fashion: Buying the perfect pair of trousers; Shereen Low on where to go and what to look for.

Byline: Shereen Low

FEW women could live without their perfect pair of trousers -- the ones which make you look like you've magically lost half a stone overnight, cling to the right bits and flatteringly hide the annoying bulges. But finding them can be very time consuming, not to mention frustrating. So follow our guide to picking the perfect pair for your shape.

PEAR SHAPED If you have a long-standing hate affair with your hips, it's time to assess how they can work for you.

Donna Carroll, womens wear buyer at Austin Reed, suggests wearing a top in a lighter colour or with detail around the neckline, like a V-neck, to distract attention from your bottom half.

``Bootcut and wide-legged trousers will elongate and lengthen your legs, '' she adds. ``If you have heavy thighs and bum, boot cut trousers will balance them out while wider leg trousers will hide heavy thighs. ''

And instead of black, try wearing similar shades from top to bottom. Next's red trouser suit is ideal, with the jacket costing pounds 69. 99 and the boot cut trousers pounds 34. 99. And Miss Selfridge has a pair of pink striped wide-legged trousers for pounds 32.

Marks & Spencer's Limited Collection has tie-belt bootleg trousers, pounds 35, and a wide-legged pair for pounds 35. Oasis' pinstripe bootleg trousers, pounds 45, and Principles' wide-legged trousers, pounds 40, will also take emphasis away from your dreaded hips. Low-waisted trousers magically reduce hip and bum width, so try Austin Reed's version for pounds 119, or French Connection's at pounds 60.

PETITE Donna also recommends boot cut trousers for shorter women, because they add instant shape to your hips and create some curves. ``But petite women should stay away from wide -legged trousers which can swamp them and make them seem even shorter, '' she says.

Try Laura Ashley's textured bootleg trousers, pounds 60, Principles' version in ivory, pounds 45, River Island's black trousers with corsage, pounds 29. 99, and Uniqlo's stretch boot cut pants, pounds 24. 99. CURVY Learn to love your curves with trousers to flatter hourglass shapes. ``If you have a small waist but wide hips, you should consider high-waisted trousers, '' says Donna. ``Add a skinny belt that sits on your natural waistline to emphasise your waist, and for a sleeker silhouette, try soft loose-legged trousers that will skim over any bumps. ''

Warehouse's chocolate wide-legged cord trousers, pounds 40, and Morgan's high-waisted wide-legged trousers, pounds 49. 99, are ideal. And Principles' wide-legged drapey trousers, pounds 45, Topshop's wide-legged version, pounds 28, and River Island's wide waistband trousers, pounds 29. 99, will keep the bits you're unhappy with under cover.

BOYISH If you are all angles and no curves, or you are tall and lean, then you are lucky enough to carry off most trouser shapes. But Donna does sound one note of caution.

``If you are very slim, you don't want to emphasise your lack of curves by choosing a pair of tight or straight-legged hipsters, nor do you want to pick high-waisted trousers which highlight a straight figure, '' she says.

For cropped trousers, try Warehouse's black button pocket crop, pounds 35, Austin Reed's popular tweed crop, pounds 89, or Next's black flannel cropped trousers, pounds 39. 99.

But if you want to show off your shape, pick a pair of slim-legged trousers. Marks & Spencer's Limited Collection has a slim-leg pants with trim detail, pounds 32, and Topshop has a pair of slim-fit trousers, pounds 28, as well as a slim boot-flare, pounds 20.

trouser tips . . .

Make sure they fall almost to the bottom of the heel Stay away from side fastenings if you have a tummy Sewn back pockets take the eye away from big bums