Thanks, everyone. Some really good suggestions and thoughts.

Deb, I am "at peace with the crease" as Angie says, and do wear linen quite happily if it has a good weight and drape. This linen is quite thin and would not drape as well unlined...which is part of the problem, I suspect. The length would have to be adjusted as they are supposed to be a cropped pant. It is just that they are so slouchy on me and I am short, so they are betwixt and between.

Thank you, Amanda and Mona.

Krish, that is a good warning. In a super-hot summer they would certainly get less wear.

Ingunn, for approximately two months, evenings typically stay quite warm. Warm enough that I don't wear a topper at all. Unless I am going somewhere air conditioned, and even then I probably wouldn't bother except at a movie or someplace like that, where they always have it on so high.

It is worth considering another lining, although I think it would add so much to the cost that it would no longer be worth it. These were not an expensive item to begin with and I got them at 45% off.

Denise, my thoughts exactly -- they're not good for wearing at home in the heat. I will give some thought as to whether there'd be enough occasions for me to wear. Re the length: it is probably just the way I am standing. They are quite slouchy and might be dropping more on one hip than the other.

Beth Ann, thank you - and you make an excellent point about the bagging. I suspect you are completely right about that.

Freckles, thank you - and nice to see you pop up. I didn't buy any tees last summer at all. (I bought some woven tops). So I was in the market for a couple. I do prefer a higher or more covered neckline for figure flattery, but I am less particular on this than Angie, who has a very strict guideline for neck/ shoulder point coverage for herself. My neck is a little shorter and thicker than hers and my shoulder line is less delicate, so I sort of take it on a case by case basis -- a lot depends on the other proportions of the top and entire outfit. But I sometimes need other eyes to help me see whether it works. Wide Vs or wide scoops are definite "do not" unless I plan to layer a camisole underneath. But other necklines are all possible, depending.

Elizabeth, that is a really good point - they could be a bridging piece. The only issue is that in May/ September I might reach for my white jeans instead (which are warmer). So that would only leave part of June (until the heat hits).

Well...luckily I do not have to make this decision for 57 days!!

Suz, am late here to say the pants are looking fab on you, and actually I like their original length but not with these platform wedges which are too high here, rather with a ballet flat, or smaller wedge/flat sandal!
If I were you, I would trust Mr. Suz's eyes, and would keep them for sure, lined or not, there sure will rise up an occasion where they will earn their money!
What about an early spring outfit, when not that big heat, or a cloudy chillier late summer day/evening, Or a dressier occasion, where you wouldn't like to show wrinkles, but could still bare with the lining.
I do have some lined white pants for summer and would keep them for those fewer dressier occasions.

Before I go on and on about how killer these trousers will be after length alteration (high five, Mr. Suz!), you need to make a decision about the lining (whether it's good or bad). You are a much better judge than me about how hot you run Suz, and what the Summer is like in your neck of the woods.

And high five! I love linen too. So at peace with that particular crease.

It is SOOOO tough to say, Angie! Right now, of course, they feel super-fab. But it is still freezing outside! We got SNOW yesterday. (Obviously, I could not wear these outdoors in this weather.)

But when I say they feel super-fab, I mean they are comfortable and nicely draping. I suspect in mid-summer during the day they would be intolerable for me unless I were in an air conditioned environment. In air conditioning, they would be totally fine. But...how much time do I spend in air conditioned environments? Answer: not much.

Hubs has a pair of linen pants that are lined to the knee only. He does not find them too hot in our summers.

The aspect of the pants that makes the situation even more confusing is that they really are slouchy and baggy on me. What this means is that they barely touch me except for at the waist/ hip area. That might make them more do-able, at least for summer evenings. The worst thing about lining is when it sticks to your skin.

I am not a fan of the pants ( Sorry Suz and Angie): I think they would need a lot of alterations to be Suz-worhty. The BR top is stunning and the loft tops are good basics that fit you well and mesh with your current lifestyle.

SUZ! Sorry for shouting! I was at the mall yesterday trying on these pants in both colors. Did you know that the taupe ones (Tropical Teak) are UNLINED?
The fabric may or may not be a bit more substantial, but they are opaque and felt just lovely on. They didn't have my size in the store, but I ordered a pair.

Yep. I had the same feelings as you about the icky lining in the white pair. The white linen they used is VERY transparent. Even with the lining, I could see my printed blouse through (that I had tucked in). So I immediately crossed those off my list.

As for length, I have a standard inseam and they hit a few inches above my ankle (shorter than yours). I think shortening them like Angie suggested would improve your proportions.

I'm drooling over your delicious rayon tops! What a score on those. You look fabulous and ready for summer!

I should have read your other post first, sorry! I think they are still running the Friends and Family discount today if you want to order the taupe pair online.

Since we already own the same bold silk blue/grey leopard print shirt, I'm not sure if I should be scared or smiling that you and I own that same blue/green top *and* that my new work bag is cobalt. [I've worn my top open like a vest and with the collar turned back to make a V.] The top looks great on you with the white pants!

