thigh/big bottom club too. I agree with the above posters on the Docker's. They are the metro fit or now maybe called Ideal fit. They have a lot of "thigh room" plus a bit of stretch also. Have worn them for years and once I found a few pairs I loved, I went online to Denim Express and ordered more. My original pair came from Kohl's. They wash and wear great and will last you years to come. Plus they have a stain defender as well. I have shopped for years trying to find the right pants and these fit the bill. Good Luck!

Fashion Bug Right Fit. I have a big ass and thighs and can have anywhere between a 2-4 size difference between my top and bottom and these things fit AMAZINGLY. They have 3 different cuts for different body types... "blue" or "curvy" is for my body type. I have their jeans and LOVE LOVE LOVE them. I am plus size and first fell in love with this cut of pants at Lane Bryant but Fashion Bug has sizes down to 2 (owned by the same company). They are pretty long, if I am wearing flats I order petites but if I am wearing a big heavy clog I order average and they are really on the long side still. I can also order a size down because they basically size all of these pants off of the waist measurement and make the hips bigger or smaller from the standard size chart from there.

I have also heard good things about lands end "fit 3" pants (they have 3 different fits as well) which are eased through the hips and thigh.

kgwlisa, I went shopping with my friend with that body type and she found pants that fit her well at Fashion Bug also. So that's a great suggestion. Unfortunately, they have closed their store in our area.

I have the opposite problem being an apple. Whether it be apple or pear one thing we have in common is that we are not proportional people! Some part of the pant needs to stretch wider than the other part. For you that's the hip area and for me it's the waist. The only jeans I buy have 3% spandex in them. Makes a world of difference to have denim with just enough stretch to make them fit while retaining the look of jeans. I like Vanderbilt jeans, they're lighter weight than Levis. You can buy thoses at Kohls and Costco. I cannot wear Levis so I have to go to other brands. Macy's house brand "Style & Co" makes jeans that fit comfortably too, they're heavier than Gloria V's jeans so they look more like Levis.

Try GAP Easy Straights or curvey fit. I am a little pear shaped at the botton. The Easy Straights are the only jean that fits perfect. No waist that sticks out.

You might also want to try out the Lee Comfort Waist pants available at Kohl's. They come in jean and khaki styles; I have them in several colors for "business casual" days.

Christopher Blue brand (makes casual trousers in addition to jeans --- the Ric rise is the key).
Also Ann Taylor CURVY fit.
I am major pear shape and understand your pain. Hard this time of the year when girls with big tummys & little thighs can wear a loose short dress -- not me!

Oh yes, someone else recommended Christopher Blue to me a while ago and I do have a pair of jeans from CB. I have now ordered some pants from Banana Republic, which I have returned, and then ordered some trousers from the Gap, which I'm still waiting for. At the moment, I'm going to wait before I do anything else because I have gained some weight recently and I need to diet before I get any new clothes! But I think a visit to Kohl's is in my future.

Thanks for ALL the suggestions!

This may help someone struggling with pants!

I just received two pairs of Old Navy khakis that I ordered on line and they actually fit me! They are the Perfect Fit (that is the style). Not too skimpy cut for an old lady! I usually wear size 12 or 14 and am 5'3" - sometimes Petites are too short for me. I ordered size 14 Petite after reading the reviews that said they run a little long.

I got the Khaki color and Earl Gray - both good neutral colors.

i have been struggling with the big gap at the waist for past couple of years... i've always had a smallish waist, but for whatever reason, some pants i try on are gapping hugely at the top...i guess because the waistlines have dropped...?

i just bought a couple of pairs of shorts and capri's and did find that dockers definitely fit me petty well- much less gapping. and i actually found a pair of capri's at banana republic that fit really well--can't figure it out!

as for jeans, i still tend to like levi's lower rise/straight/tapered legs--fit my shape well!
also have gap dressier pants-in lower rise, curvy fit which fit really well.

I have a small waist with larger hips and have trouble as well. I just bought some silk drawstring pants from soft surroundings that fit well and are very comfy. I plan on wearing them to work in an office and also on the weekend. They come in a lot of colors.

Here is a link that might be useful: Soft Surroundings

busy bee and anyone else who recommended Gap pants -- thank you! I ordered a pair of dark gray dress pants in the curvy fit and they fit almost perfectly! I'm so happy! I will still need to take in the waist a bit, but not nearly as much as some other pants -- and more importantly, the pants fit my hips/thighs well with no clinging or pulling. Yay! Just wanted to post this for anyone else who's looking for decent dress pants.

Oops -- I was wrong -- the pants I ordered were the Perfect Trouser pants. Nothing says "curvy fit" in the description. I just went back and ordered a second pair!