Do I really need winter white trousers? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do I really need winter white trousers?

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Ann Taylor order did not work out for me (they do not accept Canadian credit cards - boo!) but BR trousers arrived this week. At last today I got to taking pictures - I was so sick with flu for the whole last week that I did not try them on for 2 days - can you imagine?
I have bought Monogram wide legs:
http://bananarepublic.gapcanad.....=429109003
and Martin flannel trousers:
http://bananarepublic.gapcanad.....=230481003
They both are lined and exactly the same shade of cream -they look whiter in the pictures than IRL. Martin is wool / spandex and a bit thinner fabric. Monogram is poly / rayon / spandex and fabric is thicker.
In all pictures Martin in on the left and Monogram on the right. If I keep them I will taper them to at least straight leg - wide hem white trousers will not be worn much in my climate. I have pegged one leg a bit in #3 but I may leave them wider on the hem, not tapered. They do not come in Tall in Canada but I think the length is fine for straight legs and there is about 1.5" to let out.
What do you think? White winter trousers are still from the realm of fantasy for me and I am not sure how much I will wear them. Please be my voice of reason here and tell me what do you think!

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31 replies

Latest reply was from cjh

merwoman

Veteran

Of the two pairs - I prefer the monogram on you. Drape is better.
As for your philosophical question re are white pants for fantasy life - I wondered the same thing. I ordered Martin from BR a couple of weeks ago, and just finished hemming. They are very comfortable, and I'm already visualizing wearing them for family and friend get-togethers over the holidays. I'm not so worried about the elements - I don't intend to go walking about outside in them. I see them more indoors, curled up a sofa, sipping a glass of wine...and being careful not to spill anything...

JR

Veteran

I like the Monograms better too. Although the Martins would work better for a casual vibe. They come across almost like jeans and have this rumpled vibe going on.

I would really like to see them with a white top, or whatever very pale colour suits you best.

As for whether you need them or not, well, of course you don't need them. You have survived nicely until now without them. But I am strongly prejudiced in favour of winter whites. White seems like the ultimate winter colour to me. I would wear my white wool coat all the time if the last dry-cleaning bill hadn't made me see red. I very much doubt I would ever buy white trousers I couldn't machine wash though. And I know that if you keep either of these pairs, you will find a way to wear them. And probably love them.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sveta, first, I am so sorry you have been so sick and I hope you are on the mend!

Re the trousers: I have a feeling you can work these beautifully into your wardrobe. This is not a passing whim. You have been craving white trousers, both winter and summer, for such a long time. So whether or not the elements cooperate, you will find a way.

I am with Merwoman in preferring the Monogram, but that is mainly because the other ones look a bit more wrinkled. In the end I would go with the ones you prefer. ETA I mean for comfort, the sensation of the fabric, etc.

I think tapering them to straight legs is a great idea...it will help with the risks of wearing, but also reduce that feeling of volume. You have lots of footwear to try with these, so that is not an issue.

Which of your jackets and tops work with them?

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I am really torn on these trousers. Martin are thin wool so even though the tag says 'dry clean" I know I can wash them - at least by hand. Monogram have rayon in them so I am not sure if wash will work for them or not. It does not say 'dry clean only', just 'dry clean' though...
I like the feeling of the Martin's fabric better - it is softer and less stiff, but maybe Monogram drapes better because of this? They are both nice quality though. I suspect Martin will wrinkle more because it is mostly wool...but looking at pictures it seems to me I look wider in Monogram than in Martin...Arghhhh, cannot make up my mind!
Merwoman, did you buy white Martins?
JR, I hear you on dry cleaning bills - that's why I want white trousers I can wash: there is no way I am going to dry clean them after every second wear (if I am lucky)!
Suz, thanks, I feel better now but still drained. I stayed of work most of last week and even cancelled by business trip for this week!
I was pondering a question of what to wear with winter white bottoms and came to the conclusion that I like either other neutrals or jewel tones with them. I think both my leather blazers should work as well.

Carole

Veteran

I hate to sound unobservant but I can't really tell much of a difference between the two (with the exception of wrinkles). It seems you could easily keep the ones that can be home laundered. Very nice fit for you, Sveta. I posted pictures today of a pair of Winter White trousers I pulled from the donate pile after seeing everyone on YLF sporting their new pants.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think those styling ideas are good. Moving towards spring, you could also casualize them a little with your denim shirt or a denim jacket over something fresh and bright. You know...in March and early April, when the stores are shouting "spring!!" but our world is still cold enough for wool. The only trouble is that it is also slushy then. But this would be for your driving days.

Gosh, I'm talking mySELF into these darn trousers!!

In a way I think wool is safest, too. Did you iron them first? If you didn't, then maybe ironing would help us get a slightly better sense.

I don't think you look wide in either of them.

Examining them more closely, I think I actually prefer the fit of the Martin. There seems to be less creasing in the crotch area and the waistband curves nicely. I might have been somewhat influenced by the button on those, which I don't care for; I know in reality you would cover either with a top or your belt.

OTOH, the monogram look really nice from the back and seem more opaque somehow.

I am about to perform an experiment handwashing some trousers that have rayon in them. I refuse to dry clean. So stay tuned.

