Closet cleanout part 1: Pants & shorts

Inspired by JewelryGirl (and bored on a day spent home sick), I've decided to comb through my overstuffed wardrobe one drawer at a time and really be ruthless about what I'm getting rid of.
Here are some items I'm on the fence about. I'd love your help deciding whether to keep them (or, in some cases, whether to alter them.) Please excuse the creases (drawer space is too tight) and in some cases, wearing seasonally and stylishly inappropriate tops with summer bottoms.

Cords:
I'm cringing a little as I write this, but I do own two pairs of cords (pre-YLF). I've already determined to get rid of this first pair from Gap, medium wale and about 6 years old; I like the gray color, but the rise is too low and I think the cut is dated and unflattering. I'd rather replace them with some gray jeans: http://karip.smugmug.com/photo.....FvVZ-O.jpg
The second pair (from Eddie Bauer, a couple years ago) is dark brown and a very fine wale. The rise is higher than the gray pair and they have plenty of room without being too big. I'm leaning towards keeping these.
http://karip.smugmug.com/photo.....vqFW-O.jpg
http://karip.smugmug.com/photo.....mRU-XL.jpg

Clam diggers:
I got these on clearance mid-summer at Ann Taylor last year. They actually have an adjustable band/belt at the back, so I get no gape-age when I sit. Yay! But I'm starting to think they are a little too long.
http://karip.smugmug.com/photo.....Z42-XL.jpg
(Please pretend I'm not wearing a sweater - I was trying on every pair of pants I own and didn't want to change tops too!)
Here I rolled them to a shorter length. Better?
http://karip.smugmug.com/photo.....PRq-XL.jpg

My other pair of clamdiggers, on clearance two summers ago from Ann Taylor Loft, I know are too long - especially when I'm at a lower weight and they slide farther down my hips. They have wide hems that have little ties up the back (which are kind of goofy) so I think I'd want to tailor them above the original hem. I don't think rolling solves the problem because the fabric bunches too much.
http://karip.smugmug.com/photo.....yLT-XL.jpg
Rolled to shorter length:
http://karip.smugmug.com/photo.....uKr-XL.jpg

I found that my bermudas from last year still work great. I have two slightly dressier pairs (a tan plaid and solid black) from Target that I like. Not planning to give either of these away, but wanted to post something that works:
http://karip.smugmug.com/photo.....ggK-XL.jpg
I also have a seersucker pinstriped pair from Ann Taylor Loft that is nice for casual days, but I want to sew the slash pockets closed:
http://karip.smugmug.com/photo.....vo2-XL.jpg

Miniskirt (in the pants drawer because they have shorts built in)
This isn't worth keeping at all, is it? It seems kind of dated and even though I'm in my mid-twenties, my legs aren't fabulous. It's on the giveaway pile.
http://karip.smugmug.com/photo.....Hc2-XL.jpg

17 years ago

bella

(website)

Veteran

I am really not the right person to give advice about clamdiggers, bermudas, walkshorts, what not. I can hardly get my head around the whole vocabulary. But I was going to suggest keeping the skirt. I think your legs look great and that skirt looks super flattering on you.

Active Member

I'm still trying to convince myself to get rid of my cords. So I won't tell you to get rid of yours.

I really like your bermudas.

I think the clamdiggers are fine either way. I do like them shorter, but the longer length isn't bad.

I'm not a fan of minis, but if you feel good in it keep it.

Kari

Thanks for the suggestion, Beccacville. I'm just not sure if the length of the skirt is flattering... Maybe I'll hang on to it until I'm totally sure. It will be at least 4 months before it's warm enough to wear it out of the house!

I'm probably mixing up the terms for clamdiggers/cropped pants, but I understand that capris are the mid-calf length pants that are really hard for most people to wear because they shorten your legs. I got rid of several pairs of capris last summer and tried to invest in what Angie classifies as "walking shorts", but since it was a new silhouette that I wasn't sure about, I didn't want to spend a ton of money on them. Now I'm more convinced that I look taller and leaner in them than I did in mid-calf pants.

KH, thanks for your feedback. Maybe I should start by leaving the shorter of the pair (denim) as is but go ahead and chop off the brown pair. The goofy lace-up detail on the back of the cuff irritates me anyway.

JewelryGirl

Kari, what is a "wale"?? I will have to check this out tomorrow night...low on time tonight but curious...

JG, maybe I'm using the term incorrectly - I was referring to how wide the "corded" part is. Here's a more coherent explanation and visual from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corduroy
From my understanding, narrow-waled cords are preferable because the cording isn't so obvious when you aren't up close to the item and it just looks like velvety fabric.

This is Angie's blog on the subject: http://youlookfab.com/2008/09/.....oy-debate/

shiny

Cords: keep the grey pair until you find grey jeans; toss the brown pair. The grey pair seem to fit you better. The brown are too baggy.

AT Clams: keep, and hem (or just wear them rolled as in the photo). NICE!

ATL Clams: Toss - not worth the effort of hemming.

Bermudas: keep

Mini: toss. I suspect you'll get more use out of a denim skirt that hits at the knee?

Anonymous

My thoughts echo Shiny's, except that I'd also toss the grey cords if they are too short for PPL. Are you wearing them with heels?

marianne

I agree with Shiny and Joy - I can't see if grey cords are ppl. I am not completely against cords and it looks like they fit you well.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

The clams are great both as is and rolled up. The walk shorts are sweet so keep those too. I say pass on the rest.

Shiny, Joy, Marianne, and Angie: Thank you for being the voice of reason/reality check I needed so I can get rid of these pieces that don't work.

Thinking back, I realize that the items I'm thinking of altering will not be completely fab even at the right length. I wore the grey cords once last season and though these photos may not show it as well, they are really too tight on my hips but way too big and too low-cut at the small of my back, and they are at an awkward length: too short for heels, too long for flats or sneakers, and not worth tailoring. But I think they may look cute on someone else, so I might store them for swapping.

I also looked more closely at the brown clams this morning and noticed that even if I tailored the length, the back is flat and baggy and does nothing for my butt.

So I think I'm going to be ruthless, get rid of the cords, brown clams, and skirt. I'll look out for inexpensive white denim clams and purchase the sale pair of gray jeans I almost bought at Ann Taylor last week. I'm set to go on skirts (including a denim pencil AND denim A-line) so for what little hot weather we get in the PacNW, I'll be fine even if I don't find all of these items this season so there's very little pressure.

Thanks for all of the helpful feedback!

I bought grey jean cut twill or denim pants that at the AT Outlet ("slim fit, lower waist") that might be the ones you are considering. I love mine! Buy them tight fitting as they will stretch to conform to your body comfortably.

Thanks for the tip, Joy. I suspected that might be the case. My Ann Taylor "curvy" denim jeans fit nicely when I first bought them, but they stretched out a lot. I thought that the "modern fit" (slimmer through the hip and thigh) was too tight at first and was skeptical when the salesperson told me to buy small. This is good to know.

Category