Being defeated by a pair of pants... - YouLookFab Forum

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Being defeated by a pair of pants...

christy

Veteran

I'm pulling together a travel capsule for an upcoming trip to Hawaii. In my mind's eye, these white linen pants would create a carefree and relaxed Hawaiian look. Then I finally got around to trying them on in an attempt to create an outfit or two. And HATED just about everything I put with them. Do any of these tops work? Or should I just accept the fact that a 5'2" apple should NOT wear white, wide-legged linen pants. Brutal honesty welcome. They are, of course, too long and would need to be hemmed. Any opinions on whether I should wear them with flats or tall sandals? Both types of footwear are featured here. Heeled sandals with the polka dot top in #1, the black and navy tops in #3, and the camel top in #4. I'm wearing flats in all of the others.

Excuse the harried look and crazy hair - end of a long day and a super long week. Come to think of it, this is pretty much exactly what my hair will look like in Hawaii - completely out of control!

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Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Scarlet

christieanne

Veteran

I hate to say this because I know how packing can be but I think the pants are overwhelming your frame. Is there a sleeker white pant alternative on the horizon? White would pair with the tops really well.

Makrame

Veteran

I do like the very first option - coral top and those coral or red shoes. Also perhaps the polka dot top and the last top in #3, and maybe the green shirt in #4. I can see how these pants can appear versatile but then not go with that many tops - the volume is a bit tricky. I would say if you were planning on bringing the coral top and the polka dot top and the blue t-shirt with you anyway, don't give up on these pants - even if you can partner them with just one or two tops, that's not bad (and, after all, how many times can one wear white pants before needing to wash them?)

bj1111

Veteran

i like it with the tunic and the sleeved black tops.

Scarlet

Veteran

First of all, i like the second, third and fourth outfits the best. Especially 4. I think for a fun beach vacation they may be just the thing actually, and in the pictures they don't look too long. For brutal honesty, I may not be fully objective because I am your height and have finally got myself to stop buying pants like this. For myself, I think in the mirror they look good, but in pictures they are just never the most flattering to my eye. My husband actually loves a pair of pants I have that look just like yours though, so maybe we are too self-critical? I think you can wear these, and you look good, but I just know from other WIWs of yours that other things look even more spectacular. I just want to be honest and obviously my own psychology might be at play. I prefer these with the heels. You could always get the leg taken in a little.

Deborah

Veteran

Christy firstly they are not as bad as you think! And your facial expressions are priceless:). I am very used to seek g you on a much sleeker streamlined look so this takes a little adjusting too.

I like the polka dot top outfit, and the blue and white tunic outfit in particular. I think you will feel better in heels as they will create a longer line. The middle top in #3 also looks good.

What is the weather going to be like? I would have thought it would be too hot for lo g sleeves?

BTW my hair does exactly the same as yours when not straightened, only on you it
looks great whereas I look like I have been living in the wilderness for a month:)

ManidipaM

Veteran

Ok, you can call me crazy or biased --- but I like a LOT of these looks and I think the pants are just great on you! Maybe it's more of a departure from your usual look than you realized it would be, and maybe you were seeing more sheer/lightweight linen or even drapey cotton in your head, while most linen is a little stiff-ish compared to the same weight of cotton?

(But then, I wear wider leg pants more often than not, and voluminous is the default silhouette where I live.)

I especially like them with the coral top and the dotted one, the checked shirt, the navy top, the tunic, the black dolman sleeve, and the camel. The key would seem to me to be baring a bit of skin on top to counter the volume (the sleeveless or deep Vs work so well), or having a little eye-catching colour or sparkle to offset the white (tunic, camel top which looks like it might be sparkly?) I personally think the length on these demands flats or a very low heel.

sarah

Veteran

I agree wtih Manidipa. It's not you, it's the pants. They're a bit stiff, so they don't drape very well. Perhaps linen is not your friend (I think it's very hard to style). I actually like a lot of these in theory, but I think that those particular pants are just very hard. What about a pair of white bootcuts instead? Angie has suggested that boot cuts on petites can achieve the same feel as a wider leg on a taller person. I've posted a few examples of me in white bootcuts below (I'm 5'1").

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Jjsloane

Veteran

Sarah gave great advice and examples. I think it's those pants - they are not great on you. I love a lot of the tops (polkadot one in particular) and would suggest trying to find some white bootcuts to substitute for these pants and then you can pack all these tops!

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I think the last top in the third set works well. It is a closer fit and seems to offset the volume of the pants more. I do like the idea of a loose breezy white pant for Hawaii. You just need the right combination.

christy

Veteran

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions!
Christieanne, I think you're right and the pants are just too big on me. I do have a pair of white denim skinnies, but I think even I would be too warm in them in Hawaii.
Makrame, thanks for letting me know which tops you like best. And true, I probably won't be able to wear them more than once or twice!
bj111 - Thanks!
Scarlet - I had the same issues with some of these: they didn't look *that* bad IRL, but look terrible in the pictures. And my husband gave me the thumbs up on them also. I should also mention that they were $20 Old Navy pants, so not worth taking in unless I can figure out how to do it myself, which I might try to do.
Deborah - and now we know why I tend to wear sleeker silhouettes! I just look short and dumpy in wide-legs! I CANNOT believe that your hair is wavy also - it always looks so amazingly smooth and straight. As to the weather - I tend to be on the cool side, so especially at night for casual dinners, I was thinking light long sleeved tops and the light pants would be a good combo for me.
ManidipaM - glad that you liked some of these. Great insights on how to balance the volume on the pants with color and a bit of skin.
Sarah - thank you so much for the visuals! You're right - the sleeker cut through the hips and thighs works much better to lengthen the leg line. I just had this image in my mind of how great the linen would look and was so disappointed in the reality of it.
Jjsoane - I think that's exactly what I'll do. I do have a pair of white clams that I was planning to take with me. That will likely be the alternative.
Dianthus - I do love the white breezy pant idea! I think the closer fitting tops do work better.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So interesting!! Thanks for posting these, Christy. I learn so much from other people's struggles.

