Just when you think you’ve found a great pair of tailored trousers or jeans, the front pocket positioning breaks the deal. Front pocket styles on trousers and jeans can be wildly frustrating when they gape, bunch up on the hips and thighs, or when you can see the pocket linings through the fabric of the pants.

Spring 2011 is a pants season and now is the time to stock up on trousers and jeans in all sorts of silhouettes. To help you minimize unflattering front pockets I have summarized the front pocket shapes and positions that generally look fab.

The key is to find trousers and jeans with pocket openings that are positioned away from the side seam:

1. Five pocket style: This type of pocket design is found on most jeans. Two patch pockets in the back, two curved pockets in the front plus the tiny money pocket. The deep curve of the front pockets coupled with the stiffness of denim is a winning combination if the pocket linings aren’t too deep. See photo 1.
2. Slanted front pockets: These pockets are a little closer to the side seams, but are still far enough away so that they don’t interfere with the shape of the pants on the hip and thigh area. The pocket linings are usually shallow which prevents them from showing through. Photo 2 shows slanted pockets on tailored trousers, while photo 3 shows slanted pockets on slouchy pleated trousers.
3. Welt pockets: Welt pockets are great for the same reasons that slanted pockets are great. Shallow pocket linings and no side seam interference. See photo 4.

On-seam pockets and side entry pockets like the ones you see in photos 5 and 6 are often tricky to wear, especially with curvy thighs and hips. They tend to work well on curveless men but not nearly as well on most women. The pocket openings are too close to the side seams, which often causes fit distortion.

Sometimes I just wish they’d leave all pockets off tailored trousers, like you see in photo 7. No gaping, bunching or pocket linings to deal with. What a pleasure.

Note that the photos above have affiliate links to YLF partners.

I usually spend most of Sunday preparing blog posts for the next few days because I run out of time during my busy work week. I always write on my desktop PC in our upstairs home office, which is where I am in this photo.

It was Sunday morning and I had just finished writing the blog post for Tuesday afternoon. I’m dressed casually in a pair of faded Seven For All Mankind bootcut jeans, white button down shirt, preppy argyle pullover, socks and house slippers. I’m nearsighted, so the specs are off, but the watch and wedding ring are on.

Even when Greg is not at his desk (which is just to the left of mine), I’m not alone in our home office. There is always a puppy or two at my feet, lying in one of the several doggie beds we have in this tiny space! Yorkies Jasmine and Rosie provide lots of warmth and inspiration and regularly jump onto my lap and hang out on my chair with me while I type. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’m not always dressed casually when I write, since what I wear depends on what else I have planned for the day. So during the week when I have client appointments and business engagements, my computer sees me dressed in business or smart casual. But if you’ve ever wondered what I wear when I’m writing on a casual Sunday – this is it.

You’ll hear the following mantra repeated in all style guides: Dress to accentuate the best parts of your body; camouflage the parts that aren’t as great.

This makes sense, right? We are confident about our best features, so highlighting them is a no brainer. Our so called worst features, or the areas of our body that we are self-conscious about, shouldn’t be highlighted as frequently. This way we will look and feel our best.

Well, as much as I believe in helpful guidelines, I believe even more that we shouldn’t be ruled by them. And I break the “accentuate the positive, diminish the negative” rule on a regular basis.

Here are few examples:

1. Neck: I consider my neck to be my best feature, yet it’s often covered with a high-ish neckline, popped collar, or scarf.
2. Waistline: I have a dainty and defined waistline, yet I adore wearing voluminous styles that hide it.
3. Eyelashes: I have long thick eyelashes that are especially noticeable when I wear mascara, yet nobody sees them because I choose to wear specs instead of contact lenses.
4. Legs: I consider my legs to be my worst feature for two reasons. They aren’t shapely and they are covered in spots and veins (nothing harmful, just unsightly). Yet I often show them off, with and without hose, because I love to wear skirts and dresses!

I don’t feel bad playing up my worst feature when I wear skirts and dresses because the overall effect of the outfits is still flattering to my eye. The veins and spots might be unsightly to others, but I’m not bothered by what others think about this. My legs work hard and they deserve to be highlighted. Plus, I love knee-length dresses and nothing will stop me from wearing them.

I define my waistline as much as I surrender it so things even out with that one. But I won’t entertain contact lenses and I enjoy the look and comfort of a covered neck. So I don’t see those parts of my body being showcased more any time soon.

I only have one hard and fast rule about fashion and style: it should be fun. There are also many guidelines that really help us to look our best, but sometimes what you love should win out over other rules, guidelines and conventional wisdom. If that means accentuating the negative and hiding the positive, so be it!

Casual Mum on the go outfits are very popular on YLF, so in the spirit of this season’s 70’s fashion revival, here’s a basic  Spring update that’s easy to put together:

• Flared jeans: Faded washes are more decade appropriate. Try Gap’s Long & Leans, Perfect Boot, Curvy Boot and Sexy Boot. If you already have flared jeans, wear those.
• Casual cotton blouse: Think crisp cottons or crocheted lace. The banded styles below from Lucky are particularly forgiving on the mid-section. For a slightly dressier look, try Lucky’s embroidered mesh tunic.
• Clogs: You’re after a slip-on platform clog which you can wear with socks when it’s cold. I’ve shown the Fryes Clara Campus Clogs here because they are simple and versatile, but the Clarks Freesia Shells, Naya Hyacinth, and Ugg Vivica are just as fab, and comfy too.
• Casual tote: Casual suede totes and hobos are very 70’s, as are large tapestry bags.
• Turquoise jewelry: Think earrings, bracelets, necklaces and rings. Choose a few of these options to add a bit of colour to the ensemble.
• Shaggy vest: This is a dramatic optional extra for those who dare to wear the look. The Victoria’s Secret option below is a nice example.

To cover up when it’s chilly outside, add a short wool pea coat, a tweed or leather jacket, or sweater coat. And you don’t have to be a mom to wear this ensemble! It’s a sweet outfit for any gal on the go.

I took a lot of inspiration from Lucky Brand items in this ensemble and they happen to be having a two day site-wide sale on the 24th and 25th of January.

This post contains affiliate links.