How adjustable waistbands became a way to regain control

I’ve long equated style with comfort—wide trousers, a loose white shirt, or well-worn loafers—and gave up heels for good in 2012. More recently I stopped tolerating restrictive waistbands. At almost 49, my size has oscillated between 10 and 14; like many, lockdown’s elastic tracksuit bottoms and an expanded appetite for macaroni cheese made my old trousers impossible to wear.

My first adjustable pair were balloon-leg linen trousers with an elasticated waist, but options range from generous drawstrings to crossover wraps and buckle-and-strap designs. I own a locally made crossover pair that has seen me through three dress sizes, and Les Animaux’s Fisherman pants are sold as one size with multiple tying options, three lengths and lifetime repairs—founder Lisa Jackson argues one-size pieces are economical for brands.

What began with independents has filtered onto the high street, aided by 2025’s appetite for baggy trousers.

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