Ask Angie & All: Styling Winter Trousers - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie & All: Styling Winter Trousers

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

I purchased these lovely flannel pinstripe Theory ankle trousers during the Black Friday mayhem, and then had them hemmed to MY ankles. I love a good classic trouser in the winter, but not having worn any for some time since my style has evolved, I'm racking my brain trying to style them to make them current. I know they're not in keeping with my look, but sometimes I need to look a little more business-like for work. So, none of my long, fluid drapey tops will work, and I don't love tucked or semi tucked sweaters with them (see pic), so am wondering if cropped sweaters or peplum tops would be better? ...but I don't have any of either. The other thing is shoes, but maybe that's another post. I would normally work it out on my own, but I have a big job interview in early January that I'm thinking they'd be good for and I suspect I"ll have to shop prior to. Any and all ideas will be considered and thanks in advance. [pics are prior to hemming, shown with a fine gauge navy sweater from J. Crew]

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Theory 'Treeca' Wool Blend Pants

$285.00 $113.76

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18 replies

Latest reply was from Firecracker (Sharan)

unfrumped

Veteran

Lovely trousers!
With those I think you could do a fine-gauge knit with a banded bottom--fluid but not overwhelming.
I have trouble with banded bottoms due to my shape and long waist, but with these pants I think the right length banded-bottom top would sit nicely on the hip. For wearing untucked then I would choose a minimalist belt--something thin and flat that just fills the loops. You might forego it altogether, but I usually fill the loops.
Another style is just a completely straight, boxy but again not huge top. Probably what you mean by cropped, but not actually cropped, just sitting at high-mid hip. Need enough length to raise your arms and not flash tummy. For hem, a straight hem would work fine on you, and also slight shirttail/hi-low as long as it doesn't look like you forgot to tuck in your shirt--
One question is, do you plan to wear a jacket/blazer and if so, what?
That for me drives the top quite a bit.
For shoes, if you've hemmed to low ankle, I think any kind of low-vamped pump works well. For me, not high heel but a bit of heel. For an interview I could get away with slightly pointy style.There are likely some shootie or bootie styles that would work but I always have to match them specifically to pant length.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I think a blazer or jacket with a little flare at the bottom would be a possibility.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

They look terrific and I like the shoes in #1 - picturing with hemming. Will leave jacket suggestions to others but look forward to seeing some options!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

What about a long vest? (Over the sweater you're wearing, or a funnel neck, or a blouse.) I think you have one in winter white, but do you also have a darker one?
A long topper, like your floral one? Maybe not the pattern-mixing for conservative office wear, but again, I'm wondering if you got the teal one, and if it would go with these trousers.
A long blazer would be cute, too--I'm picturing a kind of boyfriend cut. (Not traditional fitted waist, but straighter, and almost fingertip length.)

I like the shoes you're showing them with here for interviews.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Another thought: what did Theory show them with?

Inge

(website)

I saw those trousers during the sale and love them so much, Ann! And they look great on you!
I like Unfrumped's idea of a banded hem top, and Sharan's suggestion of trying them with a long gilet.
I don't mind them with the pullover tucked in at all. Do you think you would like that look better if you layered a jacket or blazer over the top, Ann?
I'd love to see it paired with one of your fab leather jackets or vests, but perhaps that's not dressy enough for work/your job interview (exciting, by the way!)
Your periwinkle jacket would look great with the trousers colours, for example:
http://youlookfab.com/finds/item/?product=22210

I've also looked at a few ways the pants have been styled on other websites:
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Th.....169/p.prod
I love the length of that sweater with the trousers.

Inge

(website)

ETA: here are some visuals of combinations I think could work too:

- striped button-down tucked in + belt + slightly cropped jacket
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246642517067537302/

- untucked button-down (not too long) layered under cropped sweater
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246642517067006356/

- V-neck sweater with asymmetric hem layered over interesting button-down
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246642517067351860/

- button-down layered under cropped (sleeveless) sweater layered under blazer
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246642517065879821/

- more relaxed/casual with button-down layered under chunky knit sweater
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246642517065593350/

- another more casual look: rolled sleeves button-down layered under turtleneck sleeveless sweater with side splits and sneakers (could swap those for dressier footwear)
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246642517064297707/

- androgynous touches with white button-down, sleeveless sweater and perhaps an oxford shoe or brogue (heeled or flat)
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246642517063684134/

- turtleneck top or jumper in similar colours as the trousers paired with a cropped jacket in a contrasting colour
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246642517068950444/

- sleeveless leather top (perhap layer under a shirt or feminine blouse and a bright-coloured shoe
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246642517068486060/

- a peplum-style blouse in a great colour or pattern, or with textural interest
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246642517068498496/

- and more casual again: Fair Isle sweater layered over a patterned shirt, paired with patterned (or solid) oxfords

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246642517068520803/

Anonymous

I have winter slacks that I have not been wearing all that often. Inge's ideas are priceless. I will be trying to duplicate some of those ideas.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Queen Pedantic About Pant Lengths chiming in from a glorious Xmas with Sam (and Greg of course).

