In her NAS review of these Madewell pants, Angie wrote, “They are not slimming, and that's not a bad thing! You don't need to wear things that make you look long and lean all the time. Where is the fun in that?”

This made me laugh, because I think trying to look leaner is so deeply etched in me and many women that I know. Even as I have gotten older and therefore more comfortable in my body and confident in who I am, dressing to try to look leaner is still my default impulse. Maybe it’s keeping me from having more fun. (I both want and fear the pants!) I am thinking of this as a new challenge for me.

How much priority do you place on looking long and lean in your outfits? Do you enjoy wearing clothing that is not slimming?