Cropped Pants with Wider Hems: Yay or Nay

Vildy

I like 1 and 2 on the top row and 1 on the bottom row. 2, especially, seems very 50’s to me. I think of crop pants with a wider hem – and you were very generous because we’ve all seen the very wide capris that are usually offered to plus sizes – as a pants version of
a midi/maxi type dress. They’re – especially in prints – divided dresses.

November 9, 2012 at 3:35 am

kkards

Veteran

i like this look, i think it look fresh.
i think the looks in the top row look better than the 2nd, probably because the shoes in the top row are less distracting

November 9, 2012 at 3:37 am

Lisa

Veteran

My pear shape says yay to this look. I can see me sporting these easier than the tapered cropped trousers I often see.

November 9, 2012 at 4:00 am

April

Veteran

Two words: N. O.

November 9, 2012 at 4:02 am

Deborah

Veteran

Angie how funny you should post this today! I was out this afternoon looking for some form of crop pant to wear while on holidays in January, but I struggled so much to find a length and silhouette that I felt was flattering on me…I came home empty handed!

Of the above I like the two first ones on the top row, but I know that with my shape and height they would not look so good on me. With all the others the proportions look off. Some tapering would make all the difference to my eye. The last two patterned pairs on the bottom row would look amazing is they were a skinnier leg, IMHO:)

November 9, 2012 at 4:03 am

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I like it better without “clunky” shoes, and without a bell-shaped hem at the bottom. Numbers 1,2, and 3 in the first row and numbers 1 and 2 in the second row look best to me. I’m not a huge fan of this look for myself because, since I’m on the tall side, I always feel like people with think I’m just wearing too-short pants!

November 9, 2012 at 4:06 am

sarah

Veteran

Well, Angie, you have successfully poisoned my eye against them over the past year or two. So, I’m a big nay. But I’m loving those patterns!

November 9, 2012 at 4:16 am

Small But Mighty

Active Member

I agree with Deborah and Vildy about the two first ones on the top row. Those don’t bother my eye because they are much more tapered. I also agree with Vildy about the first pair in the bottom row. The others are just feeling very refrigerator-like. NOT flattering.

But here’s the thing about cropped pants. I’m very, very short and sometimes I find them flattering and sometimes they’re the pits on me. This post and all of your posts on the topic are helping me pin it down. As much as I like that shorter cropped length that you enjoy so much, Angie, with my curvier bottom and very short legs, it doesn’t end up looking lean enough. It causes the eye to travel in curves when I’m aiming for more of a straight up and down path. In contrast, the longer crops such as you have here, PROVIDED THEY TAPER AT THE ANKLE, miraculously make me look like I’m tall enough to have pants that are a little too short, if that makes any sense at all. The line is longer and my hips slim down as though I’d been photoshopped! I now have a pair of slim black pants and cigarette leg jeans in this length.

My favorite trick is to wear that longer short length with booties. I learned that here (as well as picking up the courage to buy cheetah booties). Thank you YLF!!

November 9, 2012 at 4:17 am

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

Unless I had uber long legs, I would not wear this look and you know I only wear tight cropped/ankle pants which sometimes I can get away with.

November 9, 2012 at 4:25 am

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I don’t have a poisoned eye for cropped pants at all, especially when they are styled right. I do think though that they are easier to pull off when your hips, thighs and legs are on the slim side – curves are much more challenging for this style.
However I agree with you that wide hem crops are not my cap of tea. Cropped bootcuts are especially hideous to my eye. This blue suit in the top row is a good example – the model looks like somebody chopped her legs off!
The more tapered ones look better but they wold be more flattering if they were tapered more.
Lisa, I think this style is very unfriendly to a pear shape as it shortens the legs and throws proportions off.
What I like about this style is that pants are cut roomier in a calf area. With my big calves I cannot find tapered pants wide enough in the calf area for me. These ones will fit and I can taper them for a more flattering fit.

November 9, 2012 at 4:28 am

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Food for thought for sure, but reserve the right to try them on before coming to a conclusion. I do suspect that I might join you in the ‘nay’ club….