To my eye, these are not bad at all for a beach holiday...but admittedly, they do not look as neat and sleek on you as your usual clothing! And maybe the wrinkles contribute to the problem, as well as the slight stiffness...though that does soften up in time with linen. They give a slight PJ vibe...which might or might not be what a person wants, LOL!

I think clams are a great alternative and you'll feel better in them. But if you want the breezy feel, how about a breezy linen (or linen blend) skirt? I find skirts so wonderful in the heat and humidity. If you could find such a skirt, I'll bet it would be a holiday and weekend workhorse for summer. I know I'm looking for a couple for my work-at-home MOTG life.

I once had two linen-rayon blend skirts. I LOVED those. They were virtually 3 season; they did not wrinkle to the degree linen usually does, they draped gorgeously, they were cool (but with a slip underneath could be worn in cooler weather). Something like that could be a fabulous addition to anyone's wardrobe.

Kari

Veteran

Christy, they do look a bit big to me, but I think hemming will help. I think the outfits that limit the volume on top work best; the sleeveless top in the middle in the first pic, and the green button down in the last pix work best to my eye.

Have fun in Hawaii! I'm envious- haven't been for nearly 10 years. Which island will you stay on?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I see what you mean, Christy. White and wide leg on a dainty petite can look less than fab. I truly think that white bootcuts are a better idea (or white clams, straight legs or skinnies). LOVE your tops and capsule idea.

catgirl

Veteran

You have such a great collection of tops! Of these I like the very first top, the tunic, the fitted black t, and the last flowy tan blouse. But I agree the pants are a bit overwhelming.

As a fellow petite shortie, I often find that with these kinds of pants (and I'm a total sucker for them), the mirror looks great and then the photos tell the truth. Sometimes I just wear them anyway because I love the feel of loose flowy pants, but I restrict it to beachwear and casual summer lounging.

DonnaF

Veteran

Christy;
What do those various tops look like tucked in? It would give you a longer leg line and balance the volume to the bottom. Of course, this option would be warmer. Or lighter colored tops? Otherwise, I really, really like the tunic top with the pants, maybe for the same reason I like Manidipa's traditional wear?

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I don't see the problem? I like the way they look on you with these tops:
#2 (super fab!) black and white sleeveless top
#5 blue and white tunic
#8 black batwing top
#9 navy tee
#10 volume on volume taupe loose fit tee

Some of the other ones don't work as well, for example the button downs have some f-factor.

Loose flowy pants are good for very hot weather. Since they were only $20 at ON I think they are perfect for a vacation. Although bootcuts might be more flattering, I think these look cooler both temperature-wise and fashion-wise.

christy

Veteran

You girls are the absolute best! Thank you so much for all of your honest opinions and helpful solutions.
Suz - the skirt idea is a great one. I have several dresses and a couple of loose cotton knit skirts that I'll take with me. That just might have to suffice for my "breezy" looks!
Kari - we are spending some time on the Big Island (my little guy put in a request to see an "active" volcano!) and then we'll wrap up with some time on Maui. We went to Hawaii for the first time ever last year and loved Maui. I'm excited to spend some time on the Big Island also.
Angie - yep, agreed. At least it was a relatively inexpensive lesson learned. $20 is much better than the $90 J Jill pair that I brought home and will return!
Una - The camera is such an honest critic isn't it?! I think there are a couple here that are *okay* but nothing fab.
Donna - great idea! Unfortunately the few I tried tucked in looked even worse...
Denise - thanks! The ones you like are the ones I feel are probably the best, but I'm just not really used to seeing myself in the loose, breezy silhouettes...

The good thing about this is that since they were only $20 and I don't see myself wearing them as they are, I'll do a little experiment in trying to narrow them myself and see if I can make them work. They may turn out to be a complete wreck, but I might as well give it a shot! I'll try to keep them loose and breezy but just not quite as loose as they are now. Project time!

Isabel

Veteran

I really like it with the tunic and flouncier tops. I also LOVE them with the polka dot top !!!!

Danyell

Love the tops and think that the slimmer cut would be best. Or do you have a white skirt? That could be an option as well.

shoppingisfun

(website)

Veteran

I am 5' and 1/4" and love the wide-legged look....on OTHER people. I think it is extremely difficult for short people to pull off this look. That being said...

You're quite a bit taller than me. I think some of the outfits look pretty good, but would stick to the shorter shirts (nothing approaching crotch-length) and tall shoes. Even average-heighted people tend to look bad when they pair wide-legs with flats.

I would be more concerned about trying to keep linen pants un-wrinkled and CLEAN while travelling. It seems that other fabrics would be a lot easier to keep from getting wrinkled and/or stained!

tarzy

Veteran

Thanks for posting these - I'm headed to balmy Florida next month, and I'm taking notes! I'm also 5'4" and I also struggle with wide leg pants. Although I do like the first three, I agree with Angie that boot cuts or white clams would look even more fabulous.

Anonymous

Thinking of linen tea towels and such, you might try washing these multiple times to see if they soften and drape before making alterations. They may also shrink enough that you don't need to shorten them. Also, be sure to check to see if your underwear shows through the fabric, especially when you bend over. Even thongs can show.

Scarlet

Veteran

Sometimes I wonder if it isn't the photos of outfits that are misleading rather than the mirror. Something about getting transcribed into 2D. Anyway, I got some good tips on this thread on how to take in a pant leg, if you decide to give it a shot:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....s-be-saved