I am pear shaped, and have tried on probably hundreds of pants/capris trying to find a flattering pair. I am 5 ft 6 in and 140 pds, and need to lose around 10 pounds. I have only had luck with black pants--because I need to lose the weight, nothing else looks okay to me.

That said, I have had luck with Alfani tummy control skinny pants. I am 5ft 6in, and they are perfect length for me, so you would need petite. I wear them with ballet flats, a fitted shirt, and a longish cardigan.

Here are the ones I have:

http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/alfani-tummy-control-rivet-pocket-skinny-pants?ID=1573239&CategoryID=157#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D80%26slotId%3D37%26kws%3Dwomens%20alfani%20pants

For capris--I have:

Style&co. Pull-On Tummy-Control Capri Pants from Macys

http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/style-co.-pull-on-tummy-control-capri-pants?ID=1865642&CategoryID=157#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D1%26slotId%3D1%26kws%3Dstyle%20and%20co%20style&co.%20pull-on%20tummy-control%20capri%20pants
Good luck!

I've found that gloria vanderbilt stuff seems to allow for more a smaller waist/larger hip than other brands. But if it is an issue for you, then I think you'll have to get them altered to fit. Taking in the center back seam is usually not a tough alteration, and you'll be far happier with the result.

I don't wear capris because of my height and my shorter legs. What I suggest though is to take a towel or piece of fabric and stand in front of a full length mirror and lower the towel to the floor. Then gradually raise the towel and see what length works best on you....be sure to look at the side as well as the front. In my experience, there are usually 2 best spots on one's leg for length. In my case it is just below the knee and about 5" above my ankle. In my GFs case, (she's shorter than I) it's about 2" above her ankle and the top of her knee.

Instead of capris, I now where shorts that stop just below my knee in the most flattering spot...I alter them to the right length and it is far more flattering than the std capris ever could be on me.

I have had luck with Old Navy boyfriend skinny. Roomy fit in the hips and thighs and skinny-ish legs. My legs are short in comparison to my height. The pant legs are narrow enough to roll up or down whenever I want to change the look to work with the length of my top or heel height.

The only come in basic colors this year. Last year they were a little more fun. Online they also carry petite. The also look really cheap online but in person they are not as bad.

Eddie Bauer has a curvy fit and a slightky curvy fit that both work well for me.

Not sure if they would work, but have you tried Not Your Daughter's Jeans? They're cut for fuller figures - Macy's has 'em...

http://www.nydj.com/

my waist is also sig smaller than my hips and for past few years, so many pants i try on seem to gap hugely around the waist!! I never had this much of a problem before and don't know if it's because of the lower rise and my waist indents a lot more quickly than others or what.... I am not that much different wt wise than I was 10-20 yrs ago...

anyway, I recently wanted to spruce up some of my pants-- to have some pants/shorts/capris that look alittle nicer than my usual casual stuff... I found that both talbots and ann taylor has a 'curvy' that fits me pretty well... eddie bauer has curvy jeans that fit really nicely but couldn't find other pants there that fit me well...

I would try Loft curvy. Look online as the store usually carries next to nothing in Petites.

I find too that a good taylor is your best friend. I have two. One who works in a dry cleaners and is very expensive. I use him for very good clothing. Then I have a seamstress that works from her front porch. She is very reasonable, but her work isn't as good. I use her for items I might pick up at Marshall's etc.

SueB,

The NYDJ tend to work well for pears shapes, but I think they only make jeans? The key there is the spandex level I think, which allows give where needed but yet lies flat and snug at the waist.

Jones NY has some styles that are nice.

I might also try Chico's "So Slimming Audrey ankle pant". I wasn't interested in them because ankle pants are usually a no no for pears, but for some reason I thought they looked good. And I think they come in several colors.

I have Eddie Bauer curvy fit shorts that fit me perfectly (and in size 8, which of course makes me happy) but the same style in pants does not fit...I don't get it.

I have tried NYDJ and they never have fit me. I don't know why.

Hmm, Chico's. I never shop there because all those prints turn me off, and I have a friend who swears by Chico's but her body type is the opposite of mine, but maybe I should try them.