November 9, 2012 at 4:41 am

chouette22

Veteran

I am in the minority here, but I totally love this look. Ever since I spent a semester in Madrid in the late 80s, when EVERYONE’s pants were cropped, worn with cool shoes, I have adored this look and love this fresh comeback. Since I am petite, I am not sure I will actually wear this trend – if not I will certainly appreciate it on others.

November 9, 2012 at 4:52 am

Ruth

UGH! A huge Nay from me.

November 9, 2012 at 4:58 am

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I wore this look the last time is was popular, although the lengths were a bit shorter then, but I’ve developed a poison eye for it too. I have also come to prefer crops with a slim fit at the calf to keep the leg line long. Because of YLF, I have leaned to never say never, but I’m not feeling these at all for my style.

November 9, 2012 at 4:58 am

Jem

Veteran

A big Nay for me. I like cropped and/or ankle pants, but only when they are tapered.

November 9, 2012 at 5:24 am

patti

(website)

Active Member

Nay for me, but my eye likes the fresh look for others – probably for the taller among us! : >

November 9, 2012 at 5:43 am

Heather

My legs are long, my ankles thin and I don’t find these very flattering on me. After struggling to find inseams that actually work for me because of my leg length, this look makes me feel as if I couldn’t find anything quite long enough. However, I love looking at the way the outfits are put together and the patterns that spice things up!!

November 9, 2012 at 5:48 am

Angela

Love them with the kitten heels

November 9, 2012 at 5:51 am

Beth Ann

Veteran

I find these things so tough to evaluate when the place the clothing on runway models. Their limbs and torsos are incredibly long and slim and, of course, I wonder, “Where would the hem fall on a 5’6”, size 12 woman? My first response is no thank you. I’d actually like them better if they were softer and wider — more extreme in the silhouette – and a couple of inches shorter.

Well, they do show off the shoes!

November 9, 2012 at 5:59 am

Parsley

Veteran

I completely agree with you, Angie. I find the proportions of these to be ungainly.
NAY!

November 9, 2012 at 5:59 am

rute

Veteran

I prefer them tapered at the bottom and with a pointy kitten heel.
So I say nay to the ones with wider hems!

November 9, 2012 at 6:03 am

Kristin L

Veteran

I like the wider hem. And I love the 3rd pair from the left on the top row.

Of course, my opinion may change once I try a pair on.

November 9, 2012 at 6:24 am

Sara L.

Veteran

Cropped pants are extremely popular where I live, both tapered and wide leg. I like both looks but maybe that’s just because I see it so often and my eye is used to it.

November 9, 2012 at 6:33 am

helena s

Looks like a fashion faux pas. So with you on this. Top right in blue especially, BUT I do like the Miu Miu shoes!

November 9, 2012 at 6:34 am

cloud9

Veteran

Since these are long legged models, some of these looks interesting, especially with the ones showing high waistline. It’s still showing a long leg line proportion wise. For most of us in average land, not going to be a flattering look.

November 9, 2012 at 6:37 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I’m fascinated by your thoughts on this look. (To be clear, I find the look extremely unflattering on the models).

Sarah, I love the patterns too

If these trousers were cropped to just below the knee, and a little wider, they’d be culottes. And I love culottes! Am still looking for a pair.

November 9, 2012 at 6:40 am

MsMary

Veteran

I won’t be participating in this trend. I think it’s super unflattering for shorties like me. But I don’t hate it on the (tall,lim) models as much as I thought I would

November 9, 2012 at 6:44 am

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I’m completely with you on this, Angie – I see wide leg crops all the time in the warmer weather where I live and I’ve never once said, “I’d like to look like that”.

November 9, 2012 at 6:46 am

Diana

Veteran

Ick, no. I am completely with you here, I don’t like any pants at this length.

November 9, 2012 at 6:47 am

Debbie

Veteran

No! They just look short not cropped.

November 9, 2012 at 6:54 am

Dana

(website)

Veteran

I think some of them are ok. I’ll go on a case by case basis. A few of the pair up top are horrible, especially the blu suited pair. I has elong legs, so this style will work for me..

The one pant style that I’ve never liked is Gauchos!

November 9, 2012 at 6:55 am

crasdy

Active Member

I confess I love this look. I much prefer it to tapered, cropped pants, which I do not find flattering on my pear-shaped self. This looks so fresh to me.

