WIW 3/21-22: More pants (yawn)

I am doing a pants week so I can wear some of the pants I had hemmed recently.

1-2. MOTG day. I hemmed the Gap Long & Leans to wear with flats since I'd primarily be wearing these for MOTG. I paired it with the Gap denim polka dot shirt, H&M coral red shirt (which I now realize is too tight on me so I probably will retire it) and the red Converse. The outfit is OK, not super exciting though.
3-5. Work. Grey Classiques Entier trousers, Old Navy light blue striped button down shirt, red Fossil work tote, WHBM silver bracelet, and Clark Indigo black Mary Jane pumps. I feel like the outfit fits well and I think the pants are hemmed correctly, but the outfit feels kind of ho hum. I tried to jazz it up a little with the red bag and the bracelet, but it's still safe and boring. It's very typical of my pre-YLF style (although my pants would not have been PPL and I would have been wearing Merrell Mocs instead of pumps). The people at work are noticing--someone said, "You look cute but what happened to your drop dead gorgeous outfits?" I think they are expecting more from me nowadays! At least now I know that I'm more of a dress and skirt gal! I have one more day of pants to go this week but after that it'll be back to my usual ladylike style!

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12 years ago

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Well, just for the record, I love the jeans hemmed for the red converse! I bought some of those Gap Long and Leans too, but had them hemmed for heels, and ....well, you've just pretty much convinced me that these jeans can also be worn with flats (well, at least fun/funky flats like Converse). They look so good on you that I'm about to run out and buy another pair of Gap Long and Leans and have them hemmed for more foot-friendly/comfortable flat type shoes.

In terms of work pants, and feeling like the look is kind of 'safe and boring' - have you considered some of the slouchy pants that Angie's been talking about lately? Now granted, I haven't yet worked up the nerve to try them yet myself, but I do love the *idea* of them, and you're a lot more fearless about these things.

I'm sure you saw it, but just in case you didn't - here's Angies "real world" Carlos Miele adaptation:

http://youlookfab.com/2012/03/.....tructured/

And how about her post recently regarding fabulous (full length and non-cropped) slouchy pants available at Ann Taylor?

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....y-trousers

In the meantime, good on you for getting some pants hemmed - I know this was a task that you'd been putting off...I do that too. (ah well...).

Suz

(website)

LOL....first the people at work were on your case because you were so "dressed up." Now they EXPECT it of you. In, what...four short months? Something like that.

FWIW, even if these outfits are not as drop dead amazing as some of your others, they still show your attention to detail and you still look great!

I think lighter blues and lighter greys sometimes do come across as a bit unexciting together, even though, in theory, they "should" work great...I'm not sure what it is. Greys maybe need something stronger to give them weight and punch?

But you know what? You look really good in trousers! So you have every reason to hold your head high!

sarah

You are so cute in your red cons! I love them. I kind of wish I had 2 pairs of L&L's, so I could hem one for my cons. But I did discover that my old Levi's boot cuts work pretty well with them. LOL. You look very polished in #2 and there's nothing wrong with that.

rae

Natalie, you remind me of myself and pants. Angie's prescription was to find some cheekier trousers... but I'm still looking, lol. I will sew some in burgundy and purple soon, though. It is hard to find trousers at *all* - let alone ones that would sing to you like your orange Antrho skirt or the blue one you have with the really unique print/pattern.

I think these outfits could be tweaked to meet your new standard, though. I think you just need a "signature Natalie" item topping them off. I'm thinking of your WHBM trench, your black belted jacket, cognac leather jacket, or maybe a crazy patterned shirt or sweater. Missoni for Target?

MNsara

"I have one more day of pants to go this week but after that it'll be back to my usual ladylike style!"

This is a self-imposed challenge, right? Too cute

You do look wonderful, but the pizzazz isn't the same! But you could still amp up those pants a notch with some of your fab jackets. . . . ??

ManidipaM

I think, Natalie, while everything here is a perfect flattering fit, it is the 'ladylike' or 'fun' GP elements I'm missing here! It's not yawn, just not 100% the new you. Hope you don't mind my saying so, because it does sound a tad presumptuous!

Something like a knit top for the grey pants, or a soft blouse rather than the tailored shirt? Or tuck it in and add a narrow belt? Or your red shoes? An animal print accessory --- bag or hairband, scarf or shoes -- to amp it up a little? A large long medallion? Love the bracelet, by the way! It's a gorgeous piece --- but again, needs a slice of 'ladylike' or 'fun' to fit into your signature style, I think. And that doesn't HAVE to mean a skirt or dress!

Nothing wrong with that first outfit either, it's nicely put together in fact! Except that a little like your colleagues, I'm almost expecting to see a Jason Wu cat T-shirt or a yellow belt over the red shirt --- just because this is Natalie I'm looking at! It's still more you than the second one, though, thanks to the polka-dot blouse.

Aida

I think these are both cute! For your work look, I think you're missing your "ladylike" element... how about a more romantic blouse instead of the crisp button-up? And maybe add a cute cropped jacket?

Anonymous

Hi there!
I don't really think these are bad at all. I agree with the others, in that they are just missing the Natalie signature. I wear pants quite a lot, even more so than skirts. I am no style icon LOL but my formula is to keep the top interesting, with items like blazers, PB blouses etc. I do wear them with buttoned shirts but I include a third piece, a sweater, jacket, vest, blazer etc.
These are things you are already doing with your awesome and utter fantastic skirt, skinnies and dress looks.
I recently wore these pinstripe trousers with a PB blouse and cognac jacket. I am putting a picture in, just because I know you have similar items already. More reliable sources include our Mary K and Angie. They do a mean pant look! I think Rae has a couple pant looks that are awesome too.

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Jjsloane

Zap hit it on the head here. You can do killer pant outfits, but need to add something more you to the top. Statement necklace, vest, cardi, jacket, change out the pumps to something more interesting?

Kirti

I really like #1 but I agree with the above comments about #2, I think it needs a little something to make it more you!

Transcona Shannon

I love your casual look with the red cons bookending the red top! Totally fab and cute MOTG! Your blue/grey work outfit isn't as bad as you think - the fit on both the top and the pants is excellent and the bracelet is FANTASTIC - but as others have pointed out, it's just missing a wee bit of "Natalie's Fabulousity"! I think one of your pussy bow blouses would look gorgeous with those trousers.

Meredith1953

I love the look in #1. You look adorable in the red converse and I love the gap polka dot enough that i bought one for myself. The second outfit is subtle and pretty and looks like it fits very well. I sort of expected a cropped jacket, or a trench or moto jacket on top to give it a little more presence! Also, I know you have some killer shoes you could style with this. The black shoes sort of fade into the background. Don't get me wrong. The outfit is nice and definitely something I would wear, but you are Natalie and it doesn't speak "NATALIE".

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