These are great – and very doable – ideas. I really appreciate your willingness to share your styling tips. They are fab!

YEA! My favourite type of post!
Actually I’ve already been fortunate enough to benefit from this wisdom and incorporate it into the only dress pant outfit I ever felt really great in. After finding the perfect pair of Jones New York pants, I decided to build the rest of the outfit using more interesting pieces. I paired them with a purple slinky top with 3/4-sleeves and about a one-inch silver chain detail around the low-ish scoop neckline.. For my shoes I chose a black pair of Me Too heels with ruffles and studs on the pointed toe. Add a pair of silver and pearl earrings and I felt stylish and true to myself. And the look got a lot of great feedback.
Can’t wait to try it out with some of my new NAS jackets!

wear ‘em all the time. but being a closet hoarder, my dress pants now are too short to wear with the on-trend platforms i’ve welcomed into my life.

when the moon is right, i up the interest with jackets and chunky necklaces. this year, i’ve been using a tuxedo-style jacket from theory in a work-a-day fabric and a retro ’80s crystal-meets-alexis-by-the-pool-and-a-fight-breaks-out strong shouldered jacket with a peplum waist.

I have only one pair, but I’ve lost weight and they are too loose now. I prefer by far skirts and dresses.

I wear dress pants (actually the Semantic Athena brand)frequentlly so these ideas are extremely helpful! I’m running into some problems with these when my feet give out and I have to resort to my Danskos. It is easier to make this brand edgy than it is to make them casual.

Thanks for the ideas!

This is so timely, as I just purchased the Lafayette 148 black dress pants at NAS. No idea if they will work for me though, as they sent me the wrong size , so too big for me to tell. Hoping they do work out, I will need to figure out what shoes to wear with them before having Nordies hem them.

I used to wear a lot of dress pants to work before I became a SAHM, but sadly they have become dated. I want just one pair of current black dress pants now, and was planning to wear them with structured jackets and blouses. This post just may help me to up my game, so to speak, and try out belts, fab shoes (maybe Fidji!) and eye-catching jewelry with them. Thanks, Angie!

I got rid of my one pair of dress pants last fall as they were too big and I don’t plan to add any to my wardrobe unless I ever end up in a work environment that would call for them. I do love your suggestions though. My favorite is about the shoes. I would always wear just boring black shoes with boring black pants. Something textured or animal makes so much more sense.
FAB ideas Angie!

I wear dress pants every day all winter long. It is a challenge to kept current and not look dowdy. I go for blouses. I buy a few new silky ones each year, even if they aren’t my look. I bought a few with ruffles when ruffles came out, I bought florals, and I bought with bows/tie fronts. I get lots of complements on them, and the pants become a neutral background for the colorful blouses.

In my non work clothing, I prefer things to be a little edgier, sleeker and monochromatic. In the summer I go more toward floaty boho. But for work, Its about projecting just the right amount of authority and approachablity at the same time. So, even if I don’t think of myself as a ruffle person or a floral person, I take chance with the blouses, because the pants are basic.

I wish I had known this information at my last employer. I wore dress pants every single day. My staple was dress pants, black flats or heels and a button down shirt. Boring but acceptable for the environment. I tried to vary it up by wearing the pants in black, gray and navy. I wonder what that conservative environment would have said to bright shoes or patterned shoes with an ensemble. I’m printing this post just in case there’s a next time with this type of dress code. I find dress pants everyday very boring.

Good suggestions. I also keep in mind Audi’s fashionfornerds advice to treat black as a color, and to wear something black or dark on top to balance the black trouser or skirt if the top contracts — a dark necklace, black belt over the top, dark pin or bracelet, etc. I’m tall enough that the color block look works for me, but try to really commit to it – strong color on top, maybe a contrasting accessory, black pants & a strong color in the shoes. Not just a colored top and black pants.

Wonderful ideas. I have a pair of fantastic DKNY dress pants that I don’t wear enough because my job is so casual. These tips will help me make them more wearable on a regular basis, which is great as I really love the pants!!

I don’t know. I’ll never be a black pants person myself. But if I absolutely had no choice, I’d try to create a girly menswear look (a contradiction, I know) and keep everything else as fashion forward as possible. I’d probably still be miserable though.