I do agree, however, that the blue suit is awful, but mostly because of the shoes.

November 9, 2012 at 7:01 am

esme noir

(website)

Active Member

these styles may have you wishing for shorter legs! i can wear cropped pants because they usually come just below the ankle on me (about regular length) and i don’t have to hem them! i do have a summer pair in the wide silhouette, but as above, they come to the tops of my feet. they look good with just the right top, but i wouldn’t buy another in this shape as it is too picky as to it’s top and the volume a. gets in the way and b. lets in too much air for winter.

November 9, 2012 at 7:02 am

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm, I am reluctant, but not necessarily against all of this. I actually like the first one in second row quite well. The rest of them are too wide and unflattering to my eye, too. But I think very slim and tapered cropped pants are tricky if you have some curves, like mentioned already. I prefer them on very slim silhouettes, or with an unstructured top.

November 9, 2012 at 7:04 am

Joy

Veteran

Nay! If one needs to become convinced, just put a pair on and snap a photo. Then compare to yourself in full length pants or even cropped tapered pants. Nobody looks best in these wide crops to my eye.

November 9, 2012 at 7:04 am

Preppy Pear

Veteran

As a pear with long, chunkier legs, I think the silhouette has the potential to be flattering on me! Honestly, I think it might be more flattering on my body type than it is on the models.

I don’t like the cropped tapered pant trend on me – tapered ankle length, yes, tapered above the ankle, no.

There’s something about these pants that makes me think a little of a retirement home…which appeals to the perverse side of my fashion sense :).

November 9, 2012 at 7:15 am

clearlyclaire

I’m still trying to find a pair of “Audrey” cropped pants (very slim and very tapered) that are flattering on me, but nine times out of, well, nine actually, the full length pant looks about 1000% better. I adore the way Emanuelle Alt wears her slim cropped pants with a manish blazer and pointy heels. On the average Josephine, cropped pants usually fall flat, IMO. Angie, I agree that the taper at the hem makes all the difference.

November 9, 2012 at 7:21 am

Carole

Veteran

The first one in the second row looks tapered to me and its the only one that I like. The others seem very dated and unflattering. Is this really an up and coming trend? Yikes, I vote nay!

November 9, 2012 at 7:30 am

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Interesting. I LOVE the patterns!! As for the lengths, well, I’m with Vildy – 1 and 2 in the first row are okay, and so is 1 on row 2, probably because it is more tapered. But I love Sveta’s idea of buying a pair of these and narrowing the bottoms so they taper just enough but not too much! I also run into difficulties with tapered bottoms being TOO tapered for my muscular calves at times. So this could be a solution!

Also, I echo Small but Mighty. Clams (no matter how tapered) just do NOT flatter my particular figure. MAYBE if I wear them with 3 inch heels…but when I am wearing a casual pant I don’t really want 3 inch heels. They look dreadful on me. I quite like them on others (including you) and I understand why you say they are typically a more flattering look than longer crops. But they aren’t on me. Then again, I really struggle to wear flats with midi skirts, too….the look doesn’t work on me very well. So it must be my particular proportions. But an ankle length trouser if it is tapered enough can look good on me, as Small but Mighty argues. Still, it does need to be tapered. And these are not!

November 9, 2012 at 7:31 am

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I wore the capris when they were popular just after the turn of the millennium, when they flared out a bit. But even those were a good 3 inches higher than these. These just look like floods to me. And for the record, I would no longer wear the capris I once did a decade ago, either. I’m not tall to start with. Cropped to the ankle or just above, without flare, looks edgy to me. These do not.

November 9, 2012 at 7:41 am

Inge

(website)

Moderator

Don’t fall off your chair, but I’m not a complete nay on this, although I agree with you for 98%. I actually don’t mind the look on the second model in the top row and the first model in the second row. I think it’s because both these pairs of trousers go from being wider up top to more tapered at the ankles, plus the fabric is more stiff and dressier than the other options, giving them a more tailored silhouette. Having said that, I know I would love these trousers better if they were cropped shorter too, and don’t intend to start wearing this particular look myself.

November 9, 2012 at 7:46 am

shedev

Veteran

It’s a nay for me. Id rather wear regular length pants.

