The good pant guide

The ideal pair of jeans is no longer a myth

Pants — be it jeans, tights, cotton pyjamas or any other form of bottoms — are usually the most casual and comfortable part of your attire. But don’t let their simplicity fool you! It is important to wear the right kind of pants to compliment your top and accessories and give your outfit the look you are aiming for. Whether you prefer to match your bottoms according to colour, style or length, you must remember that dressing according to your body type is as important as dressing up itself. Your bottoms may flatter your shirt perfectly but if they are too small or too large, not only can your outfit go to waste but you can also appear uncomfortable and tacky.

Fortunately, we have compiled this list to help you find the right pair of pants to flatter your shape and bring out the best in your body.

SOURCE: SHEKNOWS.COM

1) Pear-shaped people: The main characteristic of this body type is that the lower body is usually larger than the upper half. In other words, pear-shaped people have hips that are wider than their shoulders, resulting in a prominent and rounded lower half and a well-defined waist.



What to wear? Short pants and regular skinny jeans are the ideal pants for you! Although skinnies were originally designed for tall women to flaunt their legs, their snug fit can tone down your curves and make you appear smaller. Short-length skinnies are great for short, pear-shaped women as they don’t roll up around the ankles like a chooridaar pyjama.

2) Hourglass hips: Similar to an hourglass, you top and bottom are of similar or equal proportions, set off by a narrow waistline. If this sounds like you, then you have the curves to die for!



What to wear? Flaunt your naturally curvaceous figure with slim-cut and straight-legged, fitted bottoms in solid colours like black or dark blue. If you like the look of casual ripped jeans then make sure that the rip isn’t too high up your leg lest your thigh pops out.

3) Apple apparel: Imagine an apple and notice how it is bigger on top. As you move down, the sides of the apple curve inwards into a narrow base which seems to be supporting the weight of the top. This is exactly what an apple-shaped form looks like! Most of their weight accumulates above the hips as a result of which, the lower half of their bodies’ remains slim. The broader upper half and narrow bottom must be balanced out to lest they look disproportionate.



What to wear? To tame the love-handles (the bulging fat deposits around your waist), it is advisable for you to wear fitted pants with high waists to appear slimmer and smarter. Make sure that the high waist doesn’t come up all the way to your ribcage as that will not only make you look old-fashioned but also uncomfortable. Apple-shaped people should also try and go for dark-coloured tops as these slim the body down. A slimmer top will compliment a narrow bottom perfectly!

4) Rectangular, banana bottoms: These lucky people are of equal proportions from top to bottom with a waist, hip and shoulders of similar width, usually on the slender side.



What to wear?  The best part about banana-shaped people is that they are generally tall and straight-figured, making it easy for them to experiment with bolder or lighter colours without worrying about looking over-the-top. Your body may lack the necessary curves to fill out skinny jean but details like back pockets, embellishments, prints and bold designs can enhance the look of your lower half, creating the illusion of curves.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, November 16^th, 2014.