I always struggled to find flattering trousers with my pancake bum – then I got the best summer pair in Primark for £10
Thanks to my size 12, 5ft 6in frame, buying trousers often ends up with plenty of huffs and puffs in high street changing rooms, with endless clothes that are either too long or too short, as well as being far too baggy on my behind.
9
Here, I, Abby Wilson, put eight pairs of trousers to the test, on a mission to find the perfect pair for summer.
And with the weather hopefully heating up soon, I was desperate to find trousers that are not only stylish and bloat-friendly, but lightweight and suitable for warm days too.
So if you're wondering which pair of trousers you should buy and which are best left on the shelf, you'll need to read on and take notes.
Next Pink Wide Leg Pull On Striped Trousers, £26
After seeing these Pink Wide Leg Pull On Striped Trousers as soon as I walked into Next, they instantly caught my eye and I was excited to get my hands on them.
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At £26, they aren't the cheapest pair available, but when you feel the quality of them, the price tag will make perfect sense.
Yes, they might look like pyjama bottoms but thankfully, they don't make my pancake bum look even flatter than it already is thanks to the flattering stripe design.
They're bound to turn heads and the elasticated waistband gets a thumbs up from me.
My rating: 8/10
Next Blue/White Textured Gingham Wide Leg Trousers, £26
If you're looking for a pair of trousers that will feel as comfortable as your favourite PJ bottoms, look no further.
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I'm undecided if I'm brave enough to wear these Textured Gingham Wide Leg Trousers out of the house, but where length is concerned, they're a great fit.
Fashion fans 'need' Primark's new £14 linen trousers - there's two colours to choose from and they're great for spring
They're a really flattering style and yes, they're super casual and surprisingly, I'm a fan.
I can't say they do any favours for my flat derrière, but from the front, I'm impressed.
My rating: 6/10
New Look Cream Stripe Print Wide Leg Trousers, £29.99
Finding trousers fit for the beach has often been a struggle for me, and it appears that I'll need to continue my search after trying on this New Look pair.
9
Much to my disappointment, these Cream Stripe Print Wide Leg Trousers are too short.
And to top things off, they don't have pockets, which is a real bugbear of mine.
If that wasn't bad enough, at just under £30, they're pretty expensive, so unfortunately don't get my seal of approval this season.
My rating: 3/10
New Look Rust Crinkle Texture Wide Leg Trousers, £29.99
Things looked up for New Look with this pair of Crinkle Texture Wide Leg Trousers, as I'm a huge fan of the colour and the length is perfect.
9
But like the previous pair, they don't have pockets, which is a big letdown.
And that's not all - they also crease easily, which is less than ideal.
If you don't mind working up a sweat and doing the ironing on holiday then these could be good for you, but for me, I'll unfortunately have to pass.
My rating: 5/10
Hottest fashion trends of 2025
Fabulous' Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend shares the biggest trends from the high street.
The East/West Bag
Baguette bags have had a good run, after returning from the 1990s' shoulders of Sarah Jessica Parker to modern-day fashion icons, like Hailey Bieber.
In 2025, the East/West bag is a similar but elongated shape and has long, thin straps that are easy to throw over your shoulder.
They've been on runway models' arms at nearly ever designer show - think Burberry, Givenchy and Bottega Veneta - and are hitting the high street now, too.
Powder pink
Bright fuchsia pink had its day after the release of Barbie in 2023 and now the more polished and expensive-looking pale shade is taking over for 2025.
Pantone may say that it's the year of Mocha Mousse, but the catwalks say otherwise! From Prada to Erdem, the subtle look was all over the spring/summer catwalks, worn head-to-toe or on its own.
If the sugary shade is too girly for you, then look to sharp suiting for a androgynous take on the colour.
The shell jacket
The '80s classic is back, but with a sleek and minimal new twist for 2025.
We all know we're likely to see rain for most of spring, so your practical coat of choice should be a cagoule jacket.
Depop revealed one of its big trend predictions for this year is retro sportswear, with surges already seen in '80s windbreakers'.
Seen everywhere from the stylish streets of Copenhagen to the Miu Miu catwalk, now mums who have an emergency raincoat crumpled underneath their pushchair are very much in fashion!
The turn-up jeans
While the shape of jeans remains the same for this year and barrel-legs will still be everywhere, the way we're styling them is different.
This season, transform your wide-leg, baggy denims into turn-ups.
For this look, size doesn't matter, so while deep turn-ups are a hit from jean trend-leaders Citizens of Humanity, a slight fold is still just as good - but only as it's just one single fold.
Peep-toe shoe
Get your pedicures booked in sharpish, as this season your toes are the main event.
After a long hiatus, the peep-toe has been welcomed back into the fashion fold, with brands like Hermes, Miu Miu and Tory Burch showing plain and embellished footwear in this style.