Thanks Angie – I learned a few new ideas from this one. I tend to use shoes and interesting tops to add interest. I have also used dress pants in less formal settings with a denim jacket – it gives it an interesting edge and a break from jeans every once in a while.

I was purging my closet this weekend, and I had no idea I had so many dress pants (that I never wear). I think I will challenge myself to put at least a few of these into action in the coming months. Your suggestions on how to add some flare to this somewhat boring wardrobe staple is just the motivation I need. Having the “on-trend” shoe will help, and using some bold accessories I’ve been accumulating will make the effort more interesting. Thanks for the great ideas (and the incentive)!

What a great post Angie! So many fab ideas.
I do wear dress pants, and have quite a few of them actually, since I am not allowed to wear skirts/dresses to work. I wear jeans most of the time, but will wear dress pants once-twice a week, especially if I am going to dance practice right after work, since I am not allowed to wear jeans there (apparently my life is full of various wardrobe restrictions).
I do feel a bit dowdy in them, and tried to dress them down with a jean jacket, knitted top or cascading cardi. I also strongly prefer pistripes/ false plains to solid dress pants. Some of the ideas you mention will work really well.

Angie
I love the ideas. Expecially the shoes. That’s something I’ve been focusing for the last year or so. It has been a real challenge since I prefer my “career” shoes to be no more than 3″ inches.

I’d love to see some examples of the belts, jackets, shoes, jewelry, and detailing that you recommend for Fall 2010.

Thanks for your on-target posts. Sometimes I think you read my mind!

Michelle, I can see you sport your boyfriend jacket with your dress pants.

Ellen, that’s excellent advise from Audi.

Sihaya, a denim jacket is a fab idea if denim is allowed in your line of work.

Chelle, pairing dress pants with Dansko clogs doesn’t sound so fab. How about a comfy pair of flats?

Tanya, I also like pinstriped dress pants and those are ones I own.

Maya, “girly” menswear is spot on. That’s how to make the androgynous trend work. I can see you layering a graphic T or blouse under black or pinstripe dress pants with a boyfriend blazer or your H&M pleather jacket. Add a few quirky accessories and you are there.

Remember that sleeve scrunching on both shirts and blazers makes dress pants ensembles look more hip and interesting too!

I have a couple pairs of dress pants that I haven’t worn in a while. They fit well and I haven’t had the heart to get rid of them. The only way I wear my black pair is with patent ankle boots, tuxedo shirt and vest, and it’s quite rare. Now I am inspired to do some more experimenting with them, thank you for the great ideas!

I rarely wear pants but when I do I try to “girl” them up as much as possible. So I generally only wear wide leg dress trousers, and pair them with peeptoe shoes, a feminine blouse (wrap is my favorite), a long cardigan and strands of pearls. I definitely tend toward more jewelery when in pants.

If I don’t do this, I feel too masculine.

More great ideas!

Marianne, nice mention of the waistcoat.

Mamark, I LOVE your point about adding more jewelry to feel extra feminine in dress pants. Brilliant.

I wear dress pants almost every day to my medical office job. I do a lot of walking, so I choose cute black patent flats. Right now I’m wearing Sofft Paola’s. I wear a closely tailored shirt from JCrew. I also have a lovely ruffled feminine grey cardigan from Ann Taylor for when I get chilly. I make sure my makeup looks great, and have a good haircut. I wear a beautiful watch, tiny silver/diamond necklace from TWIST, a statement ring from Jamie Joseph, and (fake) diamond studs. I love my “uniform” and feel that I look great in it! However, I’m not looking to stand out or create too much visual interest at my job. I’m going for a classic, pretty, and functional look.

I think you covered it, Angie. Sometimes I like to play with scarves, too. But you have to be careful to ensure the look stays current.

Although I frequently wear trousers to work (easily covers the body art) I don’t think any would be considered classic dress pants, I have slouchy menswear styles in both charcoal and white plus a pair of skinny micro checks. I do like to blend masculine and feminine in one outfit, often wearing the menswear styles with oxfords and jewelled belts. I will definitely be trying several options on your list.

I rarely have occasion to wear classic dress pants, but I have 3 pairs in my closet (in black, dark gray, and brown) that have been there a while and will probably stay there for quite some time, so this post is very helpful for when I need to use them!

