Trend: Front Slits

Front slits on trousers and jeans have come through as a fringe trend for a couple of seasons. My guess is that the design detail will not go mainstream. Some slits are long and make quite the statement, whereas others are short and subtle. The slits are in the front of bottoms thereby showcasing ankles and part of the lower leg. Ankle and leg skin can be bare, or covered with socks and boots. The slits can be centered or off-centered, and on wide or narrow silhouettes. Here are some slit or split hem examples on jeans and pants.

I like front slits on jeans and pants if they are subtle, not too high, and the hems of the bottoms are not too wide. About 25 years ago, I wore high-front slits on a pair of wide pants. They were great as long as I stood still. When I moved they swooshed in an uncomfortable way, and sitting down was worse. The slits parted when seated and the fabric dangled on either side of my lower leg. I don’t want to wear that silhouette again. That said, I have an old pair of jeans with buttons down the bottom of their centre fronts. They create a subtle front slit that I don’t notice. I love that detailing! I wear them with boots to keep warm. But I could wear them with loafers or oxfords to expose my ankles when it’s warmer.

You’ll find front slits on all sorts of skirts and dresses, and the trend is completely mainstream. Some slits are centered, and some off-centered. Some slits are high and make a statement, and others are subtle. Here are some examples:

Mango
Slit Denim Skirt
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Mango
Knot Printed Skirt
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Mango
Slit Denim Skirt
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Mango
Bow Satin Skirt
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Mango
Vent Midi Skirt
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Zara
Draped Side Skirt
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Zara
Skirt With Slit
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Zara
Midi Cargo Skirt
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I like a well-positioned front slit on a pair of jeans or pants, but do not want them on my skirts and dresses because they expose more than I am comfortable exposing. I also don’t enjoy how front slits fall open when I’m seated. It’s a deal-breaker unless I can sew up the slit in an effective way. I successfully did that with an old 3.1. Phillip Lim skirt, which made all the difference. That said, I will happily wear a midi or midaxi shirtdress that has a very subtle short front slit because of the button-front styling. There is no leg exposure, and the slit does not fall open when seated. The devil is in the detail.

Over to you. What do you think of front slits on pants, jeans, skirts and dresses?

Fashion News Roundup: February 2023

Paco Rabanne has passed away,  a new designer collaboration at H&M, and other news from the style trenches in February.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that the “Bettina Blouse” created by Hubert de Givenchy, and named after his muse, model Bettina Graziani, was key in reintroducing tailored shirts back into high fashion. The blouse contrasted its signature ruffles with a trim fit, and was crafted from raw shirting cotton which had until then exclusively been used for couture fittings. “Relegated to men’s suits, shirting was commonly thought to be masculine, and therefore inappropriate for women at the time. The Bettina Blouse’s ruffled sleeves, elegantly flowing collar and exquisite embroidery emphatically upended that notion, setting a fashion movement in motion and garnering the equivalent of nearly $14,000 in its first day of sales.”

Outfit Formula: Soft Greens

Some of my clients enjoy wearing pastel and midtone soft greens, like seafoam, moss, sage, and mint. Either as solids, or as part of a pattern. Often it’s because it picks up the colour of their eyes. Some of these soft greens are more blue than others, but we are not talking about light blue. It is definitely a green. 

H&M
Straight-cut Joggers
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H&M
Rib-knit Sweater
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Esprit
Katoenen cargobroek
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H&M
Sweatshirt
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H&M
Rib-knit Cardigan
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H&M
H&M+ Twill Cargo Pants
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On to some some outfit inspiration.

1. Subtle Approach

Seafoam and sage green look great with black or navy, and white. Think of ways to combine those colours in an outfit if it’s your cup of tea. Here a black sweater is patterned with a seafoam and white design. White jeans pick up the white in the top. Black boots, and black and white striped socks match the pattern of the sweater. You could complete the outfit with a black or white bag, and black jacket or coat. Sub the black for navy if you prefer dark blue.