November 9, 2012 at 7:51 am

Aziraphale

Veteran

How to Make Yourself Look Like a Hobbit: step one: wear those pants.

November 9, 2012 at 7:56 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Elisabeth, you win best comment of the day.

November 9, 2012 at 7:59 am

mia

When the models look like “munchkins” you know what the rest of us will look like.

November 9, 2012 at 8:07 am

Zapotee

Umm. I’ve seen so much of this look in NYC, when it was warmer, that I have been conditioned to it. Not my favorite look ever, but I no longer hate it!

November 9, 2012 at 8:13 am

rae

(website)

Veteran

I had some like this but I purged them. They only felt good with very high heels, so out they went.

November 9, 2012 at 8:23 am

Lisa

(website)

I’m not so sure about the wide hem crops. I had a pair and did not feel as elegant and polished as I do in tighter cropped pants. I had the bottoms taken in and feel much better about wearing them.

November 9, 2012 at 9:15 am

JuneBug

Veteran

Most definitely nay for me too! The wide hem makes all the difference- a skinny crop that ends a little above the ankle and a pair of heels= effortlessly chic!

November 9, 2012 at 9:27 am

Snackmeister

I hate them and would never wear them. My whole m.o. is lengthen my 5′ 6″, hourglass-on-the-blocky-side body. I can’t imagine anything more unflattering on me than this pant shape.

November 9, 2012 at 9:30 am

Gaylene

Veteran

It’s not often I disagree with your eye, Angie, but I wouldn’t universally label all these pants as unflattering. As others have pointed out some of the combinations look quite interesting while others, like #4 in the top row, look terrible.

I think this look is one that requires careful styling and a good knowledge of your own body shape to achieve a pleasing proportion. To my eye, a slim ankle and sleek heel are essential to avoid a clunky look, as well as getting the proportions exactly right. The apparent fact that even stylists are having to work at getting this look right on a tall, skinny model speaks volumes to me.

November 9, 2012 at 9:34 am

ElleH

Veteran

Nay

November 9, 2012 at 9:53 am

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I think it has that “standing in a bucket” look. It could work on the long-legged.

November 9, 2012 at 10:00 am

Sylvie

Veteran

Nay x 1 million. Anyone who can wear these and look good is going to look just as good in a burlap sack. It’ll be your personal good looks and verve that lets you pull this off.

November 9, 2012 at 10:09 am

Sona

Veteran

I do not like the wide hem look with this length of pant. A slightly wide cuffed hem on a tapered boyfriend/girlfriend jean might be ok but I too have poison eye for this look!

November 9, 2012 at 10:16 am

rachylou

Veteran

I do like it, although I think it can be a little precious.

November 9, 2012 at 10:28 am

DonnaF

Veteran

These all look like floods to me. However, if this look shows up in the stores, I see it as an expanded opportunity to find full length trousers with a higher rise that I won’t have to hem for my Petite length legs!

November 9, 2012 at 10:41 am

cheryl

Veteran

I’m surprised that I actually kind of like these, lol.

November 9, 2012 at 10:50 am

vava

I like a couple of them, the first ones on the left of the second row, in particular. The key is the right footgear.

The type of pants I don’t care for are ones with the baggy dropped crotch, pleats, or jodhpurs. Those are on my hit list.

November 9, 2012 at 11:11 am

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I feel this is another extension of the man-repeller trend. Where ugly is beautiful. Not a look I plan to replicate for myself though. Really, I don’t even do cropped skinny pants, even though I am now used to the look and think it looks good on 5’11” models with slim, straight legs and very narrow hips and thighs.

There are looks I admire on others but don’t do myself. Here’s a mainstream look that I’ve tried but just can’t do myself: skinny pants and flats. Just doesn’t work on me due to my height and generous hips and thighs. I need at least a 1.5″ heel to balance me out and not look like an ice cream cone.

I like being fashion forward and adopt as many trends as I can but I draw the line where a look is frumpy. That navy suit with the chunky heeled loafers is silly to my eye. It’s an almost desperate attempt to make a suit look edgy.

If designers designed for the average woman who is shorter and has curves, half of the trends would never make it to retail. Then we wouldn’t be buying closet orphans and feeling so bad about our bodies.

