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Getting nervous for a reliable workhorse

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Does anyone else get a little anxiety when a beloved workhorse has been worn so much that even though it’s not overly worn yet, you start to see indicators that it’s not looking so fresh anymore? And a replacement is nowhere in sight? Eek!

I have a pair of wide leg, black Athleta pants that I’ve been wearing for probably close to a decade. They are my go-to travel pants and I’ve worn them for everything from a nice dinner with a blouse and sandals to an impromptu hike with sneakers and tees. The fit is perfect and they are so simple that they just blend in seamlessly with whatever I’m wearing. (I’m wearing them in the photo below in the dressing room of Nordstrom in Seattle.) I’m starting to see a little wear at the edge of the hem, and a little stitching around the pocket is getting a little loose. I can have those things repaired (I can afford a tiny hem since these are quite long as I bought them in a tall size).

I decided to be proactive and start looking for a possible replacement before the situation gets dire. Athleta has a new version of these pants, but they seem to be cutting all their pants differently these days and the cut does not work for me. The rise is too long, for one. I think they’re also less generous in the hip. As a total deal-breaker, the new pant has a small pleat in front that renders the cut completely unflattering on my particular body type— it probably looks fantastic on slim-hipped ladies.

If anyone has seen a good easy-care, full-length, lightweight, wide (but not too wide) legged black pant — nothing thick or clingy! — with pockets and a moderate rise, please let me know! The athleisure fabrication works really well for me, but it seems current cuts are not quite as simple and classic as these old ones were.

In the meantime, I’ll be babying these. No hikes!

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General

37 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Jenny H

Veteran

I do know the feeling and unfortunately I've had the situation in which I've been unable to find the replacement item I had hoped for. The good news is I've always adjusted once the item finally became unwearable. Sometimes I just shift to wearing a different item altogether once that happens.

Bummer that the current version of the same pants doesn't work for you. I wonder if you could perhaps find an exact replacement for the pants on something like Poshmark? I have had success with that for a worn-out favorite (my metallic Ecco Soft 7 sneakers-- my first pair wore out and I was able to score a replacement-- the exact pair, unworn, via Poshmark.)

RobinF

Veteran

Nice looking pants!

Yes, I hate it when a workhorse wears out. I try but can never find a good replacement.

I wonder if Poshmark might be a good place for you to look? Hard to tell if it would be the older style though.

LJP

Veteran

This is pretty much what I wear to work most days, so I have a large collection of pants like this. Some better than others, obviously. Have you looked at Lululemon or époque ? Yesterday I wore a pant from Old Navy that is just like this : lightweight, pull on, NO PLEATS, side zip pockets and a lovely fluid , full length wide-ish leg.

RobinF

Veteran

Haha Jenny - great minds think alike!

Jenny H

Veteran

RobinF Indeed!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, ladies! Jenny and Robin, I’ve had luck with Poshmark for my old favorite dedicated hiking pants (also Athleta) — I got two dupes for my old favorites for like $15-20 each. Those pants get hard wear when I’m out for photo hikes. Both pairs were visibly worn, so fine for my purposes. But to duplicate these, I’d want them to be pristine — unlikely for a style that’s nearly a decade old!

Lisa, I have never even seen Epoque! I’ve been a bit off Lululemon lately (color palettes are weird, and tops are all not bra-friendly), so I kinda forgot to even check them! And I never think of ON for stuff like this, but I’ll look! Thanks for the tips!

In the meantime, I don’t have high hopes, but the Athleta Venice pant looks like the right kind of cut, if the details of fit work for me, so I’ve not written them off yet. It’s back-ordered so I may try. The Pinnacle was the pleated style that was so bad on me.

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Lisa

Veteran

I picked up these Zella pants during NAS. I had to get them hemmed, but the material has a nice drape, and these can easily be dressed up or down.

Zella Luxe Wide Leg Pants

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

Lisa, those are cute! The thickness and the pleats make them unworkable for me, but I’m glad they’re a success for you! Zella is often cut too short for me too, but I keep trying them.

