I love the fit of vintage clothes, that high street brands rarely match. Trousers that fit snug on the waist but actually fit over my hips are difficult to find.

Grace Kelly in patterned pedal pushers

Grace Kelly in jeans

Audrey Hepburn in striped cropped trousers

Audrey Hepburn in black cropped trousers

See how nicely Fifties trousers fit, and you’ll be glad to know there are replica vintage brands that fill the need. For example, Collectif, Bernie Dexter, Pinup Girl Clothing, Heyday and Vivien of Holloway.

Marilyn in checked trousers

Marilyn in cigarette pants

Marilyn in striped pedal pushers

However, the price tag isn’t always level with the high street because of the work that goes into shaping. Still, they may not match the difference between your waist and hips as they have to size ready-to-wear with an ‘average’ difference. Vintage clothing generally gives a 10″ difference between hips and waist for an hourglass figure, or 12″ appears on my vintage patterns. Let me know if you’re lucky enough to find high waisted trousers with this difference in a high street brand!

Casual

Vivien of Holloway jeans

Channelling Mrs Peel

I love my replica vintage ladies jeans from Vivien of Holloway. The fit is perfect at the waist and over my hips. This makes them so comfortable, as they just stay put, and don’t require me pulling them up as they stretch. The leg is pretty much a classic straight cut and and the seams don’t twist. The belt loops are fairly big, over an inch, so a belt can be worn. They were sold as rolled up jeans, but i do unroll mine and they come to my ankles. I’m 5’2″, so no supermodel. I guess if you have long legs, they’d be 7/8th length? Still perfect pin up jeans, good with flats or heels, a really flattering fit with a slight stretch to the fabric.

The other trousers I love wearing because they fit well, are a pair I made from a vintage replica sewing pattern.  I bought some black and white gingham for making Miss Winter’s skirt The Assassination Bureau, and had plenty left over for making a pair of cropped trousers inspired by Marilyn Monroe.

My gingham check trousers

Marilyn Monroe wearing her checked trousers

From Marilyn Monroe’s estate

My gingham cropped trousers

A friend asked me to make her a pair, and here she is channelling Audrey Hepburn, modelling them.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Photo credit: Gina Walbridge

Here’s what to wear with vintage style trousers;

• A lightweight knit with heels like Marilyn
• Boat neck top and ballet flats like Audrey
• Shirt and loafers like Grace

Notice the details too;

• The decorated flats Audrey wears or the laces on Grace’s flats
• a scarf as a belt
• The variety of patterns used for the trousers, while keeping the top plain.

How do you wear yours?