Yet there is no stopping the use of super tall models. The models on my favorite shopping site, Shopbop, are more and more extremely tall, like 5’11”. The 5’9″ models are fewer and fewer. I am almost ready to write them a letter because even though I am not heavy the clothes look very different on me when I get them in the mail.

OK end of rant and I think I got a little derailed here, the discussion of the use of very tall very slim women to design and model clothes is far from new!

November 9, 2012 at 11:29 am

Nadia

No and no for me. The look is so wrong, I dont like it even on skinny models. On real me it would look horrible.

November 9, 2012 at 11:33 am

Irene

Veteran

NO

I have to admit I quite like the first two outfits, but think they would look better with longer pants.

November 9, 2012 at 11:34 am

merwoman

Veteran

I tried the first pair , second row ( I think they are Jcrew)
Nice pant – put, because of my height (ie lack of) they are not a crop – and just a smidge too short to wear with flats.
Agree with you 100% Angie – the crop must be closely cut!

November 9, 2012 at 11:50 am

K. Period.

Veteran

They’d never be a go-to or even a favorite of mine. The higher-waisted ones worn with high heels squeak by and are okay, but like Irene, I know the same look with a narrower shape or longer length would look gorgeous. I’ll save my figure-flattery compromises for looks that I like better.

November 9, 2012 at 11:55 am

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Look #2 on the top row is the only ensemble which passes my style filter. The book ending of the tipped top combined with the low vamp shoes ensures my eyes move smoothly from top to toe and the wider waist belt creates the illusion of a longer leg line. The remaining looks all look off to my eye.

I have experimented with this trend (turn up jeans and purple coloured jeans) but they require more effort to style than I am willing to give.

November 9, 2012 at 12:06 pm

Lyn D.

Veteran

I agree with you Angie!
The only reason these pants look half-O.K. is the build/ height of the models and the shoes!
With so many middle-aged women of average height and average weight (read over-weight in Australia) and so many cropped pants in this style around, warmer weather sees lots of frumpy silhouettes here.

November 9, 2012 at 12:35 pm

Sihaya

Veteran

A definite no for me. I agree with what you say Angie about this trend

November 9, 2012 at 1:32 pm

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I live near the beach & this is a popular look in summer with flat sandals. I don’t think it is flattering in general.

November 9, 2012 at 1:38 pm

Kiwichik

Veteran

OK another minority vote here. I am a pear with large thighs and calves so anything that can fit over those suckers is good in my eye. However in all seriousness I don’t think that this silhouette is unflattering and as there is no way I can fit tapered cropped pants or make culottes that put most of my very unshapely calves on display look good – I probably would wear this.

November 9, 2012 at 2:17 pm

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I Iike it with heels. But I can’t really wear heels anymore.

November 9, 2012 at 2:19 pm

Maria

Active Member

I think wider cropped pants looks good with dainty heels, not platforms. Wider bottoms makes skinny ankles and skinny long feet look wider–which is what I need. I think I may try it this summer. This trend is not practical for Minnesota winter weather. I am not a culottes fan.

November 9, 2012 at 2:43 pm

Thistle

Veteran

I like the way this looks ont he models – models with long legs, thin and wearing high heels.

I have seen this look on the street, on people that do not have long legs and are not thin. It just does not look the same. I think this is a difficult look for the “average” woman to look her best in.

November 9, 2012 at 3:37 pm

Marley

Veteran

Weel – I never say never – so, I have an open mind to this look. I’d like to try some on and see how I feel in them. For some reason when I look at the pics above I just find myself smiling – don’t know if that’s because they are so silly looking or if its because I like them!

November 9, 2012 at 5:39 pm

Anna D.

See, I still haven’t adopted skinnies/tapered pants, because I think they make my thighs look huge and overall make me look top-heavy/ill-proportioned (even on other people, I often like skinnies best when tucked into tall boots, because the boots balance out the hips/thighs – although there are lots of women who can get away with skinnies without tall boots, too). Hence, I like cropped pants that are essentially cropped straight-legs – which I would say are the furthest left on the top (sequins) and the first two on the left on the bottom (metallic brocade and wool houndstooth). Cropped boot-cuts – if that’s even a concept – crops that bell out at the bottom? I’m not a huge fan (primarily the blue on the top, and the two patterns on the bottom right – although I’ll say that I think the blue pants are especially doomed because I think those shoes are terrible with them). Mostly because such pants start to cross the line toward culottes, which I just can’t get behind.