Cookie

I wonder if someone who is good at such things could take them apart when they get too worn and use them as a pattern to duplicate? It is indeed stressful when the perfect garment starts getting old.

Kyle

Veteran

I was wondering if you might want to try the Athleta Endless style. It is not a wide leg, but it has a flat front and pockets that zip for a sleek, flattering look. All in all it’s a pant that can be worn in all the situations you describe IF the cut works.

JP

Veteran

I haven’t experienced that exact feeling, but I do understand the frustration of searching for a specific item and not being able to find it. I hope you're able to find a replacement, but if it gets to the point where your pants are no longer wearable, I recommend not getting rid of them. Instead, take them to a tailor who can use them as a pattern to create a duplicate. I’ve done this before and was able to replicate the exact item in the fabric of my choice.

cat2

Veteran

I completely understand. I am hard to fit and panicked when the only pair of jeans I liked was discontinued. I think the best path is to ditch trying to find a duplicate and instead go for something that fills your wardrobe gap: dark colored pants that can be dressed up or down. That’s how I got from my discontinued jeans to some cargoes I really liked. And from those to some new black jeans.

LJP

Veteran

Just to clarify - it’s “epoque evolution “ not “ epoque” / which is a very different website , lol. I have the Jet Set trouser , which is a different cut , but there are other pants there you might like . I waited for a promo/ sale as the reg prices are a little nuts .

Dee

Veteran

Oh I just hate when a favourite workhorse starts to fade with no alternative in sight. Sometimes you can get lucky and find a similar option at TJ Max type of places or as Cat2 mentioned you might need to reconsider a new way to fill that gap.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Another place to look might be Kit & Ace. Their Maven wide-leg pants look nice. I'm not sure what the fabric is; it might be heavier than what you're looking for.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

URGH! Sooo annoying

I saw you in those bottoms, Janet, and they are AWESOME!

(FWIW, I can't imagine the right positioned pleats not working for you, btw!!!).

I was going to suggest Kit & Ace, Zella and Old Navy too. And Spanx:

https://www.nordstrom.com/s/im.....ort&a

https://spanx.com/products/car.....5719184595

https://spanx.com/products/air.....5263191251

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Also, what about Saint and Sophia? kkards has some pants from them. I don't know what their offerings are like myself, because I've never ordered there, but might be worth a look?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Angie, those Spanx ones are cute (I love a side stripe version if the fit is right!). I do have a pair of side stripe pants from Zadig & Voltaire that I really like but they are not as easy care, and not quite as easy and comfortable as the Athleta.

I have never ever found a pair of pleated pants that work for me. They always pouf out at the pleat because of my build — the wide low hip is really not a friendly fit for pleats. And some pleats that start higher make it look like I have more of a tummy than I actually do. Sizing up never works in pleated styles because it just creates more fabric where I don’t need it too — floppy waist, too-long rise… I’ve just learned to say no to pleated pants!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Janet, the Spanx have potential

Thanks for the explanation! I get what you mean, and have seen that "pouf" happen on clients. I've found that a shorter rise with fluid soft pleats can work on a short rise and short waist like yours. Perhaps it's that too high rise with the pleats that poufs in a way you don't want it to?

Anyway, thinking out loud, in case you're interested

Runcarla

Veteran

I can relate! I still haven’t gotten over that Lululemon discontinued the ‘On The Fly’ line. When I wore out my two pair (bum so sheer you could see the colour of my smalls!) I had no success with their new fits - and haven’t recovered the loss. *cry*

For pleated pants to work for me, the pleats need to be closer to the hip so there’s a flat bit over the tummy. With the pleats set wider there isn’t the pouf over the tummy, nor the pull that causes gaping of the pocket.

I’ve lost weight since I got my green pleather pants in ‘21 (46 wears) so the fit is off. I’ve been tucking in tops - mostly sweaters - which fills them out a bit, but the bum is still baggy. They are so unique, yet pull their weight and seem to ‘make’ any outfit they’re a part of. Mango has a pair of brown faux leather trousers I’m considering - but they’re not the same…

Nope. I don’t deal well with loosing a wardrobe favourite, but as Jenny H wrote, one adjusts.

