Help! Where am I going wrong with this pants/boots project? - YouLookFab Forum

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Help! Where am I going wrong with this pants/boots project?

Peri

Veteran

To recap, cause I know you all don't have my life memorized :

I have found a pair of short boots/booties that I can actually walk in! Merrill, not the most fashion trendy, but that in itself is a small miracle. So, I wanted to find pants I could wear tucked into them, to show that I was actually wearing boots and to approximate a skinny pants/tunic look.

But I know I won't wear skin tight skinnies, and let's not rehash the leggings issue! So I don't want the body fit to be tight, but I have exceptionally scrawny calves (12.5 inches) and therein lies the conflict. Anything that snugs my calves might have to be tighter all-over than I want.

I'm returning 3 EF pairs that just look like baggy leggings. I don't know what to think about the Loft pair in these pictures (and in the Finds). They are ponte, so they are more substantial and won't get mistaken for leggings, but I don't know if that means they can look okay not completely form fitting??? I did size up to get the comfort I want, but you can see the legs don't fit so close as they do on the model.

Is this bad? Should I get the calves tailored so they bunch up less?
If so, can they just be tighter from the knees down or do I need to take in the thighs also because of that behind the knee bagging?
Do I just need to size down and have them tighter all over?
If that's the case, should I just scrap the whole project since I'm unlikely to enjoy wearing anything tight?

Thanks for hanging in with the long explanation. Honest answers are welcome, I may just have to stick with boot cut and give up on the tuck into boots look.

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5 Pocket Ponte Pants

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30 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

Deborah

Veteran

Peri, what I do is tuck my pants into my socks and that holds them quite nice and smooth. Sometimes with an ankle boot I might get a hint of sock but I always wear black so that works for me. It can also fill out the ankle a bit too.
I don't mind how these look at all, however generally I prefer a smoother leg line going into pants. The sock trick my work for you?

deb

Veteran

Peri, it may be that the booties are too short to wear with pants tucked in. This was my dilemma last year and then I finally gave up and wore the pants over the booties. Then I saw this in the link love and gave it a go the last few days. Here are my results. I do not know if I am any help, though.

viva

Veteran

I'm with Deb on this. I actually find it difficult to wear any pants - even leggings - tucked into ankle boots and have them look good. Unless you are absolutely set on tucking them, I would suggest you try a cuff or roll as her article suggests. And congrats on finding those great comfortable booties!

Marley

Veteran

I'd like to see a size down in the leggings for comparison sake. I get it that you don't want them to be super tight - but its OK for them to be a little more body-con around your rear end and thighs because you're going to be wearing a tunic length top which will cover all of those parts up anyway! I wouldn't give up just yet. I wear pants tucked into my ankle booties - but I do have to wear short socks to make them stay in place! It really isn't all that difficult once you get the right clothing items!

Tania

Veteran

I've only started to pay attention to this, so take my words with a grain of salt...

I have narrowish calves and have not found well fitting ankle boots that I like. I bought a pair of Doc Martens and found that I can tuck slouchy skinnies (not skin tight) just fine. I tend to leave the top two holes empty, and then tighten the laces. But I live and dress pretty casually.

I think Deb may be right about these booties being too short for tucking. Is cuff rolling a no-no with these types of pants?

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I'd agree that with a looser fit (non-legging) pant you'll want to put these over the booties. If you take a look at my WIW recently you'll see I've done this with my ponte knit pants (which are nearly legging-tight, but long so the scrunch at the bottom, which I like).

I think especially with this round of a toe on the boot that you'll want the pant over, rather than tucked in, to the boot. To my eye, this would look more flattering.

Peri

Veteran

I feel quite close to giving up on this. The thought of hunting for any more pants...or boots that I can walk in but are a bit taller...or pants that could cuff just right...it is just not making me happy right now. As Viva's earlier post says, this might not be worth the effort.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Will the boots be useful to you anyway, in a "gear" kind of way? As in, for walking around when you don't want cold ankles? With your bootcut pants worn over top?

