Cropped pants, in a variety of styles, lengths and fabrications, were the “it” bottom for Spring and Summer 2013. They were pushed by every retailer in large quantities and across all price points. Without a doubt, they go down as one of the biggest trends of 2013. 

And there is no stopping the trend for Fall. Cropped pants in warmer fabrications — like wools, jacquards and tweeds — are huge. The examples below show the silhouette that is particularly popular: Flat front, straight through the leg, side entry pockets, a little wider at the hems, and an inch or three above the ankle. 

I do not have a poison eye for all styles of cropped pants. After all, I wear them. I do have a stormy relationship with them though, and generally find the style and length hard to pull off without looking frumpy and stumpy. That’s why I created a set of guidelines that help to create more flattering proportions. 

I happily wear cropped boyfriend jeans rolled at the cuffs because they are tapered at the hems. I tuck or faux tuck my top to extend the line of the leg. Sometimes I add a heel. I will also happily wear cropped pants that aren’t jeans when they are a little shorter and tapered at the hems. I’ll often add a low heel for a sleeker and dressier vibe. 

But I can’t get past my poison eye for the examples below. It’s the length coupled with a wider hem that throws me over the edge — especially when they are worn with dark, severe pumps. I find it an unattractive look, and adding heels to already tall leggy models doesn’t improve the proportions much. If the pants were longer or shorter, tapered, and worn with booties, the visual effect would be greatly improved to my eye. 

Fashion and style is highly subjective. So it is inevitable that we will all have a poison eye for certain trends and outfit combinations. Especially now that it is becoming more acceptable to discard conventional figure flattery in favour of something new. The best we can do is acknowledge when this is the case and understand that there are other people seeing things differently and loving the look. I also try to be open to my own eye adjusting. My aversion to the most popular cropped pants silhouette has gone on for long enough that I don’t think that will change. Still, “never say never”, I tell myself. 

What’s your take on the cropped pants silhouette below? Will you be wearing it for Fall?

The fluid fit of the silky track pant is one way to wear the slouchy trouser trend. It’s an ideal way to feel cool, covered, comfortable and dressy in trousers when temperatures begin to rise. Furthermore, you can adjust the length of these pants if the style has welted cuffs or elastic at the hems. Create a dressier look with the pants worn full length. Create a more casual look with them worn pulled up to calf length. 

The examples below illustrate the concept quite well. The second pair are made of jersey knit, and not silk, which means that you can apply the concept to knitted versions too.

Your footwear options are strappy sandals, cage heels, ankle strapped wedges, pumps, pointy toe pumps with ankle straps, peep-toe pumps, peep-toe booties and booties. I do prefer silky track pants worn with a heel, be it low, mid or high. Although a d’orsay flat and gladiator sandal looks pretty fab paired with them too. 

I wanted to add a pair of patterned silky track pants to my wardrobe this Summer, but couldn’t find a pattern that I fancied in a length that was long enough at the time. I also didn’t want another solid black bottom. As Fall collections hit stores, I finally see the right length in colours and patterns that DO tickle my fancy. But I’ve missed my window to wear these in Seattle because our Summers are very short, and I run very cold. To purchase them now and only wear them a couple of times is not worth it. So I won’t be getting these till next year. Hopefully I will find a great pair when the time comes. 

Are you wearing the silky track pant silhouette? If so, do you wear them full length, pulled up to calf length, or both? Or are these pants just not for you.

After struggling to find the perfect pair of jeans, Kathryn over at Yes I Like That decided to take matters in her own hands, and make a pair from scratch. The Guardian interviewed Kathryn, asking her about the challenges of sewing with denim.

To celebrate the relaunch of its denim collection, Tory Burch has created The Denim Matrix, a fun infographic that gives you suggestions on what to wear with your jeans for different occasions.

This is one for Team Riveting Rearsiders. Madewell just launched a denim line that promises to do “some pretty life-altering things to the rearview”. Mary Pierson, head of the denim design team, explains what makes these jeans so special.

