(Photo: Glenn Glasser)Like a great office mate, the ideal pair of work pants is dependable, versatile, and always professional. Find the one that suits you best. If You Have Full Hips and Thighs
Look for: Minimizing darks and structured fabrics, like tropical wool, which downplay curves. Stretch makes them even more forgiving. Straight or wide legs are best. But if you want a narrow cut, skip the super-pegged legs and choose a pair with a little width at the hem to offset hips.
Avoid: Pleats (of course). Watch out for vertical pockets that lie along the side seams: They stick out, making hips look wider.
Pair them with: A nipped-in jacket or a tucked-in top to highlight a small waist. Look for a feminine cut that fits curves. Also important? “Heels, heels, heels,” says Kim Naci, a stylist and the owner of Sass New York, a personal styling service.
To buy: True Royal cotton-and-wool pants, $429, 877-746-7267. CH Carolina Herrera blouse. Banana Republic belt. Freelook watch. Kara Ackerman ring. Nine West pumps.
(Photo: John Lawton)
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To buy: Loft polyester-blend pants (also in petite sizes), $69.50, loft.com.
(See also: Best dresses for your 20s, 30s, 40s)
(Photo: John Lawton)For Full Hips and Thighs
To buy: Jones New York polyester-blend pants, $119, Macy’s, 800-289-6229.
(Photo: John Lawton)
For Full Hips and Thighs
To buy: True Royal Colorblock cotton-and-wool pants, $421, shopbop.com.
(Photo: John Lawton)If You Have a Tummy
Look for: Fabrics that contain about 2 percent spandex, to prevent the pants from digging in or stretching out. Straight or flared shapes create the illusion of an hourglass figure. But if you have slim legs, you can pull off a tapered cut. A plain, wide waistband that’s cut straight up and down (like the band on men’s pants) fits a thick middle well.
Avoid: Low- or high-rise styles. Also steer clear of pooch-puffing pleats and side-zip waists.
Pair them with: “An untucked top to elongate and slim the midsection,” says Mary Lou Andre, the founder of Organization by Design, an image-consulting firm in Needham, Massachusetts. Then add a long, draped scarf to further distract from the tummy.
To buy: Banana Republic viscose-blend pants (also in tall sizes), $90, 888-277-8953.
