Help me find winter pants! - YouLookFab Forum

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Help me find winter pants!

Roxanna

Veteran

Building on @Helena's post - I realized I have a big gap in my closet for the upcoming winter. I need smart casual pants that are WARM and COMFORTABLE that I can walk in and not feel cold.

My temperate weather go to's are my Lululemon On the Flys, and I have worn one of my four pairs every day since the pandemic began.

I could do track pants but I want something just a little more smart (but still elastic waist.) I would go with leggings but I still find them too cold in the depths of winter, especially in Toronto.

Fleece pants that are straight leg would be ideal, but I don't know where to find those. I don't want the wide-legged ones as they will overwhelm me and be hard to manage outside.

What do you suggest? Anything from Uniqlo? Ponte pants that are pull-on? Tell me your go-tos, Fabbers! (Bonus points if available in Canada - we don't have Athleta here.)

Shopping

26 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Joy

Veteran

I would go with Ponte pants in a heavy weight. You can wear silk long underwear or merino wool under them if more warmth is needed. I have my best luck with consignment shops and have found Ponte Eileen Fisher olive pull ons and burgundy ones from JJill originally. JJill and Eileen Fisher both run large, maybe too large for you.

Runcarla

Veteran

I scoured the Lululemon site in hopes that they had created a heavier weight version of the OTF pant - but no luck. I used to have a pair very similar, but heavy weight fabric, from Reitman’s, of all places! Wore them to work and for travel, until the rear became shiny, then transparent! I’m considering corduroy or velveteen - maybe with some stretch?

Edited to add:

Look what I found! There are black and green versions, and also French terry, but you have to scroll through ‘pants’. It might be worth checking the store out for quality, etc.

https://www.reitmans.com/en/st.....color=Medi

https://www.reitmans.com/en/ne.....ot&am

Okay. I just ordered 2 pair - a stretch pair in a blue, and the non-stretch pair in merlot. Will report back.

https://www.reitmans.com/en/st.....70862.html

Jane

Veteran

I saw what looked to be amazing Commando trousers on the uk website Luxury Legs. The pull on and neoprene fabric (not crinkly I assume?) made me think they could be good. I’m not sure if you can buy Commando in your neck of the woods?

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nemosmom

Veteran

Zara? They recently did a big winter drop with lots of great pull-on options. Straight and wide leg knit pants that look super cozy.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have these in red. VERY thick and warm Ponte pants, but not pull-on.

Hampshire Ponte Wideleg Pants

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Hampshire Ponte Pants

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Hampshire Ponte Wideleg Pants

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Anonymous

Where would you be wearing these ? I just bought some great new outdoor - ish pants but I’m not sure if that’s what you mean .

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I think you're looking for something more casual though...

How about Uniqlo HEATTTECH pants:

https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/w....._429152_co=

https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/w.....08&am=

https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/w....._432176_co=

Or look at outdoorsy sites for pants. Do you have REI?

Anonymous

NYDJ or Lysse?
https://www.lysse.com/products/elysse-pant-ponte-1

Roxanna

Veteran

Thank you all for the amazing suggestions!

@Carla - I would never have thought of Reitmans! Will look forward to your encore to see if these are actually warm. The French terry look like they are, but I want something just a little smarter than that...

@Joy I’ll try ponte pants.I have a few pair but don’t wear them because I find them too constricting... but maybe it’s just the weight gain.

@jane - scuba is just the material I was thinking of! I’d love some that are straight leg though... I’ll see if I can find Commando here.

@nemosmom why didn’t I think of Zara? Popping there now!

@angie - it’s I need pull on... those Uniqlo Heattech straight legs might be just the ticket! I will investigate. Also I didn’t think of outdoor sites... I’ll give those a a look too.

@Lisa - I’m just looking for something to WFH/run errands in that looks slightly elevated from track pants. What outdoor pants did you get?

@suntiger I had not thought of those.. I’ll investigate!

Thank you all for the help! I will report back!

