Elegant Survival

The good news: women's Russell plaid English wool trousers at Paul Stuart go up to the actual waist--now, was that so difficult, clothing-makers? What a pleasant surprise. These may be a good investment; they are made in Canada rather than in China. That's progress!

The bad news: Paul Stuart has NO SIZE CHART for women's trousers, and they are only offering these in size "4" and "6", whatever that means. You might want to look at their other "tailored" trousers, which also seem to come up to the actual waist, to see if they are available in your size. This lack of sizing information is a problem that requires telephoning the company, otherwise you may waste time and money ordering the wrong fit.