Fab Links from Our Members

Deb points us to “Seeking a ‘Middle-Aged’ Look“, an interesting article in the NYTimes about what older professional women are doing with cosmetic surgery.

These photos of a woman on her bike in Paris, snapped by A Femme d’un Certain Age, changed MsMaven’s concept of “age-appropriate” clothing.

Kari is smitten with Eugenio Recuenco’s gorgeous photos of women dressed up to look like Picasso portraits. It made her think of Angie.

Angie likes how Bridgette Raes illustrates the versatility of the sassy sweatshirt. Five competely different outfits that incorporate the same piece — great for Fall.

This article about a woman trying to return $1.4 million in merchandise to Neiman Marcus after finding out her husband had an affair with the salesperson left MaryK flabbergasted.

Lisa is happy to see that animal print is big for Fall, she especially loves that the prints are very large and exaggerated.

Must you really have short hair to have gamine style? What about Diane Keaton? Vildy loves this close examination of the components and development of gamine style.

This is a special casual Summer outfit because I associate it with a priceless memory. I wore it on the afternoon of my birthday a few weeks ago when we took Rosie to West Seattle for a quiet stroll in her favourite secluded park. Afterwards, Greg, Rosie and I had fish ‘n chips in the car, overlooking the Seattle skyline on a glorious hot and sunny day. Yesterday, we went back to the beach alongside Rosie’s Park to take these photos. It was a tranquil and cathartic couple of hours as we continue to grieve the loss of our precious little Yorkie. 

The bottoms are Gap’s Long & Leans flared jeans that I hacked into shorts last year. I bat for Team Long Shorts so I created a wider rolled up cuff and kept the length over the knee. They are my current favourite casual shorts because they’re roomier and less tapered than cut-off skinnies. I definitely needed this change as I give my clamdiggers a break. There is something tomboy about casual long shorts that takes me back to happy times when I was a child in the ’70s. I climbed trees and built a treehouse in cut-off denim jeans that looked a lot like these. The length is not everyone’s cup of tea as most prefer to wear shorter shorts. But the length works for me and I guess I’m also nostalgic about it too.

The top is new and a gift from Greg. As I mentioned previously, I like the oh-so-trendy and sassy fleece sweatshirt, but it does not gel with my style. Fleece tops make me feel like I’m wearing pajamas, and not in a good way. So I’ve adapted the trend by choosing sporty pullovers that are cut like fashionable upscale sweatshirts, but made of more refined fabric. The mesh stripe sweater from Karen Millen fits the bill perfectly. It’s made of viscose polyester and drapes like a dream. The blocked raglan insets and keyhole back opening amp up the “pretty”, while the welt makes it faux-tuck friendly. It’s my favourite casual Summer top by far. Although I’m still besotted with polka dots, I have moved over to Team Stripe.

The white belt adds a modern crispness to the faded cut-offs. The Converse high-tops continue the sporty integrity of the outfit. The sneakers aren’t a leg lengthening choice, especially when coupled with the longer length of the shorts. Wearing shorter shorts and low vamp shoes or sandals would have created a more flattering leg line. Yet, I don’t feel dumpy and stumpy in this combination. In fact, I feel fab. The white sneaks are low contrast against my pale skin, which together with the tucked top help prevent that short-legged feeling.

I never tie the laces of my high-tops. I tuck them away to create a looser fit around the ankle which is more comfortable. These high-tops are my casual Summer booties and I thoroughly enjoy wearing them. 

It’s often breezy by the water so I’m never without a topper. I like my old black moto with the outfit because it’s casual, yet structured, lightweight and it has worn nicely with age. It’s a fun juxtaposition against the graphic boldness of the rugby stripe. I finished off the outfit with an equally old slouchy and sporty hobo bag, a silver watch and wedding ring, and my prescription Ray-Bans. 

This type of outfit will take me on Summer walks and urban hikes. Breezy, casual, comfortable and ready for action.