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How to Fit pants after Menopause to apple shape

user-7686206 | Posted in Fitting on

I am no longer an hour glass figure. Menopause left me with a round belly, where my waist is now bigger than my hips.  I’d say that Im now an apple shape. I am constantly pulling my pants up. All pants slide down below my hip bones even with a belt.  Elastic waist bands slide down,  too. I’ve tried the pants with a tummy tamer elastic panel and they still slide down.  Any suggestions on how to fit a pants pattern for an apple body?

Replies

  1. user-991519 | | #1

    I have the same problem. I actually had a professional sewing teacher give up. She told me to wear suspenders.
    Someone please help.

  2. sewinglady | | #2

    Try wearing your pants front to back. If this improves the fit you then know that you need a longer crotch length in the front, from waist to inseam, to go over our "menopause middle" (I have it too) and a shorter length in the back as the seat area is flatter. The pattern can be adjusted before cutting out the pants. It works for me.

  3. user-2578864 | | #3

    Perhaps you could try contacting Petite Plus Patterns. I think they draft for an apple figure (but please check before purchasing). There are several tutorials on their site for alterations – there's not one for apple shape in terms of lower body fitting, but maybe if you ask they might look at creating one. I contacted them once with a question on behalf of a friend and got a very nice reply.

    https://petitepluspatterns.com

    Also Cashmerette Patterns have a couple of patterns with an option for apple shape figures.

    Finally I wonder if this is covered in "Fit for real people". I don't have a copy to check. Suggest borrowing it from the libaray.

  4. user-2578864 | | #4

    By the way, I realise you may not be petite or plus sized, but as these pattern lines mention accommodating apple figures I thought I'd point them out.

  5. User avater
    fitsewbeautiful | | #5

    Have you tried Pants for Real People, by Pati Palmer and Marta Alto? They have models in the book who are apple shaped; the solutions might be instructional for you. I'm curious, though: when you place an elastic band around your body, in the location where you would find a waistband to be comfortable, does the elastic band itself stay in place? By this I mean, is it the fit of the pants that are causing them to pull off your body, or is that your desired waistband location is not shaped in a way that will allow the waistband to stay put? If it is the former, there's a fitting issue with the pants, but if if it is the latter, your comfort might dictate pants alternatives without waistbands, such as overalls, jumpsuits, and unitards.

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