comfy pants I can wear in public?

July 9, 2010 11:31 AM

I need pants.

Specifically, nicer pants than what I have, but I have some physical restrictions.

I am female, in my early 40s. Following several years of repeated abdominal surgeries, my belly is bulging and very, very sensitive. It's been nearly a year since my last surgery, and it seems as if this sensitivity is here to stay, at least for the forseeable future. I can no longer wear jeans, or anything with a button or a fly. I'm limited to soft, elastic waistbands.

It's easy enough around the house to wear jammies or sweats, but I need to dress business casual for work, and I like to dress a little nice to go out sometimes. For the past few years I've been wearing yoga pants, which are a step up from sweats, in that they are not as loose and can almost pass as real pants.

But I want something that looks a bit nicer; something that has a lot of give at the top, but will fit more snugly in the bum area. I'd love to be able to wear jeans again as well, but I've pretty much given up hope on that.

Should I be looking at maternity pants?? Do they look very obviously like maternity pants when you wear them? I don't want people congratulating me! I generally wear tops that mostly cover the area, and as much as possible I want to hide the buddha belly, not make it look like a bun in the oven.

Any ideas? Please advise :)

posted by Koko to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (14 answers total)

Maybe try low-rise pants? If you are short or have a short torso, these will work especially well. Because low-rise pants sit on the hips, the "waists" are much wider. You may need to wear looser shirts though, cause your tummy will be freer. I personally really like Lucky Brand jeans...they are very soft and stretch out through wear, but bounce right back after washing. They also have a huge range of low-rise styles. Nordstrom Rack tends to sell them waaaay cheaper than the mall store or other places.
posted by iamkimiam at 11:45 AM on July 9, 2010

I think the right maternity wear might work for you. For jeans, especially, I think that would work. Maternity jeans often have a soft panel built in that replaces the front waistband/closure mechanism. (I know that people also have their regular jeans altered, having a seamstress or tailor replace the button and part of the fly with a similar soft panel.) I'm not sure how sensitive your abdomen is -- can you tolerate enough to try on pants to make sure they fit in other places? If you can, you make sure you get a good pair of jeans that fit your rear and thighs well, and then have a tailor adjust the front and waistband so you can wear them.

Another possible option (though they are less common right now) are side zip pants, which would move the zipper and button to the side; if you find the waistband is still too snug against your abdomen, you can have a tailor replace the front waistband with a soft elastic panel.

The only thing about maternity pants is that they are often cut more generously through the hips and waist, so they might look a bit more "you're expecting!" than you want. I honestly think your best bet is to find a good tailor -- ask around for recommendations -- and go in and explain what the issue is and see if he or she can alter off-the-rack pants for you.
posted by devinemissk at 11:51 AM on July 9, 2010

What about linen drawstring pants? They're comfortable and hide a multitude of sins, but have a much more polished look than yoga pants. Tons of people make them at Etsy, and I've seen some nice ones at Target (online, not sure if you can order from Canada though), in colors like watermelon, pistachio, black, white. Several sellers at Etsy will custom make them for you if you provide your measurements, like this one and this one. That way you could get them more fitted in the bum, yet still looser where you liked them.
posted by iconomy at 11:51 AM on July 9, 2010

Here's a tutorial on creating your own maternity jeans -- you can see the idea here. I'd still recommend having a tailor do this for you (especially if you're not crafty or an experience sewist) -- you won't be wearing these jeans or pants for just a few months but (hopefully) for a while, so you want the alteration to hold up.
posted by devinemissk at 11:53 AM on July 9, 2010

I know nothing of slacks for women, but several brands for men (Dockers, Haggar, etc) make "comfort waist" dress slacks and khakis. These have either a button, or the usual (whatever you call that metal slidey-hook thing) closure, but with hidden elastic panels sewn into the waist. I love these slacks, because they are "real" dress slacks, but with just enough give in the waist to make them oh-so comfortable. If I get a 34" waist it's too tight, a 36" is a shade on the loose side, but a 34" with the comfort waist is perfect. The elastic is totally inconspicuous too, it's not a wrinkly waistband like sweats would have.
posted by xedrik at 11:54 AM on July 9, 2010

