Help me save a wardrobe orphan ( millitary pants) - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Help me save a wardrobe orphan ( millitary pants)

Tanya

Veteran

I have this awesome pair of wants that I rarely wear. They are not just basic black pants, but have this cool military buttons and styling, which made me get them in the first place. They fit great, and are of awesome quality as well ( lined tropical wool!).

The problem is not necessary in them, but how to wear them. In order to show of the cool military details, one would have to tuck the top in, which I have a feeling is not too good of a look on my long waisted/short legged body:

http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN5018.jpg

http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN5022.jpg

If I wear the top at the minimal length for pants, half of the detail is covered:

http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN5024.jpg

Any ideas on how to solve this? Many thanks!

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

Sihaya

Veteran

Tanya this is a tough one to solve without tucking in. The only thing I can think of is a tucked in top with an equestrian style jacket that will have the sides angled and cut off to display the military style details. Also, to my eye, you don't look bad at all with a tucked in cami. I think you can totally pull off that look.

AJ

Veteran

Angie wears her denim harem pants with a tucked in top:
http://youlookfab.com/2010/04/.....-surprise/

I think for pants with special detailing, it's fine to bend the hem line rules.

Anonymous

When I look at the Net A Porter website, I see lot's of the models who would tuck that white cami in and through on a fab coat or cardi, leave it open to show the detail on the pants, and have a fab bag and necklace.
I think in reality you'd want something more than a cami, how about a silk tank top or something like that, with a fly away cardi.

puffenstuff

(website)

Veteran

I agree with San - I think you can wear it tucked in but maybe a top with a little more detail would look better with it. I just had a quick squiz on Polyvore and while these pants are not exactly the same you might get some ideas from it

http://www.polyvore.com/summer.....d=19625904

I also think it looks fine untucked too.

Ele

(website)

Tanya, great pants!

I agree with some of the others- a tucked-in top combined with a longer layer on top (cascading cardi, boyfriend cardi, longer length jacket) should take care of both issues, I'd imagine. Also, I don't think that the tucked-in look is bad on you, at all- though I might try a darker colour on top, to minimize the top/bottom divide.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Can you try the tucked-in top with a longer layer and post photos? I love the pants on you.

Dusty

(website)

I like the idea of a longer jacket or cardigan left open, but I'm wondering what a cropped jacket or cardigan would look like instead? I'm thinking if the jacket and the top are contrasting colors, it would break up the torso a bit, making it seem more proportional.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm going to think out of the box. Shorten them to clams and add heels or boots to lengthen the leg line. Tuck in a top. That way you've balanced out proportions.

Cool pants!

Vix

Veteran

Seconding the idea to start with a dark top and go from there!

Right now all the attention is on the spot where you "divide" vs the cool details, but if you match or blend your upper and lower halves you'll have a lot more leeway to play.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Lots of great ideas here, Tanya. Which way are you going to go?

Lisa

Veteran

I like the idea of a tucked in top with less contrast and a very short or very long jacket as a topper. I think with a statement pant like this you can get away with tucking in.

Scarlet

Veteran

I didn't read any comments yet, but I would say try a tucked-in cami or T-shirt with a cropped sweater.

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you all so much for your input, there are a lot of great ideas here. ( As I mentioned on my WIW thread I have been MIA from the forum this last week due to internet outage because of the last weeks nasty storm).

I am going to try the tucked in dark top with either cascading cardi or shorter jackets and post pictures later in the day.

Angie, the idea of shortening them to clams is very intriguing but I think I would prefer to make them work as full length pants since I can not wear clams to work while I can pants. I am also curious, do you think that clams+ tucked in top + heels/boots is more leg lengthening that same top full length pants plus heels?

Maya

Veteran

Tanya, I am confused by this. Isn't tucking was MORE leg lengthening? This is why I don't do it. When you tuck your are shortening your torso and lengthening your legs. There is more pant than shirt showing. Am I making any sense?

Tanya

Veteran

I think it also has to do with where the waistband of the bottom hits. These particular pants have medium-low rise so when I tuck in I emphasize how long my torso (and short my legs) are. I typically only tuck tops into very high rise pants/skirts - like my yesterday's pencil skirt.

That's why I think, since your shorts are medium-low rise as well, that you could do the opposite from me - tuck in a very light-colored top for high contrast look - which should be torso lengthening/leg shortening.

Sara

I think a slightly voluminous blouse tucked in might be the thing; something to balance the proportions a bit but also provide femininity.

Tanya

Veteran

So here are the photos of the possible combination, with a tucked in black top to create a monochromatic base.

1. With the top alone:
http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN5058.jpg

2. With a cascading cardi:
http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN5060.jpg

3. With a cropped jacket:
http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN5064.jpg

4. With a wrap sweater:
http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....CN5067.jpg

So what do we think, do any of these work? Many thanks!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I love the second one!

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you very much Khris!

I would be very curious to here more input on the possibilities. Thanks!

Tricia

Veteran

I like the second one, too, and I also like them with the cropped jacket.

I have a similar pair of pants (mine are Navy surplus with all the buttons and lacings) and they're a wardrobe orphan, too. This has given me some ideas, if I can ever get into those pants again someday.

bj1111

Veteran

love the 2nd and the 3rd options.

re the clams option...how about folding the pants and taping them down with packing tape then model a few outfits to see for yourself if the tucked in shirt + clams + boots are more leg-lengthening than full length pants.

if you don't like this option, zip off the tape and iron out the crease.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You have been very busy Tanya!

I'm the odd one out and prefer the tucked in top best. I also like the wrap.

Vix

Veteran

Wow, now that you've got the dark base almost anything goes....

For a favorite I'm split between the jacket and the wrap sweater; IMO, both of them really emphasize the button detailing and their close-fitting silhouettes create a "new uniform" feel.

However, the cardigan goes in a different direction and I like that too!

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you all very much for your help with this! It looks that every version has someone that likes it, so I guess it is up to me at the end. I personally prefer the wrap sweater the best; but like the others too, so will be wearing these pants again once it cools of.

Lisa

Veteran

Hmm I missed the second set of photos, I like the first two the best. The tucked in top and the top with the cardi. I like the IDEA of a jacket with these pants too but I think the jacket needs to be short. My least fave is the wrap cardi, to me the cardi detail and the shape/tie on the side distract from the fab detailing on the pants.