From mules to pumps and clogs (yes, clogs will be around too!), there are lots of different styles that are set to sweep the high street.
Sheer blouses
See-through looks have always lived on the catwalk, but have rarely filtered into everyday life - until now.
Designers Ralph Lauren and Tom Ford loved sheer looks on their S/S '25 catwalks and M&S even had sellout success with its black sheer pencil skirt last season.
Expect to see more sheer looks lining supermarket aisles and high street shops in the form of skirts, tops and frocks.
M&S Rose Pink Crepe Elasticated Waist Wide Leg Trousers, £29.50
If you're on the hunt for a colourful pair of trousers that are sure to turn heads, these M&S trousers could be just the pair for you.
9
These rose pink Crepe Elasticated Waist Wide Leg Trousers are not only a stunning shade, but they're spot on with the leg length too.
Even better, they're incredibly versatile - they are appropriate enough to be paired with a white shirt for a business meeting, but are flowy enough that they'll look equally as great with a T-shirt and trainers.
My fellow tall girls will be pleased to know that they're available in a long length, which is a real win, but sizes are selling out fast, so you'll need to move quickly to nab them.
My rating: 8/10
M&S Navy Linen Blend Wide Leg Trousers, £27.50
The M&S Linen Blend Wide Leg Trousers are another pair selling out fast, but there's plenty of other colours I'm desperate to stock up in.
9
I got these comfy and lightweight trousers in navy and they are the newest summer staple in my wardrobe.
Thanks to their lightweight material, I'm sure they'll be effective for keeping cool, without having to scrimp on style.
Why Everyone Is Loving M&S
Deputy Fashion Editor Abby McHale revealed to Fabulous why M&S is the shop of the moment. She explained:
'M&S has really pulled it out of the bag this season, there is so much good product to be excited about.
'A brand once known for its 'frumpy fashion' that notion is long gone with it now being one of the leading high street stores for womenswear.
'Its handbag range in particular is super strong with them selling 170% vs plan, with lots more designer dupes for just a fraction of the price.
'The brand is now also the #1 for style perceptions, compared to the #3 spot it had last year, this comes from a really strong design team focused on modernising the brand, not only taking into consideration how the pieces look, but how easy they are to wear also.
'Price is also a big factor with you being able to get many good quality pieces all for under £30.
'After having a sneak peak of the upcoming collection there are so many more amazing pieces that are dropping over the next few months to keep your eyes on.
'Think leopard print dresses, colourful co-ords, embroidered boho jackets, plus lots of swimwear and amazing accessories, as well as great wardrobe staples that will last year on year.'
They are the perfect wide leg and the elasticated waist is a winner for me - so you can say goodbye to uncomfortable trousers digging in at your stomach after scoffing a tasty meal thanks to this M&S pair.
My rating: 9/10
Primark Wide Leg Plissé Trousers, £10
Unlike all of the other trousers I tried, these Wide Leg Plissé Trousers are without doubt the most flattering on my bum.
9
According to Primark bosses, these floaty trousers are 'made for movement (and compliments)' and I can definitely see why.
The pull-on waistband went down well in my book and for once, I actually look like I have a bit of a bum in these.
To top it off, they're incredibly lightweight and can also be great dressed up or down - what's not to like?
My rating: 10/10
Primark Crinkle Wide Leg Trousers, £12
And it's clear that Primark are slaying the trouser game this summer, as these Crinkle Wide Leg Trousers are another winner for me.
9
They're only £12, so a proper bargain and they're really cool and airy too.
The crinkle style is ultra flattering and even better, the colour is bang on trend.
The only downside is they don't have pockets, but despite this, I can already see myself wearing these time and time again this season.
My rating: 9/10
Why Primark is great for looking expensive on a budget
By Clemmie Feildsend, Fabulous Fashion Editor
AS someone who's no stranger to grabbing a last-minute outfit from Primark for a night out, it's about time that celebrities started catching on too.
For as long as I've been heading out, Primark has been my go-to for those 'I have nothing to wear' moments, rushing in at the last minute to find something perfect.
And I'm definitely not alone - on any Friday or Saturday night, you'll find plenty of shoppers doing the same thing, right before closing time.
But no matter what, Primark always delivers.
Now, Rita Ora is leading the charge, showing that you can snag a designer-worthy look without spending a fortune at high-end stores.
While Rita's not rushing in last minute for a red carpet outfit, she's proving you can achieve the same high-impact style for much less.
Looking stunning in her tailored suit alongside her mum Vera, Rita fit right in among the other A-listers dripping in Prada, Dior, and Victoria Beckham - if anything, she looked even better than some of the guests at The Fashion Awards.
With Myleene Klass and Roxy Horner already jumping on the Primark bandwagon, I'm sure more stars will be following suit soon enough.
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