faiora: I cosign what you say 1000%. I would NEVER have deigned to wear anything but the widest of bell-bottomed jeans and pants. Nope, not even a bootcut would do, because I used to be really top heavy and apple-shaped and hipless with huge thighs and I believed a wider bell-bottom balanced me out. AND I hunted them down and wore them whether they were in style or not. Looking back, I can see how they made me look bigger and less tailored, but that was the style I was confident/comfortable with at the time, so I don't regret it. But I've realized tapered pants actually slim down my profile much more than bell-bottoms ever did PLUS when I wear longer tunic-style or less-fitted tops, I look more balanced. I think it's soooo important to be willing to try different looks irrespective of perceptions.

In answer to the question, for my awkward apple-like, narrow-hipped, flat-bummed, thunder-thighed physique, I always found luck at Lane Bryant. Their Right Fit jeans were the business. I also had luck with Jessica Simpson jeans at Fashion Bug. And in place of tailoring when I had to size pants around my thighs, I usually wore a belt. It's not ideal, but at least it reduces the gapping at the waist AND for the narrow-hipped like me, keeps my pants on my waist.

I agree that it's important to get out of our comfort zone. It's difficult to do, that's why I depend on my one very stylish good friend to tell me how it is. Even when shopping by myself if I find something that fits I take a selfie in the fitting room and text it to her and she replies right away. Sometimes I'm shocked by what she has to say, there are many times that I think something looks good and she thinks it looks awful on me and vice versa. It's easier to buy something when someone else gives you the thumbs up.

I have short legs so I need petite pants. When I go into a store it's either they only sell petite sizes online (so I can't try it on? Great.); they don't sell petite sizes at all; or they only have petite sizes 00-6. Wonderful. Just wonderful. I have to roll up and cuff all my pants. Most of the time it's whatever but certain pants paired with sneakers, it just looks dumb.

Guess is my go-to brand, which I find at Winners (discount store in Canada roughly equivalent to Marshalls). They have many styles with a 34" inseam and hug my generous hips just right.

F.

The last pants I bought were Lee comfort fits and Gloria Vanderbilt pants at Kohl's. I'll probably be out of my 16s soon though, and I have size 14 and 12 pants sitting waiting in my closet to be worn... so I'm good on pants for a while. All my skinny pants are waiting for me, hopefully I will get to wear them again soon!