An expander for a waistband of a lower garment having a fly has a first section and a second section fixed with opposing ends of an elastic strap. With a button hole of the first section fixed with a button of the fly, and with a button of the second section fixed with a button hole of the fly, the waistband of the lower garment is expanded. A center section of the elastic strap may include a zipper pull fixing implement fixed with a zipper pull of a zipper of the fly to inhibit the zipper pull from dropping. An elongated cover strap may be fixed to the first section and include an attachment mechanism that allows the cover strap to be looped through one or more belt loops of the lower garment and folded over itself to cover the first section, center section, and second section.