Slim-Fit Trousers

Stirrup trousers sit close to the leg and feature an elastic strap of fabric that runs under the foot. This keeps the trouser leg smooth and stops it from riding up. Their roots lie in the riding and skiwear of the early twentieth century; in the 1980s they made the leap into the fashion world. Today they are enjoying a stylish revival as stirrup pants. With loafers and a blazer they look confident and polished, with heels they turn distinctly elegant. Fashion insiders wear the stirrup visibly over the shoe.

Leggings are stretchy, close-fitting trousers without a classic zip and usually without proper pockets. With the arrival of elastic synthetic fibres they became a modern fashion piece in the 1960s, before the aerobics wave of the 1980s gave them cult status. Today the range spans from sporty jersey to firmer, leather-look qualities. In everyday life, leggings work beautifully with a longline blouse, oversized knitwear or a blazer. The keys to a high-quality look are an opaque fabric, a secure waistband and a shape-retaining finish.

Cigarette trousers run slim and almost straight, usually end at or just above the ankle and often come with a pressed crease. In the 1950s and 1960s, style icons such as Audrey Hepburn turned this slim trouser into a symbol of modern, effortless elegance. Unlike skinny trousers, they do not cling tightly to the calf and ankle. With a silk blouse and heels they become a feminine business classic; loafers and a fine knit jumper give cigarette trousers a relaxed Parisian chic.