But FWIW, I disagree with you about the most flattering length for crops – I like them longer than you do, because the length you prefer hits at the widest part of my calf and chops me up (I am of good peasant stock with hefty rather than sylph-like legs!). And I think the ideal degree of taper/skinniness depends a bit on the length. So that may explain the different preferences.

(Also, I would say the hems on the black pair, second from the left on the top, are completely inoffensive. But I could never wear them because, well, I still find pleat-front pants hideous!)

November 9, 2012 at 6:43 pm

longtalllynn

Active Member

I like the first two in black – looks sleek. When I try on crops like the ones shown, I feel like a preteen who grew 4″ over the summer and now her pants are too short! I’m 5’8″ and everyone always says I can wear anything but I’m nost so sure about these. Maybe it works if you model for J Crew. I feel that crops look better on my frame when they are a slimmer fit and hit right at the ankle. Overall, I think this cut is a tough one to pull off.

November 9, 2012 at 8:34 pm

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I actually like #1 on the bottom row, but not the others.

November 9, 2012 at 9:00 pm

krishnidoux

Veteran

Late in the party – But I want to say: Angie, I am so with you.

Especially regarding first row far right outfit !!! Talk about a total leg reducer! It looks like what a defrocked nun would have worn in the seventies.

The only outfit I could possibly contemplate would be the second one from the left in the first row. Maybe.

I like your words: no matter how I dice it or toss it, my thoughts exactly on the subject.

November 10, 2012 at 4:23 am

Kim G

I think it’s dependent on the fabric and whether you hacve the ankles and “walk” to pull this off. People aren’t mannequins. How one looks MOVING is critical. I’m thinking that the stiff fabric/wools don’t work here. They just come off looking too short. The light fabrics are better because they have a floatiness that is demure. The look comes off as witty and fresh with the prints especially.
Shoe choice is key. Also important: A trim ankle with a graceful gait always looks worthy of drawing the eye.

November 10, 2012 at 6:02 am

Claire

(website)

Actually, I have been looking for a cropped pant that is not a skinny or legging. I especially like the flowier ones and the bells. It would be great to find versatile a pair that could be worn long or cuffed up (never as easy as it seems). Don’t love the shoe pairings, but that’s just a personal thing.

As usual, it would require finding just the right item and some styling finesse, but overall, looks like fun.

November 10, 2012 at 8:38 am

Jamie

Veteran

Put me in the Nay group! Some lovely fabrics, though, on all those high-waters!

November 10, 2012 at 9:02 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

A fascinating read :). Some nay-sayers, some yay-sayers and some very conditional yay-sayers.

November 10, 2012 at 9:05 am

Tat

I can’t but agree with you, Angie.

Those of printed fabrics really offer pijama style.

November 10, 2012 at 11:32 am

CK

Active Member

I like them! I don’t care for the pair on the far right, but I think that’s a combination of the pressed in pleat and the chunky shoes (the shoes are cool, but not with that pant, which I don’t like at all). With these I think it’s a question of finding a pair that hits you at just the right place on the leg, and then choosing the right shoes. I have a casual cotton pair that I wore this summer that I really loved with a strappy sandal.

Always interesting to see the nays and yays on these looks.

November 10, 2012 at 11:41 am

Mamavalveeta03

Veteran

While I’m not totally opposed to the 2 J Crew printed cropped pant looks (they seem to be a tad narrower than the others at the hem), I would not wear them myself. I love the length just to or above the ankle, but NARROW and tight is best to my eye!

November 10, 2012 at 1:21 pm

jz

Active Member

Saw the pics before reading Angie’s writing, for a minute I thought Angie was promoting this look.

I like 1 and 2, for me, this is cute and playful in a way:-)

November 10, 2012 at 8:09 pm

Chiara

(website)

They look to me like dressy pants hemmed at the wrong length! NO!

November 11, 2012 at 11:19 am

Rabbit Heart

Active Member

I like 1 and 2 in the second row, but otherwise not a fan of them.

