Anyone have experience with J. Crew pants?

Aziraphale

Hi everyone,

Do any of you have experience with J. Crew pants? The matchstick ones? the toothpick ones? How to they fit? Are they comfy?

Also, it seems like most of their pants end right above the ankle -- what's up with that? Are they supposed to do that, or is it just because they are modeled by skinny girls who are 6 ft tall? (I'm wondering if I can get away with a regular, not petite, size and have them be normal length on me -- I'm short).

13 years ago

Shopping

12 replies

Latest reply was from K. Period.

Raisin

Veteran

I don't know, but I'm curious about the matchstick ones too. How they fit, tts, small, large...

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think at your height, Elisabeth, you will find them to fit like regular length (vs. ankle) pants. They are meant to be ankle length, but if they work as regulars, so what?

I will leave others to talk about the merits. I have only tried the jeans on, not the pants.

13 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

I tried on matchstick and toothpick velvet pants. Matchstick were much too straight legged on me, but the length in P (or maybe short) was good. Toothpick was slimmer and cut a lot like some Gap fits with a lower rise. Definitely cut for rectangles and slim hourglass iIMHO. I returned both because ultimately didn't know how I'd style them, but almost kept the toothpick.

13 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

I've tried on both and actually own both. Una is right that they're cut for rectangles or slim hourglasses. I'm a definite rectangle.

I wear and like the matchsticks, but some are perfect and others are a little gappy around the knee for me. They are long on me and I'm 5'4" or 5'5" if I stand up straight.

Toothpicks are much skinnier. I don't generally like them on me. A bit too tight. However, I own one pair that is the mid-rise version. They definitely require sizing up compared to the matchsticks. I would say that regular rise toothpicks require two sizes, whereas mid-rise toothpicks require one size. I have curvy legs and I feel like these are tighter than Gap Really Skinnies on me. More like second skin. They are short too. Definitely long ankle length on me. I usually like a little more pooling at the ankles on skinnies. These are just long enough for flats and boots on me. In their favor, though, I must say that they are really nice quality and that they only stretch a tiny bit. I feel like my Gap jeans stretched a full size or more during the day.

13 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Thanks for the advice, ladies.

Suz -- exactly. It won't be the first time I've bought "ankle" pants that are in fact regular length on me.

Una, when you said the length in petite was good, did you want them to be ankle length?

K can shop, I'm 5'1" and relatively slender. Definitely a rectangle. What you say sounds promising. When you say the matchsticks are long on you, do you mean they are not ankle length, but more regular length? Because yes, I like a little bunching around the ankles too. Normally I shy away from ankle length because they make you look shorter, and clearly I don't need that. Haha. Although I'm sort of thinking I might like an ankle-length pair to wear with my new 3.5" Harlows, because the high heels should mitigate the leg-shortening effects of the pants, while at the same time showing off the entire awesomeness of the shoes. Hmmm.

13 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

They were regular length on me in P.

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Mmm. I thought you were talking about the pants vs. the jeans. I don't know if the fit is the same, but AG and Kcan might know. I tried the Matchstick jeans on...I was trying to size up for a slouchy skinny look, as someone here suggested I try that. It didn't work for me...they looked okay (not brilliant) in my real size but sizing up did not create an attractive slouch. It just looked all over too big and baggy. I am a slim hourglass whose slimness is mainly up top and who has some curves to the bottom. I didn't get a chance to try the toothpicks on, so I can't report on those.

13 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Thanks, Suz. I think we don't have quite the same shape. I'm probably about the same level of slim as you, but my slimness is more in my lower half, with a regular bust that looks fuller than it is because of my proportions, and I have less of a defined waist than you. So it sounds like the toothpicks might work for me...although sheesh, they look impossibly skinny on the models!

13 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

Elizabeth, oh she of many awesome Fluevogs, including the uber-awesome Harlows... the matchsticks are just long enough that I considered getting them hemmed, but I haven't yet gotten around to getting them hemmed despite wearing them several times. For 5'1", I'd say you would need to get the regular length ones hemmed shorter. FWIW, mine are in the dark denim, and I think that they are cut a little closer around the knee than the lighter denim. Don't know why. (shrug.)

The toothpicks should be a fine length, with just a smidge of pooling.

13 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Haha, Kcan, I don't actually have that many pairs of Fluevogs. Maybe 13 or 14? I've been collecting them for quite a while, too. And I wear them nearly every day....except when I need to wear my rain boots. Which is actually quite a lot this time of year...sigh.

You know, I think I'm actually going to have to trek all the way down to the J. crew store and start trying stuff on. It's miles away but oh well. I'll report back, though!

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I love the matchsticks sized up so they look all baggy.

13 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

Don't say no to the toothpicks until you've tried on the mid-rise. I hated the toothpicks and only tried on the mid-rise to humor my personal shopper there after about uh the tenth time she told me I should try them. Then I immediately bought them. They made me look curvy and slim, a rarity (especially the curvy bit) for me.

13 years ago

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