After months of searching, I've found the perfect pair of wide leg linen trousers under £80
⏰ Tested for: A year.
⭐ Our rating: 4/5.
🛍️ Reasons to buy: The quality and cut exceed their under £80 price tag.
✋ Reasons to avoid: I'm short, they didn't come in a petite version so I had to pay to get them hemmed up (deducted a star for that).
💰 Best deal we've found: You get 10% off if you subscribe to emails or alerts from Cos, or if it's your first time purchasing online with the brand.
Owning some flattering and smart black trousers lightweight enough for summer is a must for me.
My holy grail? A pair of wide-leg linen-mix trews that keep me cool but covered on those days when my fake tan has gone patchy, or I just fancy a change from dresses.
Unexpectedly Cos - a place I never normally shop in - came up trumps with these perfect pants that ticked all the boxes for £79.
And I had some tough requirements. My 'dream trousers' would be under £100, high-waisted and feature a wide-legged, floaty look. They would not go baggy and saggy after a few washes, nor would they crease so horrifically after an hour of wearing them that it'd look like I'd slept in them.
At 5ft 2in, I also didn't want them to have to take them to the local dry cleaner to have close to a foot of the expensive fabric cut off because they were designed for someone with supermodel-length legs.
So when I say I've searched for months for the right trousers, it's not an exaggeration. It almost became like a second job.
Here's why these flattering Cos trousers deserved a place in my wardrobe.
🛍️ Why they're worth buying
First of all, the cut of these trousers is perfect for my petite but curvy size 10-12 figure - I got them in the size 38.
I have a big bottom and hips and I wasn't blessed with slender thighs. So trousers that nip my waist in, while skimming over my curvier parts without totally swamping them was key.
And Cos' high-waisted wide-legged trousers do just that.
Then there's the fabric. It's a breathable mix of 76% TENCEL™ lyocell with 24% linen. I've worn these trousers twice on very muggy days and can attest to the fact that they feel super comfy and not at all sweaty.
They hold their shape all day, too, even if you spend it sitting down for eight hours WFH, which is what I'm doing as I write this.
They don't crease horrifically thanks to the fact that they're linen-mix. You can also chuck them in the washing machine on a cold wash, too.
They're extremely bloat-friendly because the pleats at the front disguise the 'food baby' I always grow after eating any kind of meal.
And if you're concerned about sustainability, the TENCEL™ lyocell is made from sustainable wood sources, using a process that recycles 99% of all chemicals and water.
Another bonus is that the trousers will go with so many things you already have in your wardrobe. Mine look good with everything from T-shirts and flat sandals to a vest top and high tops, and a strappy sequin top with high-heeled mules.
They're the perfect work trousers too - you can wear them with a jacket or a smart shirt.
Another thing they're great for? Wearing with a crop top. A phrase I never thought I'd say out loud given the last time I bared my belly was in the noughties. But these trousers are high-waisted enough that I can wear a shorter top - which is a trend not going anywhere fast - without showing a sliver of flesh.
And when the weather is cooler I just pop some 40 denier tights underneath and sling a jumper over the top.
📉 The biggest drawback?
They're a little long (about an inch). I don't have any sewing skills so it galls a little that I need to pay £10 to get the local dry cleaner to take them up.
💰 Best deals we can find right now
As these are only sold in Cos, you won't get them cheaper elsewhere. But it might be worth hunting for them on resale sites like Ebay or Vinted just in case.