I do have a great tailor, and when I find something that "fits" I still have to get the waist taken in, and/or the hem taken up. Really makes you think about buying a pair of pants when you automatically have to add $20 to the price for alterations!

Actually, I just ordered a few pairs of different pants from Eddie Bauer since I was looking at a jacket there for our trip. We'll see...

I have found all chico's pants to be big in the waist...

talbots drives me crazy because I really like their curvy fit, but their heritage and signature lines fit me so terribly but that's what they seem to carry the most of!!

We've talked about this before, but it is so disappointing to walk around the stores and see how cheaply made all the clothing is today. Even going to Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's doesn't get you higher quality, just higher prices. DS2 was at a kids event a few weeks ago so I had a few hours to kill and walked around a higher end mall. I was happy to pay whatever price for a well made product ... I found nothing. I now have the disposable income for clothing, but find nothing worth buying.

Sad that the younger women today have no idea what lined pants, skirts and jackets look like.

I forgot--yes, I did find a pair at Loft--but I decided to wait until I had lost a few pounds.

I totally agree, Chispa. The other unfortunate thing is that years ago, you could buy clothes that were actually well fitted to specific body types. Today, in an effort to make things that can work for everybody, they have taken a lot of the shape out of clothing. So while technically more people can wear a particular item, it fits nobody really well.

Don't have any suggestions for clothing, but my DD/SIL went to Iceland the year before last and said it was amazing. They stayed in local apartments that are rented out and loved the entire experience. They also got some of the most gorgeous pictures too.

Sue - I remember that you just recently turned 50. Give yourself another ten years and your waist line will even out with your hips a little bit more :). Ask me how I know. I have the same problem, but it is not as bad as it used to be - jeans were a nightmare to buy.

I found some casual/slightly dressy khakis at Old Navy several years ago (Perfect Fit) but they quit making them. I bought 4 colors (tan, light gray, taupe, and black); I can dress them up or down.

JCP Worthington dress slacks (Modern FIt) fits me well. They are very reasonably priced, wash and dry well, some are polyester, some are a blend. Even though they look like "office dress" they do have some that could be dressy casual (tweeds, etc). JCP Worthington Some are not as "frumpy" as others.

I almost forgot the Old Navy Linen Blend with yoga style fold over waist. They are AWESOME for casual. I have the white and want a pair of khaki colored ones. Don't be discouraged by the wide legs - they flow very nicely. They look cute with flat sandals and cute little casual tops or can be dressed up (going out to eat look) with a nicer linen/cotton shirt type top. Nice travelling slacks.

Talbots curvy works for me. Cracking up about Tuesday 's comment about your waist catching up with your hips. Mine sure did. Also, Not Your Mothers Jeans fit those with hips, at least the boot cut does.

Sue, try Chico's "so lifting" and "so slimming". Chico's has a nice selection and are stylish, high quality, and once you find your size you can order online. I LOVE NYDJ-both the black jeans and black capris.

I'm laughing about the waist comment too but sorry, also laughing at your reference to Not Your Mother's Jeans too, Ded! I actually googled to see if there was a new brand with that name. I tried NYDJ a couple years ago and found them very snug in the thighs. I mean, I have some serious thighs. Sigh.

Definitely going into a Chico's store to look at pants next time I see one!

I'm ordering those linen pants from Old Navy!

Oops! Daughters. LOL.

Before you place your Old Navy order, check out their Pixie Ankle Pants. I just bought a pair and they are some kind of miracle. The pockets are not on the sides, so they don't gap out. The stretch is nice and they fit at the waist and hips. On 5' me, the regular aren't ankle length, they're normal pant length and it works fine, but they do offer petite online. At the store, sizes 6-12 were all sold out in the color I wanted, which to me, is always a very good sign that they fit and flatter a lot of people.

Edit to add: I'm a petite pear too, but an athletic one, which may explain why these pants work so well for my shape.

Ooh I love the Pixie ankle pants! I just bought some and want to get a couple more, because they fit well, are comfortable, and cheap!! But I am a definite apple shape, so I don't know if they'd work for Sue.

Sue, my BFF is a pear, about my height (5'4") and we always shop together. She buys all her pants from either Ann Taylor Petites, Express (Editor style), or Club Monaco. She likes Tahari for dressier pants.