Hi Angie! I wouldn’t call myself a dress pants person, but I have a few of these since it fits well with my work environment. I wear them a few times a month or more depending on my schedule. Funky cardigans, shoes, scarfs and belts are what I wear them with generally.

Another way I made dress pants work is by choosing non-black pants in interesting details,e .g., texture, plaid patterns, stripes, pockets, etc., like these:

http://www.legacyofpearl.com/Acai-Boost-8402874
http://www.legacyofpearl.com/C.....ow-8192633
http://www.legacyofpearl.com/T.....rs-8122517
http://www.legacyofpearl.com/S.....ch-8092467

A good pair of neutral pants is a great back drop for what you listed. I wear mine with bright shoes, and as much bling as I can pile on with out looking overdone. Last year I did get a trendy haircut….it was the first thing people noticed on me.

What a timely post! I’m in my dress pants right now – as I’m attending yet another conference, which is pretty much the only time I do wear dress pants. I bought a couple pair recently (the Editor Express, in black and in charcoal) and have been trying to create outfits with them that feel professional but still have a little of funky stylish persona shine through. So here are a few of my conference outfits with dress pants:
Today I’m wearing the black pants paired with a bright yellow NL jacket (which I snagged at last year’s YLF clothes swap ) The jacket is definitely funky, as the color is bright (I’m noticeable in this sea of black and other neutrals…), and it has interesting styliing, with short slightly puffy sleeves and a big bow at one side of the collar. I have a basic black v-neck top underneath, and a silver pendant necklace. My shoes are basic low-heeled pumps – not very interesting, but they are so so comfy (Me Too).
Tomorrow I will wear either the black or charcoal pants with a white 3/4 sleeve button down shirt and a turquoise sleeveless knit top over it. The layering and the bright color funks it up. I might switch out the shoes and go with my bright red Me Too low-heeled pumps instead of the black.
And the third day I’ll wear a red/floral sleeveless top, with a black short sleeve AT jacket over it. The jacket is semi-formal, which is key since the top itself would be rather casual. Black or red pumps will work, haven’t decided yet.
So overall, my strategy for keeping the outfits interesting is using COLOR in the tops. It goes a long way to create variety and spiff up my “basics”, which are the 2 pairs of dress pants and 2 pairs of well-fitting pumps.
I’ll be looking at this thread for more ideas! Belts and scarves are great, too, though right now in the summer heat I find that I’m using fewer rather than more accessories.

Wow, what a wealth of knowledge when it comes to dress pants – I’m learning from everyone here!

I love dress pants, they are a huge art of my work “uniform.” GIven the short haircut I have, I do find I need to dress the upper half a bit more feminine in order to counteract the seriousness and inherent masculinity of the dress pants, no matter how nice they are.My favorites are grey and brown, not black actually, as they are softer neutrals in my opinion. Scarfs are my favorite accessory

At the moment I only own one pair of pants that could be called dress pants, they’re black, straight-legged, quite fitted. I love all of your suggestions above, Angie. As you know, I’m a recent belt convert, so I think I’ll try them with a fun belt now.

In the past I always felt a little boring in dress pants, but now I see that’s probably because I didn’t have any fun and interesting jackets, nor scarves, to add to the mix. And I hadn’t figured out layering yet either. Come to think of it, I was severely lacking in the shoe department as well;-)

I always loved the outfit a twenty-something girl at work used to sport, it’s on the casual side, but it worked: dress pants, interesting belt through belt loops, a feminine top tucked in (sometimes she added a fitted blazer) and bright-coloured Converse sneakers.

Angie, I love this type of post! This will certainly motivate me to pull out the dress pants as soon as it gets cooler. I used to wear them almost daily until learning from your MOTG dressing how to wear jeans in a smart casual way. Now I need to make dress pants look more casual. Besides wearing them with a jean jacket, I’ve been stumped. Now I can’t wait to put your suggestions into practice. I’ve also learned from others commenting on this post. LOP has some wonderful outfits. Thank you Thank you Thank you!

I wear dress pants just about every day once the temps leave the 50s as I hate tights (will wear leggings under skirts/dresses occasionally).

