What are your favorite fluid bottoms? - YouLookFab Forum

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What are your favorite fluid bottoms?

Gigi

Veteran

Keturah's recent thread on how surprised she was that she loved fluid bottoms (especially her new harem pants) got me thinking about my own closet. I have recently branched out into fluid tops, but I have very few fluid bottoms. I have a couple of maxi skirts, which would count as fluid, but that's about it. I do have a couple of pairs of bootcut jeans, but they are kind of "cheating" because they are fitted in the thigh. Though they do perhaps give a bit of the same effect as a fluid bottom.

I am short and so have been scared to try any fluid bottoms, worried that they will envelop me in a vortex of fabric. (How's that for an image?) The two maxis that I have are very straight cut, and so the effect isn't as overwhelming and works on my 5'2" frame.

So I have been wondering what other people do for fluid bottoms in their wardrobes. What are your favorite fluid bottoms?

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from T

JayS

Veteran

We're about the same height, and like you, I was hesitant to try fluid bottoms. I'm a little touchy about my bottom half looking big. I have 2 pairs of fluid pants that I love and have found to be surprisingly versatile. Of the 2, I prefer the Helmut Lang pants. They go with everything. I got them on deep discount at Clear the Rack which left room to have them tailored...they were a size too big. I had them take in the lower legs also so that the lower leg opening would remain the same after a considerable hem.
The Rebecca Taylor track pants show as an ankle pant on the model. On me, they're full length with plenty of scrunch. I quite like them. They too are versatile. I wear the track pants according to Angie's sporty lux formula.
http://youlookfab.com/2014/06/.....ble-trend/
I think the key to making a fluid bottom fit on a shorter person is in the drape. The softer fabrications allow a hint of your body shape underneath to give some structure. Stiffer fabric didn't work for me.

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Gigi

Veteran

Jay, the track pants look comfy! And what a score with the HLs!

When you say that stiff fabric didn't work for you, do you mean like boyfriend jeans?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have a pair of slouchy black trousers that I like a lot. They drape is amazing on them. And I like my charcoal Theory wide legs, too. I don't get to wear those as often because of weather conditions.

I had the Leith silky track pants but they didn't seem practical for my climate and I only wore them a few times, so I offered them to another Fabber.

And of course I now have the J. Crew linen drawstring pants. These work better for me than the Leiths. The Leiths were poly, so neither here nor there, if you know what I mean. Perfect for air conditioning or a temperate climate; not so good for my hot summers. (Of course I won't wear the J. Crews in the winter!)

ETA: I am 5'4" (barely).

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Deborah

Veteran

I am with you! I really prefer fluid tops and structured or skinny bottoms. But I have ventured carefully into fluid bottoms by way of my harem leggings, which I love, and two pairs of slouchy pants that are tapered at the ankle. This works I think because they are not 100% fluid, if that makes sense. There is still some structure to reign them in. I can't access other pics now but here are my harems. I am also a petite at not quite 5"2 but I think it can be done if we are mindful of the overall proportions.

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dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

Being an IT, I've found that fluid bottoms balance me out more than skinnies. That said, I've got the EF harems, some Vince trousers with a harem feel, two pairs of white linen trousers, several pairs of wide leg slacks and a pair of linen track pants. They really feel sophisticated to me in a way many of my tighter bottoms don't.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I am not a big fan of fluid bottoms. (Hehehe. /inner six year old) That said, I do have two pair that I wear. One is a maxi skirt that I bought on mega discount at Loft when maxis were everywhere a couple of years ago. It's plain black so it's a bit too somber for the cheery casual occasions that I think a jersey maxi would be suited for. I do wear it a lot while traveling; it's great for plane flights.

The other is a more recent acquisition, an elastic waist peg trouser from Asos, from their Curve (plus) line. I ordered a ton of stuff from Asos just to try earlier in the spring and most of it went back, but this I found surprisingly flattering. It's similar to this one but in black. http://us.asos.com/ASOS-CURVE-.....XkvUHJvZC8.
I don't wear it as much as I should since it's out of my comfort zone but it's also comfy for travel and surprisingly nice with just a graphic tee.

JayS

Veteran

Gigi, I guess my definition of fluid might be a little different than others. When I think fluid fit I don't just think oversize, I think drapey...the fabric has motion. Before I found the RT track pants, I tried on several pairs that were a bit stiffer fabric..or maybe just cheaper fabric. Below the waistband gather, the fabric would just balloon out. It didn't follow my body. Not a good look. I guess I consider BF jeans more slouchy. I have a couple of pairs..the lemming TR Cameron and the lemming Kut Catherine. Yep..proud lemming here. I like them both. I tend to wear them full length mostly because they are so long that the roll is too thick when rolled to the proper length. I'm becoming more accepting of the leg shortening roll and am planning on taking the Camerons in to have them shortened so that I can roll them properly. BFs take many shapes and I tried on many pairs before I found some that worked for me.

