Top Plus Size Pants for Spring 2007

Plus size women aren't all shaped the same. Some plus size women carry their weight on their hips. Other plus size women carry their weight on their bellies. Some have long shapely legs. Some are petite. And the plus size fashion industry is finally starting to catch on to this fact. The new trend is fitting your plus size pants to your body, and several retail stores are ready to cater their slacks to you. Here are a few new plus size pants to check out this season:

The Lexington Fit Pant by Lane Bryant. Lane Bryant started the fuss by making explicit their design choices in plus size pants, and explaining the fit to their consumers. And while their Houston Fit is considered the "universal" pant by many, the Lexington, with it's straight drop from the hip, and firmer fabric, is one of the best plus size pants available on the retail market today.

The Diane Fit Pant from Catherine's. As far as plus size clothing retailers go, Catherine's tends to cater to a frumpier set than say, The Avenue, or Lane Bryant. But their plus size pants this year are made of rich trouser fabrics with enough stretch for comfort while looking modern and tailored. These plus size pants are wide-legged, which is a cut that tends to flatter most women. It hits the hips and then drops straight down. However, petites may wish to avoid it because of the cuffed hems which look great on taller women, but tend to cut off the line of the leg if you're short.

The Vanessa Fit Pant from Catherine's. These flat-front pants de-emphasize any trouble-spots at the waistline and fall with minimal tapering. They don't have cuffs, so they're appropriate for petite women, and the legs are wide-enough to flatter most body types. Best of all, these plus size pants come in a variety of useful colors, including pinstripes. They're also available in petite and tall.

The Melissa Pant from Fashion Bug. For years, Fashion Bug seemed institutionally incapable of make a pair of plus size pants to flatter women under the age of sixty. Everything they came out with was stiff and boxy. This year, they've followed the trend and put out a variety of fits and the Melissa Pant is the best of the bunch. Nicely tailored with back-dart shaping and a relaxed fit through the thighs and hips, it's smart career wear. The problem? It's sized at least one size too small. Hopefully next year, Fashion Bug will make some adjustments to their plus size pants, because with Fashion Bug prices, it's got tons of potential.

The Textured Wide-Legged Trouser from the Avenue. Don't be fooled by the Avenue's idiotic "slim leg" line of plus size pants. Those pants only look good on slim people. Instead, consider the Avenue's textured wide-legged trouser or even their cuffed trouser, which will make a straighter line on plus size figures.