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I ordered those heattech pants for my daughter earlier this week (hope she likes), and for myself black ALO moto sweatpants (very cute but not heavy fleece). https://www.aloyoga.com/produc.....gIuKfD_BwE

Anonymous

I bought mine specifically to walk outside in the winter - or to wear when it’s ridiculously cold and I need to run errands . Not sure they would be dressy enough for you . They are a “ tailored” lined nylon , complete with waistband , pockets , fly , etc but I couldn’t see them being worn indoors . I bought them at a budget North Face knock- off outlet mall store that has the word Mountain in it , lol , I quite love them though ! Now that I’ve looked at the Uniqlo Heattech ones , I’d say mine are similar , but I paid a lot more than $40 for mine ‍♀️

Anonymous

Ooh - now I want Lisa’s Alo sweats . Those are cute !

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Ok, nothing at all to add to a winter pants discussion, so I will just say hi !

antihype

You might want to look at asos.com selection. A lot of pants there. Ski pants are the warmest. You can wear them over your regular pants/jeans and take them off at the office.

RobinF

Veteran

I'm so happy you asked this question - I was just thinking this is a hole in my wardrobe. I think I have to order some of the Uniqlo pants to try.

Minaminu

Veteran

Cos has a few of those trousers in merino wool or even recycled cashemere like this one!
https://www.cosstores.com/en_g.....leg-trouse

Not sure if they are available in Canada!

Helena

Veteran

Oh, those Reitmans ones are cute! I'm going to pop over to our one today as it's beside the grocery store ... Roxanna, I'll let you know if they have them and if they seem warm. Hoping to hit Uniqlo this weekend so might be able to weigh in on their offerings too. Good luck with the hunt!

Anonymous

Reitmans' closed earlier this year, no? The one or two we had here are gone.

Helena

Veteran

Hmmm, Lisa, not here - maybe they had to restructure?

I just popped in and actually they had a few impressive pieces - including a cashmere blend cardigan that felt super-soft and I had to resist buying ... Roxanna, the jogger style pants were not overly thick - the black ones felt like a decent ponte thickness and the printed ones were a little thinner - but they looked quite nice, and perhaps would work with tights underneath?

Worth a browse anyway, if there is one close! Every once in a while they do have a few gems in there!

kkards

Veteran

Very late to this post.
these maybe to “gearish” for you, but i think with real attention to styling they could work....and they come in regular, petite and go up to 3x
https://www.llbean.com/llb/sho.....;bc=12-27-
https://www.llbean.com/llb/sho.....s&

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Runcarla

Veteran

@Roxanna - order came in, and I’m keeping both! They probably aren’t the thickness that you are looking for, but they are definitely thicker than the OTF pants. I’m quite happy, because the OTF are getting sheer in the rear and these are cut almost exactly the same. The only difference is the Reitman’s have a flat front - which I like even better! I ordered 8T and I would say they are TTS.

The merlot pair are shockingly nice - dress casual. The stretchy version are dressy enough for office wear, but feel like yoga pants, and would make great travel pants.

Roxanna

Veteran

@Carla I loved those Reitmans pants on you!

I got my Uniqlo order and I like the Heattech jeans, though they really are jeggings. Same goes for the leggings-pants - but these are so stretchy that they feel like sausage casing. Why can't retailers make warm pants with a slightly more forgiving, fluid fit? I find them so much more comfortable - and flattering - than sucked-on skinnies

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Do you ever wear men’s pants? Uniqlo has just what you’re looking for on that side of the aisle.

REI might have what you need. Here are their women’s casual pants, and a pair I think might work for you—the drawstring would let you adjust the waist as you need.

https://www.rei.com/s/womens-c.....mens-pants

https://www.rei.com/product/16.....nts-womens

Erin

I have ordered these from Banana Republic to try.

Banana Republic

High-Rise Straight Elastic-Waist Pant

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Roxanna

Veteran

Some great solutions here!

@FI, I will check out REI or MEC here in Canada - I hadn't thought of that!

@Erin - I like how these are on the dressier side but still comfortable...and wool, warm and fully lined! wow. I may have to try them out...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Another thought -- thin heattech long undies! They work a marvel under wool or denim or any other kind of fabric.

I also have a pair of definite gear pants for winter walks -- they have reflective stuff inside that keeps you warm. They are fabulous, but *not* fashion -- I wear them for real hikes in cold etc. But they don't look half bad. I only have them because one of my kid's friends left them at our place and then didn't want them back -- and they happen to fit me! Mine are Columbia.

Your new purple pants are wool, right? Not super casual, I know -- but I have been casualizing my dressier trousers with sneakers and sweaters and enjoying wearing them this way.

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