My favorites are the Julie and the Ann from Ann Taylor Loft.

I mix it up with all of the techniques Angie mentioned. I also love scarves, esp. in cooler weather. I’m not wearing them much in the swealtering summer!

As a take on menswear/androgony, I love adding punk rocker accessories, such as something with studs or leather. I actually saved a few items from the 80s!

This year I’m adding tunics to the mix. I loved them for summer and will be looking for some for colder weather.

I just cut my hair short so ITA w/the haircut as edgy accessory.

And for those who wear specs, don’t forget those! I have a red pair that really add panache.

Hmmm…I have 2 pairs of dress pants which I rarely wear because it just seems so BORING! I used to wear them all the time…with boring knit tops, boring shoes, and uninspired accessories.

This post has made me want to take a second look at them and see if I can find a combination that’s more fab…watch this space!!!

Think I’ll try the belting idea, and the chunky jewellery idea.

Great list! I just bought a pair of grey dress pants but have yet to wear them. I think I need to size down in them, but I haven’t gotten back to the mall yet to find out. But when I finally decide on a size, I’ll have to employ some of these techniques!

I wear dress pants to work quite a bit, and for me the biggest challenge is how to make them not look dowdy with flats — especially in winter, when bare feet in ballet flats just won’t do.

I love your other suggestions, Angie, and will definitely keep them in mind as I rev up for the coming school year!

Great Post Angie. I wear dress pants least of all. But I am going to view them with a fresh eye!! Thank You!!

I wear dress pants frequently, though more so in winter. I have quite a bit of suiting that I like to mix with feminine tops with special details and pretty jewelry. And I go with classic pointy toed pumps but in interesting colors, patent leather, animal prints, etc.

I have a bunch of dress pants from my former life but wear them very rarely now. I prefer dress pants of different colors, patterns or textures – my favorites are a pair of black & white tweed trousers and a pair of black & brown houndstooth ones. I usually just tried to incorporate a fun top – all the ruffled ones that are popular now would probably work to spice up dress pants a bit.

LOP, I love your dress pant combos! Not a dull one in sight!

I seem to be the odd one out here since I simply love dress pants, wear them all the time (not only in work environment) and don´t feel dorky or dowdy at all!!
For me it´s a canvas for my “crazy” pieces and a no brainer in the morning. It adds an elegant bit to every oufit instantly.
I pair them with neon pink and turqouise heels, tunics, patterned blouses, denim shirts and jackets, leather moto jackets, waist coats, bow elements, jewelry, belts and of course with my jacket collection….. possibilities are endless. Dress pants are a must for everybody with a elegant/trendy style!

I can see how those with edgier styles would find dress pants a challenge, but I’m with Phoebe on the “I wear dress pants in my off time, too.” A good pair drapes so well!

[Last winter was brutal because I only had one pair of lined dress pants and could NOT find suitable additions (replacements); I love skirts + boots but not day in and out! FYI, Ann Taylor currently has some lined wool pants in a couple of different cuts.]

Between the blog post and the comments, I don’t think I have much new to add. I have started adding more texture, pattern and/or sheen to DP outfits, and that’s helped de-borify a bit. These days I like to pair them with velvet, textured wool, or faux-sharkskin jackets; chunkier or metallic knits; or a top with a bit of shine and/or rouching.

I definitely think adding the elements Angie or YLFers have detailed can help set one apart in a professional environment. Hopefully in a good way, ha.

For an important-to-me event I just added four sheen-y items (jacket, silk charmeuse top, bold vintage shell ring, and shoes) to standard black wool DP…I went back and forth over the perceived flashiness, but have to admit it felt rather luxe and non-minion-y! Whether my strategy pays off remains to be seen.

[Though I am still a sucker for a monochromatic or tonal looks (pants + streamlined merino/cashmere) with a scarf or boldish necklace. Not exactly wild, I know.]

Phoebe, your dress pants outfits sound inspirational and daring! You are the Queen of dress pants

Thanks for this post, Angie! I LIVE in dress pants for much of the week, so I will be revisiting your tips this weekend when I have a little more time to peruse them carefully.

[...] classic dress pants aren’t your cup of tea because they feel dowdy and boring, you might like to try something different. At the moment, your fashion forward dress pant options [...]