London Trip capsule: Slouchy skinnies? - YouLookFab Forum

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London Trip capsule: Slouchy skinnies?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm planning my London trip capsule. I'll be there with hubby for a week in mid-late March.

Originally I'd been planning to bring 1 dress, 1 skirt, 1 slouchy trouser (lightweight wool) and one skinny trouser (cotton blend - black moto style skinny trousers from Theory).

Now I am considering swapping the motos for my BR slouchy skinny jeans.

But I'm concerned that with their distressing and dropped crotch they are too ...too something for a woman of a certain age (ugh, I mean MY age) and perhaps for my activities, which will include shopping, restaurants, galleries, and theatre.

Thoughts on this?

I still plan to take a dress, a skirt, the slouchy wool trousers....

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Dressing

36 replies

Latest reply was from krishnidoux

deb

Veteran

I really like these on you and do not see why there could be a problem. You will have other pants for dressier needs.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Suz, it is a tough one. I think you can dress them up with a nice blazer and blouse. I also don't think they are 'woman of a certain age' jeans at all. However the level of distressing can prevent them from being worn in certain places. I think they should work for shopping and galleries, dressed up for some not too fancy restaurants but not for theater IMO.
I am still debating if I should take my skinny jeans...

rae

(website)

Veteran

I have not actually *been* to London, but my impression is that the city has a strung urban/gritty leaning with its style. I think the distressing and slight dropped crotch would fit in there! Might even feel better than regular skinnies.

Runcarla

Veteran

You might not get into Harrod's in jeans, Suz! I'm bringing jeans for my trip, but straight leg and dark wash, and they will be mostly for travel days (train). Your activities sound more like skirt/trouser days.

DH and I were in Ireland and UK April 2010. We had superlative weather. (April is the month with the least amount of rain, and we had none...though there was that volcanic eruption in Iceland while we were there!).

I wore black straight leg jeans, Chelsea boots, and black t-shirt with a black trench for sight seeing in town, museum, pub. A chunky sweater for the day at Kew. A dress, flats, and velvet jacket for restaurant and theatre.

We had walked a lot during a previous visit with our 2 boys in 2005, but in 2010 we mastered the tube.

BTW, you rock the jeans.

And for what it's worth, DH wore a blue/grey tweed jacket instead of a fleece or shell. It went with chinos or jeans, and he fit right in everywhere he went.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I wonder if something like this helps at all?
http://streetpeeper.com/cities.....treet_peep

Gaylene

Veteran

Hmm, I've always felt better in a classic, dark wash jean as a woman of a certain age when I'm in London or Paris. Actually, in spite of the fact I wear my jeans constantly at home, I often just pack trousers or straight-legged pants if I'm going to a larger city outside of North America.

I'm sure others will disagree, but, to my mind, I just feel that a hint of sophistication looks more age-appropriate when going to the theatre, galleries, and restaurants. But then, you ought to take my observation with a grain of salt, because it reflects the attitude of a 60+ woman.

Lyn D.

Veteran

Well, I think the jeans look FAB, and agree with Sveta that you might be more comfy in something dressier for the theatre.
Sounds like a great trip!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Suz just my opinion but I wouldn't take anything I was unsure about in a travel capsule. Dark-wash jeans would work in any situation these would & more:)

Raisin

Veteran

I think your jeans are fine for your age. I would think you might like to have one pair of jeans there, for casual activities, because your skirt and dress and trousers are all good for dressier activities.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Well, I am of that "certain age," and I would wear those in a NY minute (or should I say London minute?)!

Oh wait, I am already wearing them!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Remind me what your black moto skinny Theory trousers look like.

Jjsloane

Veteran

Suz this style of jean is fabulous on you. I think the question is do you want to have jeans on your trip. I always find a space for jeans, but would not displace a nice pair of black pants if it's that tight.

Thistle

Veteran

My thoughts would be to go the dressier route. I have never been to London, but I understand most of Europe is dressier than the US. I have been to Manchester, and I found the people there dressed up more than our Midwestern offices, but not by much.

Runcarla

Veteran

BBC is forecasting extended dry weather end of Feb. through March, and above season high the end of March. 5-10 deg. C is the March ave. temp., and March is one of the lowest precip. months.

Snowdrops are in bloom now, and the spring standards, crocus, daff's are due in March.

dicey

First, I think these look great on you and are perfect on this side of the pond. That said, I was in London last month and, while jeans are everywhere, I didn't see the distressed look much. Most of the jeans looked more polished.

missvee

Veteran

London is unlike other major cities because of the complete eccentricity of its fashion. You will see everything on the streets - boho, punk, high fashion, business attire, middle aged ladies with scarves tied under their chins - you name it. Don't forget this is the hometown of the Queen, and Vivienne Westwood! So take whatever you want and don't worry one bit. You'll fit right in. I've been many times and love this city. We always changed into something fairly presentable for dinner or theatre, but there's so need to go overboard.