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Sal

Veteran

I know the feeling - sadly no specific advice that is helpful.

My old Lululemon On the Fly pants are now very tired; I have worn them to dinner and on hikes and to lounge and to travel and to play pickleball - they must be 10 years old and have been brilliant. I now really only wear them for the odd 6am walk in the dark or to clean the house.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Great advice upthread, and nothing helpful to add, but good luck with the hunt!

rebekahphoto

Veteran

Ah yes--the old favorites. sometimes they are just too perfect. I have a top from the mid 90s that is like that--perfect matte jersey, great drape, perfect V neckline and its starting to show wear and I cry just a little for the day it gives up the ghost

you might try setting a saved search on ebay for your pants so you get a email when they are posted-- you never know! I have clothes from my moms wardrobe I need to list that still have tags on them that are years old.

Peri

Veteran

I can sure relate too. The most perfect pants I've ever owned...and it's a long "ever" at this point folks...are also from Athleta. I think they are called Cosmos. Everything about them is perfect for me, fit, fabric and flare. So of course, they are discontinued.

I did some happy duplication before this happened, 2 pairs in black and one in navy, so I'm not looking at the emergency point yet. Plus Athleta items wear like iron. But I still keep an eye on new styles, just in case. I hope you find something new and great!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Glad to know I’m not alone!

It really doesn’t seem like these should be so hard to duplicate, but in my recent perusals of the stores, all the pants seem to be hopelessly high-rise. And why all the pleats now? While I appreciate Angie’s confidence, I like a streamlined fit and they never look streamlined on me. I simply do not enjoy them.

I feel like the fabrics are not what they were a few years ago. I got a pair of Zella pants a couple of seasons back, on discount from the Rack, and they developed an ugly pull the very first time I wore them, not even in a rough wear situation. My decade-old pants that have been through brambles and slid down boulders don’t have pulls.

I have placed an order for a pair from Old Navy to try. They’re inexpensive so a pretty low-stakes gamble, and easy to return if they don’t work. I’m looking into some other options mentioned here. Thanks for all the ideas!

The Poshmark idea is a good one, but I have no idea what these pants were called, so a bit hard to search for. That and it’s questionable that a used pair would be in better shape than what I have now. Still may be worth a try!

Lucy

I bought these during the Anniversary Sale (unfortunately they weren't a part of the sale though). Like you, pleats are usually not my friend, and I prefer mid-rise. These are also wide leg without being *too* wide, the pockets lay flat, and because they are pull-on there is no bulk around the waist. They are so comfy, and the length is perfect! I am an 8 in pants theses days, and I went with the small. So they may run a tad big, but they didn't have the medium in stock for me to compare the two.
https://www.nordstrom.com/s/vi.....rt&br

April

Veteran

That sort of anxiety haunts me like a ghost, Janet!

For me it's usually a beloved and hard-to-find color in a cotton piece that is starting to look pilly and tired.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Janet, could you try plugging in the item number (found on the care label/ info tag of the garment) & see what comes up in Google?

I've found a surprising number of discontinued items that way - even if there's no eBay search results for it yet, saving the picture (from a reverse Google image search) can also help gor future reference. Good luck!

Ket

Veteran

I second a saved search. You really just never know when it will pop-up in beautiful condition. I mean that! Laura Mercier discontinued their Spiced Cider blush. It was beloved in the Dark Autumn community, so why they discontinued it is unknown. (Probably sales or supplier issues.) Well, on a whim I looked at Mercari’s sight. Brand-new pan of it right there for $14. Not kidding. So it’s always worth checking the resale sights. Someone may clean out a closet and unearth a treasure.

Second thought: find a tailor and have them remake the pants. It really can be done and probably quite easily. (There is/was a whole book on copying patterns from premade clothes—it is not difficult to do.) Not sure on the cost. Tbh, you still might get a reasonable or good deal, even with labor. There are some really great fabrics out there today. There is a website I can link that offers high quality organic natural fiber knits. A sewing friend told me about them; very high quality, and you can order fabric samples of most to all of their line. It’s just a thought but it is the first option I personally would try.

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