I found my pants?

Roxanna

I think these pants are everything. But do they work on my pear shape? I will hem them to wear with lower heels.

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7 years ago

Urgent

24 replies

Latest reply was from lpr200

Suz

(website)

Veteran

OH, those are gorgeous. More a gaucho pant or culotte than a true pant. My favourite thrift find ever was a similar pair in a dull sagey-olive raw silk.

So, they will be great for your shape. The only issue is styling. What have you got to wear with them. You are going to have to take them home and do try-on sessions to get proportions.

7 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I voted nay.

I have to caution you, Roxanna. These are not versatile culottes. Great with a fitted tucked top, but not really anything else. Not so fab layered with a jacket either - unless it's very short. For me, these are high Summer pants. (I am talking from my own experience with the silhouette).

I don't think the fit is perfect either. They pull on the pockets and pleats - and they will pull more as you sit and walk. That said, I love the idea of you in culottes. OF COURSE you can wear an A-line silhouette as a pear shape. Why not!

7 years ago

Anonymous

Yes, Angie sees things that I wouldn't have.
My immediate reaction was Yes! Yes! Yes! but Angie is right.

I have to say: these are beautiful! I love the tie and the shape.

7 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I love the style on you, Roxanna, but I see what Angie is getting at on the fit. The pleats should drape more in front. These pants are beautiful and dramatic, and they suit your style really well. So I'd be tempted to try another size or to keep an eye out for similar styles. Maybe you could get a more versatile culotte that you could wear with or without a sash.

7 years ago

Roxanna

Veteran

Hmmmm. Thank you all for the quick and thoughtful feedback. I love them and reasoned that I could wear them with a fitted long sleeve top, but Angie, you are right - I am looking for versatile pants, certainly not high summer ones, and since I run cold I would want to layer on top, which as you say would ruin the line. And I thought the slight pull was OK but you're right - it will get worse as I walk or sit. Dang! I love them.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Hmm, they are so fab, but I do see now what Angie sees.

7 years ago

Banoffi

Veteran

I like the look on you, but I agree with Angie. I also agree with Smittie - that Angie sees things that I would have.

7 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I think the concept is cool but I totally get Angie's point. I have tie waist pants that are not that versatile because the tie gets in the way of most untucked tops; mine are lower rise than these so I can semi-tuck OK but I don't even think you'd really be able to semi tuck into these.

I do also see what Angie sees with the pleats not falling flat. That type of pleating rarely works on me as a pear unless they are stitched down at the top.

7 years ago

viva

Veteran

Darn. I get everything that has been said about them, and they definitely lack versatility. But I can't help but love them. I probably would have bought them anyway (if I had a little waist like you) and worn them just with the couple of things they do work with.

(This is why I am not a fashion professional.)

7 years ago

Roxanna

Veteran

@viva I did buy them! And then I returned them. And now I am thinking of buying them again, even though I know I should not. Sigh...

7 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Don't buy them again. You will thank me later. You can get past the lack of versatility - not every item has to be versatile! - but the fit is going to bug you after a few sit-downs, and look worse and worse.

7 years ago

Roxanna

Veteran

@angie - you are totally right. I didn't buy them, and I am thanking you already. Especially after such an emotional closet cleanout - the last thing I need is a pair of very expensive pants that don't fit well and are not versatile. Since I have so few pants, I need them to be versatile - but more than that, the beauty of them is ruined since the fit is off (I looked at some other fitting room pics and you are right, they look worse and worse. I often forget that standing straight in from of a mirror is the best case scenario!)

Thank you for being honest and diplomatic - it's important for me to only buy what I need and what works well on my body and my lifestyle right now, given all I bought at NAS and the closet cleanout. As always, you have steered me in the right direction

7 years ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

The wider crop pants look really does require a lot of extra thought on tops. I have been trying to keep an eye out for shorter length sweaters (but not totally cropped) for cropped flare pants -- so many of mine are too long and the lines get all messed up.

7 years ago

viva

Veteran

So Roxanna, let's find you (and me) some cropped wide pants that don't have a tie at the waist. It feels like such a new and different silhouette; we just have to find the right ones (that work for a pear and a rectangle). I have a few in Finds; maybe Angie will have something to say about this shape in her Fall roundup post. Lots of pleating, though, so we'll have to watch the fit there.

And Lisa, there are a lot of shorter, but not cropped, sweaters coming out this fall. The JCrew striped sweater and the Alice & Olivia bell-sleeve sweater are good examples of what I have seen recently -- definitely a shorter cut. I think there will be lots of options.

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7 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

I think that it was a wise decision to return them, as much as you liked them. I am all up for Viva's idea of finding a version that fits better.
I personally do not require everything I own to be very versatile - if I really love something I don't mind that it can be only styled in one or two ways (that is why my wardrobe is quite large). However, fit is a different thing and I wouldn't compromise there.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Agree with viva to continue the hunt for cropped wide pants. With higher shaft boots, these should, theoretically, be ok for winter.

Love those windowpane pants viva!

7 years ago

Roxanna

Veteran

Thanks so much everyone!

@viva - the search is on! I've wanted a pair like this for the last two seasons (@Suz - I wish i had scored a vintage find like you!) Thank you for starting the search - and you're right, the trick is int he plets. I love the Tibi ones (interesting shoes paired with it...I wonder of lace ups are coming back in?) though I really love the bow and colour of the CM ones.

@smittie - that was my thought, too - pairing with knee high boots for winter and therefore avoiding winter slush!

7 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I think you've learned though that the right ones will look great on you. Maybe a lightweight drapey gray wool.
I would look for a brand or styld that tends to be cut more curvy, size it for good skimming hip fit and get the waist tailored. Also you're onto the length deal-/ you may not find the perfect fit at already-perfect length, since lengths are all over the map, but you can alter that.

7 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ah, yes. I expanded the photo (was on my phone in first comment) and saw what Angie was seeing. And I guess I saw the versatility issue (or lack thereof) right from the start.

My thrift store version are no more, alas -- they were an early 90s score that I wore into the ground. And I should have said -- I wore them HIGH SUMMER only. With tucked woven tank tops. Always a full tuck. I had 2 or 3 standard tops that I used and that was it, so no versatility at all.

In my opinion, that kind of "pant" needs to be treated as a "skirt." A midi-a-line skirt with pleats. (Mine had slight gathers more than pleats, by the way, and only very small and slight in the front, so the pleating issue wasn't an issue. Also they did not have pockets and the drape was wonderful, because, raw silk.)

It's sad, though, because they were lovely -- but, onwards!!

7 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ditto Smittie on the boot thing. This is my hope. A change from the ubiquitous skinny. But the fabrication has to be right. Needs to be warm enough.

7 years ago

avicennia

Veteran

Such s smart observation from Suz! I've slowly been coming to the same m realization that culottes need to be treated like skirts!

7 years ago

Roxanna

Veteran

@Suz - yes! I realize now that they were 'fake' pants and would have been fussy and not versatile at all. It's fine to purchase culottes like that (provided they fit well), but going in knowing their versatility limits is key. As @Avicennia said - they really should be treated like skirts.

7 years ago

Kimberley

(website)

Active Member

I agree that these are not that versatile but the cut is fantastic and they look SO good on you!

7 years ago

lpr200

Veteran

I thought those were great on you, but once I saw it with Angie's eye, I see how it doesn't quite work. It's like the Smythe jackets I returned. I felt sad, but it means there is something better-- perfect for you to there!

7 years ago

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