Debora

Veteran

My gut instinct would be to go a bit more polished, Suz. Do you have room to bring both?

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

They are not an exaggerated slouchy skinny so I think they are fine.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Although I guess that anything goes in London these days in most places, I think you will feel better to err on the side of dressy. Those jeans would probably work well for a lot of situations but, since you are bring a very pared down capsule, I think you might be happier with the other option (which I would like to see please).

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Suz, are the black moto Theory trousers the pants you recently wore with a white shirt and the Danier moto jacket where Angie or Inge said you were a darling of a UP in black and white?

You look spectacular in these slouchy skinnies. Is there ANY way you can take both the Theory and these? I mean, you may just get to London and "feel" like you want to a more distressed look. Sometimes the local vibe of a city encourages a change in us and what we want to present. Having both in your luggage will give you options.

Anonymous

My impression of London was more polished, less grunge. I think I will vite for the theory pants. These look awesome, by the way. I just think the trousers can be dressed up mote easily.

Joy

Veteran

I think it may depend on what part of London you will spend the most time. There are posh parts and more gritty parts. I'm also wondering about jeans for my Japan trip, thinking of dark wash, non distressed. However, Rae's link for Tokyo street outfits is full of dropped crotch, slouchy pants, but not jeans so much.
What will Mr. Suz be wearing? You might like to have a similar degree of dressy/casualness.

Anonymous

I doubt anyone would bat an eye at anything at all in London. It's just a matter of "who you want to be" while you're there. Those jeans might be fine for everything except dinner and the theater, but perhaps your other pants would be more versatile. I've been to Harrod's numerous times on layovers, and I *must* have gone in jeans!

Day Vies

Veteran

This is one of my favorite wiw's of yours. This outfit is an excellent representation of the person I have come to know in you. You don't look like your are "trying" to look young you simply look like your youthful self. I say it should go with you. You may teach the Brits a thing or two about casual polished Urban Princes.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Such wisdom. You are wonderful!

I will show the Theory motos ASAP. Vicki - you are close - those were actually my Gap Real Skinnies in that WIW, but they look almost identical to that.

I guess I started considering a jean option because I have black wool slouchy trousers, a black skirt and a navy dress. And a taupe leather jacket. It was all feeling a bit dark and wintery and somber. The lighter wash jean seemed like a way to make it feel more "spring" like for the more casual parts of the trip.

I don't really have a dark wash denim that I would want to take. And, well...my point was to get away from DARK.

I did briefly consider bringing my white jeans. But even if Runcaria is right and it doesn't rain much, I have been to London several times and considering the amount of walking and tube-taking I'll be doing, I don't think white jeans are too smart.

Joy - good question about Mr. Suz. And I am glad you reminded me, because I don't think he is bringing jeans! (This is the man who used to wear nothing else. Oh, Angie, see what you hath wrought!! Now HE wants to Look Fab all the time!!)

Vicki, I think with (technically) 4 bottoms I should be covered (ahem). I want to go with a carry on only and it's not many days, after all...so...

But 2 pair of black pants (even though different styles) somehow felt dull.

Runcaria, thank you for the BBC weather report! I hope they are right about the temperatures being warm. Although last year hubs and I travelled to NYC at the same time and it was FREAKISHLY warm, as in 80F....wow, remember that? I had to bring a monster suitcase with spring, summer, and winter clothes in it for a six day trip! Because we really did have to deal with that variety!

Rae - thanks for Streetpeeper! That was fun to go through those.

And thank you everyone else for weighing in.

By the way, the other options are both dressier and (for the most part) more conservative -- the sheath dress you saw the other day, a knee length black pencil skirt, and my black slouchy trousers. So....I would have plenty of safe options.

I'm leaning towards not taking these now but wish I did have the right denim to take!

Gaylene

Veteran

Suz, unless you think you need a casual pair of jeans, why not leave room in your carry on for a bit of shopping? If you are only going for a week and if you didn't find anything in London (a problem that I've never experienced, personally--as my husband can attest) that still means you'd only have to wear each of the other three items 2-3 times.

Adelfa

Veteran

You look SO cute in them.

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

I live in London (albeit in the suburbs) and I would wear those jeans there in a heartbeat. You look very youthful and chic in them. You have other, dressier options for theatre/restaurants, so the jeans deserve a place in your bag.

I wouldn't pack white jeans - late March is a little too early unless we get freakishly warm weather. Remember too that our weather forecasts are only really reliable for the next three days - the long range forecasts cannot be relied upon!!

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I just woke up and saw this - you've been adviced well already. I agree that you look really good in those jeans, and it will be nice to have an alternative to dark bottoms. You are in your best age for distressed jeans, Suz! London is, in my experience, anything you'd like it to be, and the street vibe is very different from area to area.

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