November 12, 2012 at 12:48 am

MySmallWardrobe.com

(website)

Active Member

I have no intentions to wear this style. They can be flattering for less curvy and taller gals (ruler shape). The patterns are wonderful, mainly when paired with classic solid colors. I honestly can see myself wearing a pencil skirt with any of these patterns.

November 12, 2012 at 2:28 am

hexia

I’m a naysayer. I think this is a look that only works on tall, thin 18-year-old models, much like the bare legs and ankle socks look.

November 12, 2012 at 6:19 am

AnneElise

NO – unless you are very thin, very tall, and very leggy – and willing to wear killer high heels. Since most of us don’t fall into that category…no.

November 12, 2012 at 6:22 am

Debora

Veteran

I’m with you here, Angie. NAY!

November 17, 2012 at 5:20 pm

Kari

Veteran

A wholehearted no from me. I’ve worn the look back when I was in high school and college. I’m not planning on going there again.

November 18, 2012 at 12:13 am

Aida

Veteran

Another nay here; every single one of these would look better to my eye with a narrower hem! Or if they were shorter so they’re culottes instead of pants, then I’m all over that look. The bottom left image looks OK with the heels, but that’s as wide as I can get behind. I like my wide hems long, and for myself that means so long that they touch the floor I don’t expect that this becomes a look that I’ll come around to, even in line with the “fashion over flattery”.

November 29, 2012 at 4:34 pm

T-Rex

Veteran

I like 1 and 3 on the top row, and 4 and 5 on the bottom. The common denominator is the bolder patterns. I don’t know if the pattern improves the silhouette, or if I just like the patterns. I suspect the latter.

January 16, 2013 at 12:47 pm

T-Rex

Veteran

Checking back a month later to see if my opinion has changed. Nope. I would totally wear 1 and 3 on the top row, and 3 and 4 on the bottom. (I don’t know where that number 5 came from.) I didn’t expect to be in such a small minority on this issue. I find it interesting, and I want to dissect why this is.

I am pretty short, only about 5’2″. Does this make a difference when we decide if we like this look? Is this a “short person” look, maybe?

Is it an age thing? I’m 47. Is it possible that this silhouette reminds me of some era that I find pleasant for some reason?

Anyway, I know this is an old thread, and I may not get many answers.

February 14, 2013 at 7:04 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

T-Rex, I don’t think there is any correlation between age and height and whether you like this style. My clients and our forum members run the gamut. It’s just like casual maxi dresses – you either like them or you don’t. Totally random at this point.

February 14, 2013 at 7:07 am

T-Rex

Veteran

I really love the two on the bottom right, and have some affection for the third one on top. They seem soft and flowy, and I love the retro wallpaper patterns on the bottom two. The top pair looks like pajama pants, which actually isn’t a bad thing to me. I would style them differently, though. In fact, although I find the styling on the bottom right pairs to be OK, I would wear those differently, too. I would pair soft, flowy tops with them, I think.

I have several friends who are bellydancers, and we all have an affinity for patterns like this, as well as long skirts and loose pants, flowy fabrics, beads and sequins, etc. I think I like these because they look like something these ladies would wear. Somehow, the shape and length of the leg doesn’t take away from the appeal for me.

You are correct that affinity for styles is pretty random most of the time. But I can’t help looking for patterns. It’s in my nature, I think. There does seem to be one exception, at least in my local area. At my workplace, there seems to be a correlation between age and the belief that capri pants are not acceptable for work. My bosses, who are older than me and female, say that “capri pants are for play”. Yet, one of them wears crocs most days. (???) The other always looks pulled together and coordinated, but she loves her dressy flip flops, which some other people consider too casual.

Anyway, I’d like to say that I love the blog, and I’m glad I found it.

February 14, 2013 at 8:40 am

Caroline

No, non, nein, ne, bù, nay, nej, ei, ohee, ni, nie, niet…

In hundreds of other languages, no!! These don’t look good on any body!

February 18, 2014 at 8:50 am

vivien_noir

(website)

Here’s a nay from me: although I might like the look a lot on others, I’m just too Little of a 70ies Lover to really like These on myself.

November 16, 2018 at 1:50 pm

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Cropped Pants with Wider Hems: Yay or Nay

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