Anonymous

What beautiful trousers ! I like both of these on you with a slight preference for the Martin's. You may not have to slim the legs on them. About the stiffness of the fabric , the ATs that I sent for came quite stiff but the ones in the store had been steamed and they were so much softer with a better drape. They are a wool mix, so having your Martins steamed might soften them.
I hope you feel better soon . there's a lot of flu going around here.
Please excuse mistakes. I'm using the voice feature on my iPhone to post and save my wrist.

deb

Veteran

My first thought was how well the pants on the left fit. I usually look at the pictures first so I am not swayed with words. I say go for the Martins.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I'm going to be no help whatsoever. Both pairs look nice. The Martins will look a lot better after they're pressed.

I don't *need* winter white pants either, but I'm looking forward to wearing them. If anyone can carry them off with flair, you can.

I hope you feel better soon!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the feedback. I also forgot to mention that Martins on the left are 1 size up they are a bit more slouchy than the Monogram with a bit of a dropped crotch here (about 1").
Maybe I should steam out both of them and try again...
Suz, I will be waiting for your wash experiment...:-)

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Amy, which ones did you get - Monogram?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ah, yes, I think that sizing up makes the difference. If you're after that slightly slouchy vibe, then that's the way to go. And on balance I prefer the idea of wool vs. all man-made, but then again, that is just prejudice talking because I haven't felt the actual trousers and Monogram are usually good quality items.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Monogram for sure! A 10!

Hope you feel better soon. ((HUGS)).

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Should I mail them to you Suz so you can get a feeling?
None of them was in my store, ordering online was the only option to try them on. For Monogram is the biggest size available - 12, I got Martins in both 12 and 14 and I like 14 better for some slouch but still a good fit.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Angie, I wondered if you have seen both of them IRL and what is your opinion on Martins...and HUGS back to you, it is safe through the Internet, I cannot pass my bugs to you!:-)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

MUCH prefer the Monogram quality.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Angie!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I prefer the Martin's on you, I think they fit you better in the crotch area, less creasing. I also think the back view looks better on the Martin's.
I also vote to keep the ones that can be washed and not dry cleaned!

Louise

Veteran

White dry clean/ hand wash trousers in winter sounds like a disaster waiting to happen! I've rarely worn mine (even in summer) as I'm always worried about getting them dirty and I can machine wash them. Though I do like merwoman's idea of wearing them for indoor get togethers x

rae

(website)

Veteran

Monogram FTW!

DonnaF

Veteran

I have a poison eye for the Martin's button closure, but if these were my pants, I would steam out both and them wear them around the house for a bit, sitting for awhile, squatting, etc. Rayon can wrinkle like the dickens, but wool is not always wonderful either. Oh, and also crush in your hand to compare resiliency. At this point, I prefer the Monogram, but photos don't tell the complete truth!

ManidipaM

Veteran

I think the main difference is the more casual vibe of the Martins, largely due to the button closure but also partly due to the fabric itself being 'scrunchier' and the fit with more ease in the crotch area.

Does how and where you will wear them influence you at all towards more or less dressy/tailored? Will how often you wear them---ie, how much wear you get from them---be determined by wash instructions? Also, would either of these translate to your summer wardrobe as well?

Not much help, I know; but just some practical aspects to think about, if it's new territory for you.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Feel better soon, Sveta!

Love both sets of trousers, and I concur that tapering them would be good for your climate and wardrobe, although I do like wide legs as well..

Do the monograms have belt loops? You have a great way with belts.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

So sorry you've been sick Sveta - at least you will be all better for the hoildays!

I ADORE the Monogram trousers on you. The drape is beautiful and I like the way they fit your backside a bit more than the Martins. The way you've pinned the leg in the third pic is GORGEOUS and I can totally see you working these into your wardrobe. I agree that wide legged light coloured trousers do not work in our winter climate but once the legs are tapered and you add booties - BAM - perfect!

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Sveta, I bought the Martins. I didn't know about the Monograms. I think I'd like to try those on before I take the tag off the pants I bought

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Beth Ann, both of them have belt loops so I can semi-tuck!:-)
I had a dread of white trousers or jeans before but desperately wnated to try them anyway. I got the white Express flares this summer and surprisingly they worked well for me. I was able to get 1-2 wearsout of them before laundering and it is not a big bother with my new washer. I found myself enjoying them immensly in summer and wearing them at least once a week. I still wnat to get straight leg white jeans or trousers for summer as well for a different shape and more flaxibility on the footwear choice.
I showed these BR trousers to my hubby and asked him if I should keep them. He is a pretty conservative person when it comes to dressing so i was expecting 'no"...but he said - 'sure, they are quite different'. After that I think I must kep a pair.
I am going to steam both of them and wear them more around the house to test the wrinklenes. I am also going to show them to my mom to see if she can taper them for me: I am not keeping them as wide legs, I know they will become beautiful wardrobe orphans in this case. I also have to devise a strategy how I can wear them with winter boots: even if I wear them to work and change into shoes in the office i still have to get there...
Stay tuned for more pictures with steamed out trousers!

Lisa

Veteran

I vote monogram, I like their drape better. I'm looking forward to how you style these.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Another vote for the Monograms! You look so fab, who would think you just had the flu? These pants sit very well on you.

Anonymous

Chiming in to add another vote to the monograms. The fabric just looks thicker and drapier. Hope you are feeling better soon, Sveta!

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