The Ultimate Guide to Trousers: Styles, Body Shapes, Best Brands & Where to Shop

Trousers are a wardrobe essential with endless variation—offering structure, versatility, and style year-round. But with so many cuts, fabrics, and fits on the market, finding the right pair for your body shape can be a challenge. Whether you're dressing for work, travel, or everyday comfort, the right trousers can elevate your entire outfit and improve how you feel in your clothes.

This detailed guide covers the key styles of trousers, how to shop based on your body shape, and which high street and designer brands offer the best value. Plus, we’ll show you how Tellar.co.uk removes all the sizing guesswork by matching your exact measurements to over 1,500 brands in real time.

🔍 Understanding Trouser Styles: A Technical Breakdown

1. Straight-Leg Trousers

Cut: Falls straight from the hip down, with no taper or flare.
Ideal For: Most body types, especially hourglass and apple shapes.
Styling Tip: Great for workwear—pair with blazers or tucked shirts.

2. Wide-Leg Trousers

Cut: Looser from the hip down, often flaring out at the hem.
Ideal For: Pear, rectangle, and tall body shapes.
Styling Tip: Opt for high-waisted cuts to elongate legs and cinch the waist.

3. Tapered Trousers

Cut: Roomy at the thigh, narrowing at the ankle.
Ideal For: Hourglass, apple, and athletic builds.
Styling Tip: Pair with heels or boots to balance the ankle taper.

4. Cigarette Trousers

Cut: Slim fit with a cropped ankle, tailored throughout.
Ideal For: Petite and hourglass shapes.
Styling Tip: Works well with loafers or ballet flats; ideal for office and casualwear.

5. Palazzo Pants

Cut: Ultra-wide, flowing leg—usually high-waisted.
Ideal For: Tall, pear, and rectangle body shapes.
Styling Tip: Balance volume with a fitted top or crop blouse.

6. Bootcut Trousers

Cut: Slight flare from the knee, originally designed to accommodate boots.
Ideal For: Hourglass and pear-shaped figures.
Styling Tip: Great for elongating the leg—pair with pointed shoes.

7. Paperbag Waist Trousers

Cut: High waist with gathered or cinched detail and a tie belt.
Ideal For: Straight, athletic, or rectangular shapes.
Styling Tip: Tuck in tops to highlight the waist definition.

8. Cargo or Utility Trousers

Cut: Relaxed fit with large side pockets; often made from cotton or canvas.
Ideal For: Rectangle and athletic shapes.
Styling Tip: Dress them up with a tailored blazer and sleek accessories.

👖 How to Shop for Your Body Shape

🔸 Hourglass

Look for high-waisted trousers with stretch and structure.
Avoid overly wide or low-rise fits that disrupt proportions.

🔸 Pear Shape

Balance your lower half with wide-leg or straight-leg styles.
Avoid skinny fits unless paired with volume on top.

🔸 Apple Shape

Mid-rise tapered or straight-leg trousers work well.
Look for elasticated or soft waistbands that don’t dig in.

🔸 Rectangle

Create curves with paperbag waists, pleats, and flares.
Add belts or embellishment at the waist to define shape.

🔸 Petite

Opt for cigarette, cropped, or tailored fits to avoid being overwhelmed.
Look for brands with dedicated petite sizing.

🔸 Tall

Wide-leg, palazzo, or bootcut styles elongate naturally.
Choose brands that offer longer inseams to avoid ankle rise.

🛍️ Best High Street & Designer Brands for Trousers

High Street Options

These brands blend accessibility with updated fits across UK sizes:

M&S – Affordable, classic styles including wide-leg and tapered trousers. Available in petite and long lengths.
Zara – Trend-led styles including high-waisted wide-legs and cropped tailoring. Fit can vary by fabric.
River Island – Structured cigarette and wide-leg trousers with stretch.
Next – Reliable everyday trousers, with great options in petite, regular and tall.
Arket – Minimalist tailoring, including wool and cotton blends, perfect for workwear.

Designer Options

For elevated fabrics and long-term wardrobe staples:

Reiss – Known for polished tailoring and timeless workwear trousers.
ME+EM – Luxury styles with smart construction, ideal for hourglass and professional wardrobes.
Totême – Scandinavian brand with modern silhouettes and sustainable practices.
The Row – Iconic for elegant, high-end minimalist trousers in luxe fabrics.
Max Mara – Exceptional quality, often in soft virgin wool or silk blends with superior drape.

🧠 Smart Sizing with Tellar.co.uk

Sizing varies wildly across brands—even within the same store. That’s where Tellar.co.uk steps in. It’s the UK’s leading free sizing tool, matching your exact measurements to sizing data from over 1,500 fashion brands, both high street and designer.

No more deciphering confusing charts or returning ill-fitting trousers.

How It Works:

Measure Once – Enter your bust, waist, and hip measurements or use your best-fitting size in a known brand.
Use the Store Size Lookup – Get your correct size instantly in brands like COS, Reiss, Arket, Zara, ME+EM and more.
Shop Smarter – Know your best size before you buy. Enjoy fewer returns and better-fitting outfits.
Explore the Fashion Hub – Thousands of unbiased, honest, independent posts help you choose the best brands and styles for your body.

No downloads. No bias. Always free.

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Tellar.co.uk is your smart shopping sidekick—whether you're curating workwear trousers, finding wide-leg jeans, or discovering the best cuts for your shape. With verified fit data and free style advice, it's your shortcut to confidence and comfort—one leg at a time.

Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s free & easy.