Sal

Veteran

I am a different shape but find volume on the bottom easier on the top as I am shortwaisted and busty....
I like drapey pants if they are cut well.
I like a maxi skirt as long as it is not gathered but more A line in shape.
I like full skirts as long as they are knee length or just a smidge longer, and preferably with a heel.
The right wide legged pants can be great as long as they are the right length.
I mostly wear skimming/fluid tops with them - without too much volume.

Adelfa

Veteran

I wear tapered bottoms. My only maxi skirt is almost straight. I do have one pair of tapered black pants by Calvin Klein. The material is so fine that it drapes and gives an effect of fluidness without volume.

I have some fit and flare dresses, but I haven't worn them this summer. Well, once, and I felt very far from fab.

rabbit

Veteran

I like track pant bottoms that drape softly and narrow at the ankle. It's especially nice if there is a band and you can push them up if you want to bare more ankle. I also like floor sweeping maxis that are smooth at the waist (no gathers), and I have a midi length mermaid skirt of a fluid heavy knit that twirls around my calves when I walk. It works better with more cropped tops and heels, but it's nice in motion and fun to wear.

Keturah

Veteran

I'm in total agreement with everyone: if the drape is good and you're mindful of overall proportions, you should be golden!

The H&M harems are deliciously drapey. They're not one bit stiff, so you should be good.

E

Veteran

These are my favourites (and new to me): since I've gotten these, I've decided to send my previous loose trouser attempts back to Goodwill, because they're just not . They have a regular fly plus drawstring waist, so I can adjust the rise to suit what I need. They're loose but drape beautifully thanks to being 100% rayon (well, lyocell, which is a type of rayon). They're a size 0, which I think is why they're still flattering on my tush (in skinnies, said tush pretty much never fits in 0s, I generally have to size up to at least a 2-4). That and they have back pockets, which I think helps add a bit of structure. And they taper down the leg, ending in a fairly fitted ankle that's easy to roll/cuff to change the hemline.

They're Ann Taylor Loft, but since I bought them from LikeTwice, I have no idea how recent they are. I'm 5' 3" w a long torso: my legs are the same length as my 5' 1" mother.

E

Veteran

That being said, if we're just talking about adding volume on bottom, you know I love my full skirts! As long as they're fitted at my natural waist & end in the general knee area, I don't feel overwhelmed by fabric. But that also comes down to mysterious body type differences: for instance, I look really blah in a-line skirts, that don't have a lot of fabric, just widen between waist and hem. Whereas pleated, gathered, and circle ones all flatter me tremendously. Weird, right?

kkards

Veteran

i really like this pair of linen pants from athro. i'm 5'4ish (but most of my height is in my legs), so i bought the regular size and had then shorten, but they also come in petite, which may work better for you. i liked the drapeyness, coupled with the tailoredness. i found that combination worked really well for me.
http://www.anthropologie.com/a.....30375901#/

Peri

Veteran

These are mine: http://www.southmoonunder.com/......html?star

I don't have a picture wearing them, but the material is soft as silk. But rayon of course, cheaper, and I haven't worn them enough to tell you how well they hold up. If they last a season or two they are worth it to me. They drape fantastically so I don't think they look as wide leg as they are.

ATLynn

Veteran

I have tried and returned many high end track pants, but basically moved into these inexpensive ones from ON for summer weekends:
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....id=1013033

The rayon is super breezy, and they show off enough ankle to add structure.

The only downside is that they have to line dry (rayon) and then need ironing. And they shrink a _little_ when washed, but the weave loosens up a bit with wear.

Gigi

Veteran

This was a fun thread! It has helped me a lot to see the different types of fluid bottoms people have.

I did try on a pair of wide-leg trousers at Nordie's today, although they were a size too big (they didn't have my size in-store). I was surprised at how good they looked. The SA offered to order my size for me, but I really don't have many places to wear them, so I'm going to hold off for now.

ATLynn, those pants look fun! I wish they had them in petite. I have tried ON nonpetite stuff before, and the rise is all wrong. So I'll have to wait for something similar.

Laura, your pants from Asos reminded me of a couple of pairs of rayon pants that I had in the early nineties. They were printed with some pretty ornamental patterns and were really lightweight and breezy—perfect for summer. I liked them a lot! I'll have to keep my eyes out for something similar.

Thanks again for the ideas, everyone!

T

I am pear shaped. However other than fit & flare dresses, I do wear maxi skirts as well as palazzo pants quite a bit these days. I have a pair - one in ink blue with tiny white anchors on it in print & other is a plain red. I love them both & pair them with high heeled wedges as I'm short too at 5'5.