How do you feel about hemming them even shorter, Ann? They would look edgier that way. Showcase your edgier footwear - high and low shafts. Nice trousers!

Tanya

Veteran

What lovely trousers Anne, and they fit you so well. I like to idea to pair them with something blue to pick up the blue from the stripes on the pants. As fort eh shapes, I was going to make some suggestions but Inge already made some quite amazing ones, so there is nothing left

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

Unfrumped, UmmLila, Firecracker and Inge - Wow, great ideas! I landed and Seattle late last night and woke up to all these great suggestions. I had thought a fine-gauge knit was the way to go, but didn’t have anything solid to try out other than my high-low navy sweater in the picture. The two big floral cotton ones I bought this year are the right idea, but the pattern is CrAzY for an interview look. I feel the v-neck sweater/slacks combo is so masculine on me that I’m put off by it unless there’s a twist, perhaps like the grey sweater in the one Pinterest that is asymmetric, but shorter. I also agree on a different or no belt strategy, which may likely depend on the top I choose. Like Unfrumped, the banded bottom of sweaters can be off-putting on my apple frame, which is why I initially leaned towards a straight cropped option. What I meant more (as you rightly surmised) was a shorter sweater but with a boxy fit that would skim the hip. This can be a challenge, since I am short with a short torso. I don’t know whether I want to depend on a jacket, as I run warm and am likely in an interview situation to get really warm ;-). I will wear one into the office probably, as I do like the option of layering in the rare event that the building is colder than I like. I will also try the gilet approach, because I have a dove grey one that will at least give me an idea of the proportions. Ditto with the long jacket (the green Classiques one).

Angie - You are quite right and one of the reasons I’m writing about options vs trying some is that I dropped the pants off at Nordstrom for a hem before the break and won’t get them back until the 30th, giving me exactly 5 days to style before I fly out to the interview. If they still need to go up more, it will have to wait until I’m back. I definitely want to figure out the right balance so that I can wear them casual to dressy in Winter. It’s not like me to buy something that is so difficult to style, but something about them just resonated with me. Definitely JFE, since they do nothing to balance out my slimmer bottom half.

Tanya - Yes!!! I too am enamored of the grey and blue combo, so that is definitely the way I’m leaning!

I’m going to try and build a Find capsule based on all of your suggestions and any more that may come in. That way, if I do have to shop (like if I decided a white button up is called for), I’ll have options. Thanks again ladies!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Fitted V-neck blouse or sweater with a cropped jacket like the one below. Belt, tailored booties or oxfords, and Bob's your uncle.

Armani Collezioni Ribbed Jersey Jacket

$995.00 $397.98

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dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

Ooooh, just got a call that the slacks are back Angie, so will have to also look for that jacket and see if Bob is, in fact, my uncle
Looks like BCBG has some structured peplum tops. What do you think?

BCBGMAXAZRIA Abrielle Sleeveless Peplum Top

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6

BCBGMAXAZRIA Viviayne Fringe Trim Peplum Top

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unfrumped

Veteran

I think something like a modified peplum--which I really like and yet can be hard to find or describe. Meaning, not a full-on stick-out peplum, but shaping and a bottom hem that skims.
One advantage of such a top, if you can find the HEWI, is that it can sometimes be stand-alone (if has sleeves). Can veer into the dreaded shorty jacket-top that sometimes is done poorly, but otherwise is like a structured top, so add a necklace and handbag and good to go.
Often these have too much substance for jackets, unless jacket is relatively unstructured; hence would still try to hunt down at lease one basic, lightweight upscale knit top in whatever is flattering cut and length for you in your trousers, for layering.
I like some of Inge's suggestions for casual. I find the shirttail-peeking out is too casual or "cheeky" for a lot of job interviews or more serious/sedate professional wear, but should work fine and be very fun for more creative or casual environs. The asymmetric sweater layered over blouse though is very polished.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thumbs are up. Report back soonest.

kkards

Veteran

I'm going to throw out a wildcard.... It's not generally my style, and I'm I'm not sure it's yours, but these pants made me think blue pussy bow blouse.

unfrumped

Veteran

kkards, I could see that too, with the bow dropped a bit as is the style now, not chokin' high-necked style. Gives a nice V-look but softer than a plain V-neck sweater as dashielle noted.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

The pants are stunning on you, Ann--I can see why you bought them. Inge has gathered such fabulous ideas, too--not all for an interview, but lots of fun looks. Oh, and it was the dove gray vest I was thinking of.