Forgive me if this is totally not helpful, but why wear pants? It's so much easier to find skirts and dresses that will accommodate a belly in a flattering way.
posted by desuetude at 12:08 PM on July 9, 2010

Response by poster: I hadn't really thought of going to a tailor ... it seems like a reasonable option, although I'd prefer to find something ready-made.

iamkimiam: I'm afraid low-rise jeans hit me right where it hurts :)

iconomy: Two problems with linen drawstring pants: 1) drawstring creates bunchiness around the waist, and I don't need any added bulk in that area, and 2) linen is so very, very wrinkly. I love the fabric, but I look like a bum in it.

desuetude: Yeah, I've never been a skirt or dress wearer. Otherwise that would be the perfect solution.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, keep 'em coming!
posted by Koko at 12:22 PM on July 9, 2010

Check out J. Jill's Wearever Collection. I have two of the pants from that line, and they are super comfortable, pull on, without hugging around the waist. They are easy to dress up or down.

Land's End has some pants with the "comfort waist" that xendrik talks about. Some are hidden, some are fully elastic.
posted by xsquared-1 at 12:22 PM on July 9, 2010

Palazzo pants? I know nothing of that particular store, but they have pull-on, folded waist pants that I suspect would be comfortable. Have you looked at split skirts? They're really shorts, but dressier.
posted by kellyblah at 12:43 PM on July 9, 2010

I was never much of a skirt wearer myself, they felt too fussy and girly, so I practically lived in my jeans. But I've realized in the past few years that skirts are an absolute dream for skimming over a bulging belly. I find them far more flattering and comfortable than pants, especially jeans, which tend to bind at the waist, create muffin-tops out of (not so) thin air, and highlight rather than hide the tummy.

There are lots of different skirt styles and shapes to choose from and I guarantee at least a few will fit right in with your current style, whatever it may be. Don't dismiss skirts out of hand - they may be just the thing you're looking for!
posted by platinum at 12:44 PM on July 9, 2010

Most of my dress pants have a hidden side zipper with a simple hook and eye at the top. Look for the flat front ones that have no waistband or belt loops, in my experience those are the ones that have a zipper on the side or the back. I think it's to create a smoother front panel. The tops of the pants are very similar to some of my skirts.
posted by TooFewShoes at 1:05 PM on July 9, 2010

I have a pair of capris that are a woven fabric but have a knit waistband with wide elastic. They are really comfortable. These are not the pants I have, and they are linen, but they will give you an idea of what I mean.
posted by cabingirl at 1:06 PM on July 9, 2010

I think the maternity panel could be a great idea, with one caveat - depending on the size of your tummy, the panel might be too big and may look slouchy or not stay up well. (Tailoring might fix this.) I know the full-panel pants didn't fit quite right until several months into my pregnancy, but they were super comfy and not at all constricting. If you go that route, I liked a pair of pants I found at Target... I'm not 100% sure these are the ones but I think they might be.

I actually think your best bet would be maternity pants marketed for the first/second trimester, as they typically look the most like normal pants but have a stretchy waistband (no buttons!). I got a lot of mileage out of these Old Navy ones and I feel like they look pretty close to "normal jeans."

In terms of non-jean-pants, I had a pair of these twill pants which were also pretty comfy. Look for the terms "Real Waist," as that indicates they will be low-rise but stretchy and without a panel. I think those could easily work in an office environment, and paired with a cute top could totally work for going out.
posted by meggan at 1:37 PM on July 9, 2010

The two stores I would suggest would be Chicos and J Jill. They both sell pants with elastic waists and Chicos has plenty of side zip pants which generally have the "no waistband" look.

I would suggest tyring a skirt. I have a problem with chub rub so I use anti-chaffing stuff (Body Glide or just plain ol' antipersperant) or pettipants. You'll find a LOT more skirts with an elastic waist than pants.
posted by vespabelle at 3:23 PM on July 9, 2010