Ask Angie: Shopping for Trouser Slacks

Hi. I am shopping for a pair of dress slacks to wear to work. I would sincerely appreciate your thoughts on the subject. The slacks I buy have to meet certain criteria.

Year round fabric for southern climate: I have had great success with winter weight wools. Although I have developed a sensitivity to sweater wools, I seem to be able to wear winer weight wools with great success. Other fabrics that are year round would work too.
Black.
Full length.
Straighter cut.

My favorite are the Dolce and Gabbana, but I have second thoughts about the pleat. My second favorite is the Armani. Some of the commenters mentioned that the wool is mid-weight (not winter weight). And I feel I need belt loops so the Armani likely do not meet my needs.

I am trying very hard to practice your suggestion of patience. Perhaps I need to expand my shopping beyond Nordstrom? What do you think? Thanks in advance.

Nordstrom

Boss by Hugo Boss 'Temea' Stretch Wool Straight Leg Trousers

$275.00

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Nordstrom

Armani Collezioni Straight Leg Wool Pants

$595.00

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Nordstrom

Armani Collezioni Straight Leg Featherweight Wool Pants

$595.00

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Nordstrom

Dolce & Gabbana Straight Leg Stretch Wool Pants

$775.00

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8 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sterling, why do they have to be full length and year round black trousers? Have you tried Theory and Lafayette?

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

Veteran

Do you need wool specifically, or would a synthetic suiting do? Ann Taylor has that, and BR. Club Monaco? I never shop there because they run too small for me, but you're a bit smaller than me I believe.

What about Classiques Entier at Nordstrom? I remember them having a really nice looking full length trouser.

Brooks Brothers and Pendleton might be good places to try, too.

Anonymous

I struggle with finding good pants too - a lot of us do. Out of all of these , I really prefer the Hugo Boss because I happen to prefer pants that sit lower on the hips. The two Armani pants look very high waisted. That, however, is just my opinion. I really prefer a cool wool too - rather than a blend, but as you say , they are hard to find. CM does sometimes do their suiting program (doesn't seem to be as consistent anymore or maybe just in certain stores) and their pants are wonderful - a cool wool and a blend too. Tiger of Sweden has a lovely straight legged wool pant - and that brand is available world-wide. Small fit though.

There is also Brooks Brothers and J.Crew SUITING (not fashion).

Angie -- I have never been comfortable in ankle and cropped styles of pants. I may wear those styles when I can't find full length, but I buy cheap versions from the Gap.

I am looking for a pair of work slacks. I was thinking nondescript, four seasons pants would be my best buy. I based this on light weight wool slacks I bought years ago that never went in or out of fashion. They never wrinkled. They draped beautifully.

I am open to all suggestions though.

retailgirl

I agree with Lafayette, ( they run big), Brooks Brothers, Pendleton. Brooks Brothers has changed the fit of some of their basics, and the presentation on their website is awful. You should probably try on in a store. You could also look at Talbots seasonless wool suiting. They've changed the fits; they're usually available only on line so you may have to order several pair. And they run big, too. But usually a good value. Why is it what should be simple to find is hard?

Joy

I have the best luck at thrift shops for black year round wool slacks. Mine are old but favorites are JCrew and Ann Taylor. Have you tried Eileen Fisher? Many are short though. I recently got these black EF ( not wool though) slacks on sale from Neiman Marcus that are long and fit me like a straight.
I will try to add them as a find.

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Neiman Marcus

Washable Stretch-Crepe Straight-Leg Pants, Black

Thanks everyone. Your help was invaluable. These are the four I am going to try.

J.Crew

Preston pant in Super 120s wool

Talbots

Seasonless Wool Trousers - Curvy

Lafayette 148 New York 'Barrow' Stretch Wool Pants (Regular & Petite)

$248.00

JamC

Nice choices. I hope one pair works for you.

DonnaF

Hope those work out! Otherwise, I would try Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, and Saks and any other higher end department store I may have forgotten to find all wool slacks. Are you looking for lined ones? Nothing looks, feels, and drapes better than high end wool. Gee, or even moderate wool in comparison to cheap stuff.

Hi Donna F. The slacks I am replacing were not lined. I am sensitive to wool, yet those pants never bothered me and I could wear them year round. I owned two pair: tan (best buy) and taupe. The taupe were limiting because I only wore them with black tops. If I could have bought those exact pants in black, I would be wearing them today. So I am on a search.

With the right footwear, I HIGHLY recommend that you try cropped black trousers too.

Here are some options. Try the Columnist at Express as well.

Lafayette 148 New York Punto Milano Slim Pants (Regular & Petite)

$278.00

Lafayette 148 New York 'Irving' Stretch Wool Pants (Regular & Petite) (Nordstrom Exclusive)

$238.00

Theory 'Super Slim Edition' Stretch Wool Pants

Lafayette 148 New York 'Bleecker' Pants

$298.00

Theory 'Treeca' Cigarette Pants

$275.00 $164.98

Sale

Thank you, Angie. I will. I just need to find the right pair for me.

So I thought I would update the forum on my pant search. I ordered these. They were literally exactly what I was looking for, but they are so nondescript. There is nothing interesting about the pants whatsoever. I know that is what I said I wanted, but truth be told, they bore me.

Jenn

You know, they don't have to be interesting. When I start to get bored shopping for basics, I try to remind myself of an episode of What Not to Wear where Stacy suggests this formula:
one item you like (because it fits well and flatters)
one item you love (because it's a great color, pattern, or texture)
add some bling (something special to draw the eye)

Maybe your trousers can be the item you simply "like."

Kathleen

Active Member

I had a very similar pair of Lafayette black pants for several years before I lost some weight. I agree that they are not the most exciting or unique but they always seemed to be the pair I wore to work on those "I don't know what to wear today" type of days. Practical, just not exciting.

I also like Angie's suggestion of the ankle length pants. Since I started wearing that style more, I find that I really like the look with the right shoes.

Since those Lafayette slacks are 96% virgin wool, maybe they feel good to pet? So they may LOOK boring, but you will hold the special secret of their FEEL.

Vix

Hi Sterling -- echoing what Jenn, Kathleen, and Donna said.

Pants in a gorgeous fabric + that fit the wearer perfectly look so, so sharp to me. Its an effect that photos don't really capture (video captures this much better).

Enjoy your beautiful base!

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