At 54, My Waistband Stopped Digging In

A note from a regular Scott and Daughters customer about the pull-on capri pants that stop at the calf. I sat through a three-hour lunch and the drive home, and the waistband never once dug in.

Every summer I had the same problem with trousers. Full-length ones were too hot by eleven in the morning, and shorts showed more leg than I wanted to show at 54.

And the ones that looked smart came with a zip, a button and a waistband that dug in the minute I sat down for lunch.

I've been buying from Scott and Daughters for years, so when the Eileen capri pants came up I ordered them in white. They arrived quickly, and I pulled them on before I'd even put the kettle on.

Straight out of the parcel. No zip, no buttons at the waist.

What it is

They're relaxed pull-on pants that stop at the calf. The waistband is elastic all the way round, so there's no zip and nothing to do up. There are two real side pockets, and at the hem of each leg a short slit on the outside with three little buttons.

The part that made the difference for me is that waistband. It stays where it is without pinching, sitting down or standing up.

Mine are the white, with the three little buttons at the hem.

I pulled them on, and I didn't think about my waistband again all day.

One pair, one week

Sunday was a long lunch on my cousin's verandah. Three hours at the table, a second helping of dessert and the drive home, and the waistband never once dug in.

On Wednesday I wore them to the shops with a plain tee and sandals. On Friday they went to lunch in town with my good white blouse, and they looked just as right.

My sister asked me where they were from.

Worn with a blouse for lunch in town, in Beige.

→ Read about the Eileen capri pants

What changed in three weeks

I hadn't been looking for anything clever. I just wanted summer pants that kept me cool and left my waist alone. Three things I noticed, and I wrote them down because I knew I would want to remember.

1. Cool on a hot walk. We had a thirty-degree morning and I walked along the beach path with a friend. The calf length kept me cool, and I didn't feel I was showing too much leg. It's the length I'd been looking for for years without knowing it.

On the beach path, in Light Blue.

2. Real pockets, no handbag. There are two proper side pockets, deep enough for my phone and my keys. I walked the dog in the morning without a bag at all. The little buttons at the hem are a nice touch too. They make them look finished, not like loungewear.

Phone and keys in the pocket for the morning dog walk, in Blue.

3. Dressed up or down. With a plain tee they're for the shops and the garden. With a blouse they're for lunch in town. Same pants, and they look put together both ways. That's why I went straight back to look at the other colours.

Now, about the price

I want to talk about the price, because it was part of my decision. I paid $69.95 AUD, and the earlier price was $169.95 AUD.

• Pull-on elastic waist, no zip and no fuss
• Free Shipping with Australia Post
• 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

The sale is the New Chapter Sale. Julie, who started Scott and Daughters, is handing the shop over to her daughters Emily and Charlotte. They're marking that new chapter with a sale, and the Eileen capri pants are part of it.

What I'd tell you if we were friends

If we were sitting together and you asked me whether you should order a pair, this is what I would say.

I would tell you that if you've been stuck between trousers that are too hot and shorts that show too much, these are the ones I'd point you to. They stop at the calf, the waist is elastic all the way round, and the pockets are real.

I would tell you they come in beige, white, blue, light blue, black, pink, wine red and mint green, in sizes S to 5XL. I went with my usual size, but I would have a look at the size chart on the product page first. Pick the colour you'll wear most. Mine are the white.

Combining items also means you can get up to 25% extra on the whole store. Have a look at the options and see what works for you.

Have a look while the New Chapter Sale is on.

— Megan