What Are Magic Trousers? The 3 Fits and How Sizing Works
Magic trousers are one-size Italian trousers cut from a heavy stretch jersey that moves with you rather than holding you in. That is the whole idea. The standard fit covers roughly a UK 8 to 16, the plus size fit covers roughly a 16 to 20, and the fabric does the job that a zip and a rail of separate sizes would normally do.
We get asked about these more than almost anything else in the shop, usually with the same slightly suspicious look. One size, really? Yes, really. There is a caveat worth knowing before you order, and it is the bit most websites skip over.
- Fabric: viscose and nylon with about 3% spandex, so it drapes and recovers
- Waist: elasticated with a drawstring, no zip and no buttons
- Pockets: two, and deep enough for a phone
- Inside leg: 28 to 29 inches, designed to be turned up
- Sizing: standard fits about UK 8 to 16, plus size fits about 16 to 20
- What makes magic trousers stretch
- The three fits, and who each one suits
- What one size actually means
- How to wear them
- Frequently asked questions
What makes magic trousers stretch
The blend is roughly 71% viscose, 26% nylon and 3% spandex. Each part is doing something specific. Viscose gives you the drape, so the leg falls softly instead of standing away from you. Nylon is what stops the knees bagging out by three in the afternoon. Spandex is the reason a size 10 and a size 16 can wear the same pair and both look like it was cut for them.
That recovery matters more than the stretch does. Plenty of fabrics will stretch once. This one goes back.
The waist is elasticated with a drawstring threaded through it, so you can pull it in or leave it soft depending on the day. Everything is made in Italy, which is why the fabric feels heavier in the hand than the price suggests.
The three fits, and who each one suits
Not every pair is the same shape. Three cuts run through the range, and picking between them is mostly about how much room you want around the ankle.
- Dee Dee, relaxed leg. Roughly UK 8 to 16, 29 inch inside leg. The everyday pair, and the one most people buy first. Good with trainers.
- Winnie, wide leg. Roughly UK 8 to 16, 28 inch inside leg. Much more of a statement, and lovely with a flat sandal or a low boot.
- Plus size. Roughly UK 16 to 20, 29 inch inside leg. Same fabric and same waistband, cut fuller through the hip and thigh rather than simply scaled up.
There is also a denim version of the Winnie, made in a cotton blend instead of the viscose. It reads as proper trousers rather than jersey, which some people prefer for work. The cotton makes it a little firmer, and it runs slightly smaller at about a UK 8 to 12.
What one size actually means
Here is the caveat. One size does not mean every size, and anyone telling you otherwise is selling you a disappointment.
A standard pair is built around a UK 12 and will comfortably cover an 8 through to a 16. Below an 8 the waist gathers more than it should. Above a 16 you lose the drape, and the leg starts to cling where it ought to fall. That is exactly why the plus size cut exists as a separate pattern, sitting from about a 16 to a 20.
If you sit right on the line at a 16, the honest answer is that both will fit and they will look different. The standard pair will be closer through the hip. The plus size pair will hang looser. Neither is wrong, and it comes down to what you want the trousers to do. Our full Curves Collection runs on the same principle, cut for the size rather than graded up from a smaller one.
How to wear them
They are easier to style than they look, mostly because the shape does the talking and everything else can stay quiet.
- Turn the hem up two inches if you are under 5ft 4in. The cuff looks deliberate and the length stops swamping you.
- Keep the top half fitted. A wide leg with a loose top reads as pyjamas, and nobody wants that.
- Pull the drawstring in and tuck a shirt if you want a waist. Leave it slack and untucked for a softer day.
- Flat shoes work better than heels. A trainer or a low boot sits under the wide leg without fighting it.
They travel extremely well, which is the other reason people come back for a second pair. The fabric does not crease in a case, and a pair weighs almost nothing. You will find more in the wider trousers collection if you want something with a firmer waistband.
Frequently asked questions
What size are magic trousers?
The standard fit is built around a UK 12 and covers roughly a size 8 to 16. The plus size version is a separate cut, not a scaled up one, and covers roughly a 16 to 20. If you are right on the line at a 16 then both will fit you, but they will sit differently. The standard pair holds closer through the hip and the plus size pair hangs looser. We stock UK 8 to 20 across the shop.
Are they see through?
No. The viscose and nylon blend is a heavier weight than most jersey trousers, and the pale colours are the ones people usually worry about. Stone, white and light blue all hold up fine. If you want extra reassurance, the darker shades in the range are heavier still. This is one of the reasons we like the Italian fabric over the cheaper versions, which do tend to thin out across the seat.
How do I wash them?
A cool machine wash at 30 degrees, then hang them up to dry. Avoid the tumble dryer, which is what damages the spandex and costs you the recovery over time. They need no ironing at all, which is half the appeal. If they come out of the case creased then hang them in the bathroom while you shower and the creases drop out on their own.
How long is the leg?
The inside leg runs 28 inches on the Winnie wide leg and 29 inches on the Dee Dee and the plus size cut. Both are designed to be turned up, so a shorter leg is easy to sort at home without any hemming. If you are under 5ft 4in, roll the hem twice and it looks intentional rather than adjusted. Anyone over 5ft 8in tends to wear them as they come.
Can I try them on in the shop?
Yes, and we would rather you did. We are at 154 Fleet Road in Fleet, and the whole range is out on the shop floor. One size trousers are exactly the sort of thing that make more sense once you have them on, and we are happy to pull out a few colours and let you take your time. If you are between the standard and the plus size cut, coming in is by far the easiest way to settle it.
Written by Gina Paskins
Gina co-owns Sugarplum Boutique & Home on Fleet Road in Hampshire. She helps choose everything that comes into the shop, and cares most that you leave feeling like yourself in it.
