The Perfect Trousers: Maria Grachvogel

Women of any age are always on the hunt for the perfect pair of trousers, but as we get older, the hunt for a great fit becomes almost a holy grail. Extra layers of fat, less than beautiful thighs and thickened waistlines all bring additional challenges. So when The Women’s Room recently discovered the Perfect Pair, we almost whooped with joy.

The Perfect Pair come from the designer Maria Grachvogel, a name that many of us will have passed over as a designer of hardly-there evening dresses for stick-sized women (she dresses many an actress for the red carpet). But this would be very wrong. It was at her Salon Privé show for the SS09 range that she told us about her ‘Magic Pants’ and their extraordinary ability to make nearly everyone’s bottoms look better.

The trousers, which she recommends getting in the lovely satin backed crepe to start with- a fabric that is both glamorous and comfortable at the same time, are cleverly cut with no side seam at all. Instead Maria, who has spent years perfecting her cutting skills to work with women’s curves rather than against them, almost wraps the fabric around the leg, which makes the fit incredibly flattering and feminine. As proof of their transformational skills, both Maria (who is in her late 30s and a good size 12) and her business partner Eva, (ditto and a curvy size 16) stood up to demonstrated the pairs they were wearing. Both looked fabulous.

So in the name of research, The Women’s Room headed down to Maria’s chic Sloane Street store and tried them out. The staff picked the Palazzo leg, which is softly flared, over the skinny (too challenging) or the wide leg (lovely but definitely evening only) as a ‘first pair’ and they didn’t disappoint. The fabric is soft against the skin and the cut really feels elegant and sexy but totally practical.

The trousers also come in a lined wool crepe, although these had sold out in mid October, as had the navy, but the they are stocked every season. Apparently Maria’s regular customers have pairs in both long length, to wear with heels at night, and a short pair to wear during the day with flats.

At £395 a pair they are investment dressing, but if you were to do the cost=value/times you wear them equation, they’re as cheap as chips. Start saving, they may change your life.

 

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