Re the Ts -- perfect neckline on you, especially for summer. You don't want a crew strangling you when it's hot hot hot out.

VIx - that is fabulous!! I am thrilled to know that we are now also summer top twins. I was thinking this top would work really well on Claire, too, hint hint, Claire...look for a discount at BR!! (I got mine on substantial sale.) Vix, I really like your options for wearing the top as well...I had tried with the collar turned back but hadn't thought to wear it like a vest -- great idea!!

Claire, I can't order the pants because they don't have my size online now (at least on the Canadian shopping portal) and also, I would have to endure the dread Fifty-One, which is how they do their shipping. Meaning lots of extra charges and a much higher rate than what I paid. Alas....

I'll bet these pants look fantastic on you. Oh, for the extra inches in my legs!

Hi again Suz --

Yep, discounts/coupon stacking galore happened on my end too. I really had to extend my SP/SU work capsule in a hurry (eventually I might get it together enough to share) and am pleased how things have come together. Now I just need to stop looking.

I actually thought of all you Taupers because after hunting, trying, buying, and even returning some white blazers in a variety of styles I had the epiphany that a taupe jacket would work with 95% of my warmer-weather stuff -- shoes, accessories, tops, skirts. So many of my tops have dark brown and taupe mixed in with color-color and get worn with dark brown when it's cooler...why I was fixated on white vs LIGHT for summer I don't know. [Duh!]

Unfortunately the blue/green top looks better with white...but I'll survive, ha.

What did you get for a taupe jacket? Curious minds want to know!!

Hi Suz --

The jacket's not terribly exciting and probably too classic for you, but I tried on more "exciting" shapes in white and wasn't thrilled with how the proportions were working on me.

Benefits of this one (aside from color, which is definitely more of a grey-brown vs brown-grey shade of taupe) were:

* $70 price -- as I did get it for 40% off the sale price despite online saying one can't

* extremely light weight, unlike many of the white ones I tried (poly/rayon, so not tropical wool but at least semi-breathable thanks to the rayon)

* matte texture (I wear a lot of silk shells in the summer and didn't want a shiny silk blazer or a stiff slub silk)

* ability to get a little back from the consignment shop if I find something better a few seasons down the line

http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/c.....dId=301092

I like it, Vix, and I'll bet it looks superb on you. The little back detail is nice. Thank you for coming back and letting me know!

I think the pants will be perfect once shortened, but lined linen would be too hot for me for everyday-type wear in the summer. However, our evenings can get very cool (assuming yours do too), so I would keep these as evening-going-out pants.

In fact, DH and I spend many weekends in the summer in Sackets Harbor, a small town on Lake Ontario in NY - I might have to run out to The Loft and try a pair of those pants for myself!

Oh, too bad. I actually like where they hit at your ankle, and the rear view is superb, something I hope I can achieve. Thanks to your thread(s) and all of the comments, I re-ordered in the next size down as well. I tried the white on for size, but the unlined taupe might feel a bit larger/bag out since they don't have the lining. The last thing I need is too-big linen pants that fall off, since there aren't any belt loops.

Suz, you're a writer and work from home, yes? So you probably spend lots of time typing and sitting at the computer? The lining would definitely touch your skin and stick if you perspire.

Good point, Rae. Oh dear. Still debating. Claire raises and excellent point - - there are no belt loops so stretching out could be fatal!

Suz, you've probably already made a decision, but I wonder if it's worth it to keep them since the price is right. You can consider it an experiment in pants linings. They look so good on you and clearly go with so many items in your wardrobe that it seems to me to be worth a try!

Suz- sorry for being late to this discussion, but wanted share these thoughts:

1- You wear so many clothes so well, that it is worth noting your ambivalence. You can be very happy with the right pair of linen pants,
2. I like most views of you in those pants, but something about the front view is not as fab to my eye as the other views.
3. I have a lined white linen jacket that I bought a couple of years ago. It fits perfectly and I had high hopes. I have not worn it once. The linen makes me refrain until a warmer season and then we go straight to humid hot weather. It has not worked for me. YMMV.

You may want to try them at a great price point. I have to get more selective about how I use the real estate in my large closet. Two years and never on me is something I need to figure out.

I always enjoy your posts.

I think you look great in all of these - esp. that cobalt blue (yes, I know late to the discussion) but I will say that with so much trepidation about whether the pants will/won't work, for me this alone would mean they would not work. I just can't stand when I am really undecided about something like that and usually opt to return. But DH loving them adds a lot of pull I realize. Still, that said, has he loved other items you ended up not loving so much? Does DH understand the lining issue too?

I also must say that the pants are okay, but to me they are not necessarily "stellar" in that I can see the pockets so easily through the thin fabric and the fit needs to be altered, meaning an investment into them.

I guess it depends on how badly you want linen pants and how hard you've searched already for the right pair.