I don’t really do pants. There was a time while I was heavily overweight that I lived in jeans, scared dresses made me look fat, and a time before that in my teens, when I was much less overweight than I believed myself to be, when I lived in skirts, convinced trousers were the fat-highlighters. These days I feel perfectly comfortable in trousers weight-wise, but I’m so in love with the new look silhouette that rarely do I want to give up my full skirts for time spent in pants. Saying that, I’ve always been curious about the Pinup Girl Clothing Capri pants nonetheless, hearing awed rumours that they were a wonder of construction that fit both one’s nipped in waist and accommodated a bodacious backside. That, I knew, was something I had to experience for myself. The features of the capri pants that were supposed to achieve such wonderous results can be found similarly in other PUG pants, like their cigarette pants and high-waisted pants, so when PUG released their Laura Byrnes California High Waisted Cropped Trousers in Parrot Print I was both delighted by the print and super curious about the fit. As a non-pants dweller, I had never got round to ordering a pair to try, but when Pinup Girl Clothing offered to send me bottoms to match my Dixiefried Vintage Bustier Tops I knew the Parrot Pants had to be requested. Because, you know. PARROT PANTS.

Ahem.

Let’s take a look at the parrot-y goodness in action.

Butt happenings

Elasticated waistband on back

Trousers: Laura Byrnes High Waisted Trousers in Parrot Print by Pinup Girl Clothing
Top: White Peasant Top by Pinup Girl Clothing
Wedges: Old Very.co.uk style
Wooden Bangles: eBay and Dorothy Perkins

These pants are something special. I knew they would be good from my ample past experience with PUG and the online chatter I had heard about how well their Capri pants fit, but I was still wary of expecting perfection. But they are. These pants are perfect. From fit, to construction, to the way they make me feel, they are true gems that I have fallen madly in love with, like we are birds of a feather…Yeah, I went there. Come on, reviewing Parrot Pants? You had to expect some aviary-style fun.

The magic of these pants comes in the construction. The pants close with a zipper at the back in the middle of elasticated ruched panels across the back waistband which allows the waistband to provide ample give to mold to your specific body contours and flexibility of movement. These pants achieve the wizardly trifecta of fitting both my thighs and my ass as well as sitting as a true high-waisted fit above my stomach, where I carry a large proportion of my weight. And because they fit so well on that problem area of mine, not to mention the excellent camouflaging detail of being distractedly covered in a busy tropical print of jungle, flora and pretty parrots, I don’t feel self-conscious about my stomach being obvious in these pants. To be totally honest, I feel downright sassy. Admittedly, it doesn’t take much to spike my sass levels, but these pants make me feel sassy in an outfit that makes no excuses for my shape and utterly glorifies it, which is less easy to do. Huzzah for the joy of excellent clothes helping in one’s body positivity journey! Bonus feature: these pants have pockets!

The question I’ve had a lot already from Parrots Pants admirers is ‘What are they like to sit in?’ And the answer is; surprisingly and delightfully comfortable. I have owned other pants in the past with little give which cut into my thighs when sitting, which these do not. Additionally as they’re so truly high-waisted with such a well structured waistband I don’t get any digging in or unsightly muffin top from sitting either. The waistband comes above the bready swell of my tummy when seated, settling neatly still into my true waist and not awkwardly or painfully halfway down my stomach towards my hips, so sitting is a non-issue rather than a dreaded event.

Sizing talk time. As I’ve mentioned many a time, I typically fall between the PUG size L (waist 30-31 usually) and the XL (33-34.) Lately, though, I’ve been nearing a 33inch waist at times, and even at a solid 32 inch waist I suspected I should size into the XL for these pants to accommodate my hips, butt, and fact that my lower stomach carries my weight. Choosing to size into an XL was the right decision because they are a perfect fit and an L would not have worked. I can fit an L in PUG swing dresses and stretchy wiggles because my waist will compress to the 31 inches without discomfort and the swing skirts will flow over my additional weight below while stretchy wiggles will accommodate it. These pants are a good fit and have some stretch but it’s very important you order the size the chart says you will be, being honest about your measurements and the distribution of your weight if you carry it on your bottom half as I do. If you size correctly then you’ll find yourself poured into a brilliant pair of pants that will do both your shape and your confidence a plethora of favours.

The Laura Byrnes California High Waisted Cropped Trousers in Parrot Print cost $82 and are available in sizes XS-4X. Pinup Girl Clothing is available from a multitude of stockists globally, but these pants are definitely available direct from their own website, Pinupgirlclothing.com. These pants are also available in black, great for work or smart wear, or if you love the print but still aren’t convinced you’ll become a pants wearer with these then you can find this same print on a skirt, high-waisted shorts and a dress, all of which you can see here. (If you don’t live in the USA and have never bought direct from PUG before you can read my Beginner’s Guide to Pinup Girl Clothing to learn about the company’s ethics, sizing and product quality, as well as the international shipping charges and customs fees for international customers.)