Subtle Approach

2. Light Neutrals

Soft greens can look lovely with light neutrals like whites, creams, pearl greys, beiges, and tans. Here, a pair of seafoam leather pants is combined with a tan turtleneck. A complemented duo of cream bag and flats complete the look and pull the vibe together. I’d have thrown in cream boots to keep my ankles warm, and an oatmeal coat for insulation. The black hair of the model does a striking job of adding high contrast to the outfit.

Light Neutrals

3. Bright Green and Soft Blue

Blues and greens are infamously good together, and this outfit is one example. A pair of delicate and soft celery green wide leg pants is combined with a pastel patterned blue and green mesh turtleneck. There’s a hint of lavender in the pattern too. A Kelly green cropped jacket tops the lot, adding punch to the pastels. Slate blue shoes match the blue in the top. Cream boots can work as well.

Bright Green and Soft Blue

4. Avant-Garde

And a fashion-forward layered look to end with. A white shirt dress is combined with a greyed green box pleated mini skirt. The dress is much longer than the skirt, thereby showcasing the layers. The shirt dress is buttoned to the top and completed with a grey classically knotted tie. A soft green shrunken blazer tops the lot, thereby adding a third tier. Spectator pumps in white and a similar soft greyed green that perfectly match the rest of the outfit are the shoes of choice. Dark grey socks worn with the pumps add warmth, and pick up the dark greys in the tie and handbag. Not your everyday outfit!

Avante Garde

Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

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Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

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Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

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Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

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Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

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Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

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Link Love: Sartorial Sightseeing in Stockholm

I’ve been doing some sartorial sightseeing via the Stockholm Street Style channel on YouTube. It feels like armchair travelling with a focus on fashion. I love that I can catch glimpses of the city while at the same time getting outfit inspiration from people of all ages. Right now, the focus is on Winter wear, as it’s still cold in Sweden. This one shows what people are wearing when temps are around freezing point, so lots of coat inspiration and also plenty of fun stompy flat boots. The floral coat at the beginning of this one is a work of art! You can also watch store tours that show collections for the upcoming seasons, like the Spring 2023 collection at & Other Stories, and the new collection at Arket; a store that also sells great decor items if you like Scandinavian Modern design.

Fab Links from Our Members

April always loves to see what they’re showing on runways across the pond.

Cat2 thought this was a great article: “Forget Clickbait Clothing: The Wardrobe Is Back.”

Irina just watched Prada’s Fall 2023 Ready-to-Wear collection: “my little minimalistic heart just died and went to heaven.”

Dee directs us to this article explaining how with many companies now ending free online returns, some Canadian retailers are exploring new eco-friendly alternatives for their returns.

Helena is interested in the whole “deinfluencing” conversation, and thought this article summed it up nicely.

kkards then found this article discussing how influencers are building trust with negative reviews.

Given how pickleball’s popularity has increased exponentially over the past several years, nuancedream says it’s no suprise that it has its own fashion.

Jaime loves pushback against the common perception that style is superficial.

Runcarla thought this was a good discussion on the topic of cultural appropriation.

With the Oscars around the corner, Angie enjoyed scrolling through these forgotten photos from vintage Oscar nights. Her favourite look was Michelle Williams in a mango dress in 2006. But there are lots of iconic looks you will remember. Outfits were more daring decades ago it seems. Angie votes to bring back the playful drama! 

You Can Learn the Skills of Style

Some people are innately stylish. They were born with an aptitude for the skills that make them stylish, and they master these skills over time. For others, it isn’t quite as instinctive or intuitive. Yet the skillset can be learned with great results. 

Style is a Skillset

When you learn the skills of style, you begin to understand why things work or fail. You can apply this knowledge over and over again, saving time and money, and getting more enjoyment from fashion. You can also pass the skills on to others.

Learn from style professionals, stylish friends, online style communities, and your own experiments. Sometimes you learn the most from mistakes. Practice makes perfect, healthy habits form, and style becomes more innate and intuitive.