I love the pixie prints but they do not look good on my pear shaped behind.

I struggle with casual pants. I wear lots of jeans...like 90% of the time...dress jeans, casual jeans, black jeans, jean shorts, etc. Then I have trousers...back in the day when Geoffrey Beene had outlets and women's clothing, I was able to walk into all his pants for a perfect fit so I bought multiples. Alas, his store is no more. But I find that khakis are uncomfortable and don't fit well. They always feel "confining" to me...the fabric is too stiff or the waist too high or something...so I have a pair and it stays in the closet.

I have to be really careful about how tapered the pant leg is or I look like an ice cream cone with all emphasis on the butt.

For our upcoming vacation, I would love to get the crinkle cotton pull-on pants as they were soooo comfortable, but they are really hard to find. Maybe I need to fire up the old sewing machine....

Annie, have you looked at JJIll? I used to be more of a fan, but not so much lately. However, last year, while planning my trip to Italy, I bought a few pairs of pants there.(Actually online as the petite section in store is limited) I bought black slacks and khakis but they have the other alternatives there too.

jlc I would love to be able to wear pixi pants, but my hips, saddle bags, and thighs would look 3 times as big! I have to have a little bit of relaxation/looseness through the thigh to de-emphasize.......sigh...... I can't wear skinny leg jeans either.

Thx ellendi...my GFs used to rave about it, but I've tried them and been unhappy with the fit and the style. I know they have changed significantly too lately. My GFs have been less satisfied than they were.

Annie - please, you are too young for pull-on crinkle pants. Seriously. I just bought my 98 year old grandmother a few pair.
I rarely wear jeans in the summer, other than a pair or two. Lighter weight, shorter, etc. I did buy a new pair recently - the cropped length that you can turn up. Jeans are too hot for me this time of year. I love capris - has to be a certain length - not too short but LOVE cropped pants. Mostly like a straight cut - not tight but fitted through seat/hips/thighs. Love linen pants, light weight cottons, rayon - but rayon is harder to find. I wore a pair of flowy ankle ants this weekend to a wedding with outside reception. The legs got wider towards the bottom of the leg so they were still somewhat fitted at top. Wore a dressy top and fab necklace and high wedges - got several compliments. I think even short people (I'm 5'2) can wear capris/cropped, etc. but you have to find the length that is flattering for you. And the width of leg. That might mean alot of trying on - which I hate. LOL

I find that boot cut jeans somehow even out my saddle bags. Straight legs make me look like a wedge or a V. It really accentuates my problem area, which now that I think about it, is my entire body. The one label I cannot wear at all is Calvin Klein. They are made for women with no butt and a fat belly, I swear.

tinam, I had a couple of pairs of those crinkle things when I was young...like 20... and I loved them...easy to wear and cool and comfy. I know that they are granny pants, but if they work, why not?

I find myself wearing more of the summer knit dresses for cool and comfy as the weather gets warmer.

My ONLY pants are jeans...mostly all NYDJ brand. They fit me very well. I would love to own a pair of khakis or black dress pants. I just cannot find pants that fit.

I have long legs (34 inch I seam), no butt, and wear a 4 or 6. Most dress pants are ridiculously baggy in the thighs and butt. I especially dislike Talbot's fit. It seems to me that they make their clothing extra big....a size 8 today would have been a 12 years ago.

"I know that they are granny pants, but if they work, why not?" If they work for you Annie and you don't mind how they look, then by all means, have at it!

talk about making their clothes big... I was in WHBM trying on dresses a few months ago and found their things really run big!! I think they are trying to make women feel good, but the sizing is crazy-- i will not buy clothes on line unless I know a store or brand unless they have free shipping for returns too!!

Haha - like grapefruit1, I seem to have the opposite prob to the 1 being discussed here - not a lot of difference between my waist & hips, but I am not tall & have a short waist to boot. I guess I'm an apple. I would love to find something besides jeans that fit me properly & flatter my figure - it's hard!

So true about ready to wear being difficult - hardly anybody has the perfect figure & I heard that a number of companies are getting away from numbered sizing altogether & just going w/ S/M/L/XL. I know some are already doing that...