It is important to reduce the stress of the fibre over time” she says, “so selecting the correct garment size is an important consideration when purchasing next-to-skin garments such as underwear, bras and swimwear.” Turn the heat down I like clothes too much to be driven entirely by comfort. And I’ve spent most of my life trying to avoid being a fashion victim. I’m not sure pushing 40 with three kids is a good time to start. provide cargo pants that are a practical choice for a variety of outdoor pursuits, as well as water resistant garments that will keep you protected from the elements. Or perhaps Mallalieu says once the elastic goes in stretchy garments like swimwear and underwear, or anything with ribbing, there isn’t much you can do.

If the elastic is encased in a tube of fabric, it will be relatively straightforward to replace. Photograph: Zen Rial/Getty Images

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Style: Corduroy | Fit: Regular | Size range: S-L | Material : 100% Cotton | Colors : Brown | Care : Machine Wash What to look for in men’s elastic waist pants Location or Purpose I’m guessing the issue is that an elasticated waistband isn’t able to support heavier fabrics so well? Was your issue with the Informale flannels just because you didn’t like the look of the formal material in this cut, or is the weight of the fabric an issue too? Any other tips on fit much appreciated – it seems that saggy butt is another potential issue with the more slouchy cut! Building on my enthusiasm for the linen trousers, Steve sent me a pair of his flannel easy trousers to try. These have elastic around the waist, as well as belt loops (below).

You can use a belt to cover up that waistband, as there are belt loops, but then there's little point in the elastic. But it's important to consciously draw a line - to be aware of when this undermining starts to happen. According to Quintero Rodriguez elastic fibres can be damaged by heat “so it is recommended to wash the garments with low temperature”. She suggests washing “the garments by hand or in a delicate/gentle machine cycle to avoid breakage of the fibre”. Bra elastic is widely available at haberdashery shops, so it is easy to swap out stretched straps. Photograph: Poh Kim Yeoh/Getty Images/EyeEm Stretch fabrics I’m sure others will place theirs differently - either disliking elastic on pyjamas, or loving it even on smart trousers. But either way, I think it’s useful to draw one, rather than stumble into a fashion look or one driven purely by comfort.

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I think the Anderson & Sheppard trousers were also a particularly good example. The tension is good, the elastic wide, and there is a flat panel at the front with no elastic - just a couple of mother-of-pearl buttons - which makes them look cleaner and more elegant than a simple elasticated waist. Funnily enough I got turn ups on my pair and then ended up having them removed as I preferred the natural folding up also. Firstly because I like to wear quite a cropped trouser normally and I didn’t get the turn up quite high enough. Secondly I felt it was just a little too formal for the trouser. you are interested in our formal trousers with stretch waistbands that make an excellent choice for workwear or special occasions. These expertly designed garments look smart and sophisticated when teamed up with shirts and If machine washing is unavoidable, place the garments inside a washing bag to further reduce friction and protect the elasticity. Use a gentle detergent and keep elastic away from chemicals like chlorine and bleach, as they will also reduce its lifespan. Fashions that are interesting because they’re unusual rarely last long. After a while they just stop being unusual.