If it's not fun, it's okay to let it go. Bootcuts can be your "signature" -- along with your amazing sweaters/ tops/ scarves/ jewellery. You are lucky that your colouring allows you to look great in black with jewel tones (many people could not do this). So your pants can be the same ones that reliably work and don't cause discomfort -- and so can your footwear -- and you can focus the party on the top?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA -- there are lots of looks I simply won't try because I know that they would be too much effort or expense for me and/or wouldn't get worn enough in my climate to make them worthwhile.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I don't mean that I think you need different pants! I think these are great. Just try untucking them and stretching them over the top of the boots and see how they look.

ETA, I don't think you can/should try to cuff these. Likely the fabric is not stiff enough to stay cuffed.

L'Abeille

Veteran

This might be way out there, but have you thought of trying jeggings, but sized up? I only say this because when my daughter"borrowed" her larger friend's jeggings, on her they just looked like slouchy skinnies. And you'd be sure to get the closer fit you want in the calves and ankles, but you might get looser in the bum and thighs. (Or not. I know nothing about jeggings!)

Now that I've signed in and can see your booties... I think you could wear these three ways. Tucked in, with or without the invisible sock trick. Tucked in, with obvious big socks (doesn't have to be colourful; my DD does it with wool socks in black or grey). Or untucked, with either bootcuts or straight legs (bonus: warm ankles when driving on cold mornings, even before the car heats up).

My booties are about this high, and I wear skinnies tucked and don't mind the look if they come untucked. But you may be less RATE than me (as in, I accept the inevitable when my clothing decides to do with something!)

catgirl

Veteran

Peri, I so get this. With more fitted ankle boots, unless the pants are skin-tight at the cuffs I get 'ankle muffin top". With boots that fit more loosely around the ankle, I find it hard to keep the pants tucked in and then I get the flowerpot effect. None feel flattering or effortless.

What has saved me are the Topshop Margot booties. They have a low shaft and a very close ankle fit. I can wear them under any pant hem, and with skinnies they are low and fitted enough that leggings and skinnies just bunch right over them nicely. I'm going to post a WIW from today where you can see how this works.

I've given up entirely on the boot style you show because I just find it frustrating.

Topshop 'Margot' Leather Ankle Bootie (Women)

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Jenava

(website)

Veteran

But, Peri, aren't these pants knitted? and the booties look pretty fitted at the ankle. Do the pants work to stretch them over the booties?

Peri

Veteran

Thanks everyone, I think I'm going to just pass on this. I'm definitely not in the market to try to find new boots and I'm ready to quit devoting any more mental space to this project! It was a thought, but I obviously do better when I just look around for what I like instead of focusing on such specific goals.

But Jenava, no, the boots are quite open at the ankle, the pants won't stretch around them at all.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I saw your note on Gaylene's post and jumped back here to say you are absolutely vital to the forum and of course people get something from your posts. Many things, in fact. The treat of your feminine yet bold style, for one -- but also some education in how a person manages to look great despite some frustrating physical limitations. And this is really important because you are not the only person dealing with this type of issue and lots of other people won't (or can't) write about it -- so you are helping and guiding and affirming a huge group of women. And showing that it is possible to look fab even if you can't wear this, that, or the other "latest trend."

I actually think that you could find the right pants for these booties -- and I am remembering back to the 80s....the stirrup pants. I know they get an awful rep now -- but I have this feeling they'd be exactly what you need. And guess what? I saw a pair at Zara the other day. I will try to collect them for you. These particular ones aren't right, I don't think -- but if the booties are a done deal (i.e. you can't return) AND you enjoy the comfort and the change of them -- they will certainly work with bootcuts over them, and could also work eventually with some other pant.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So, these ones are too legging-like. But you get the idea. You just never ever know.

Hey - another thought -- can you wear straight legs over these booties?

Ribbed Ski Pants

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Diana

Veteran

Others manage it nicely, but I personally have never been able to tuck pants, even my skinniest jeggings, into true booties. For tucking, I go with a slightly higher boot shaft. With booties like yours, I either pull the pants leg over them or I cuff them above the boot shaft.

I think your booties look fitted enough in the shaft that you could get slim pants (like these you've shown here) over the shaft. It's still a bootie or shootie look because the tapered leg allows more of the shoe to show.

Peri

Veteran

Suz, wow, 80s flashback! I loved stirrup pants!! Not like those though, you are right. But soft, stretchy and loose...they were so perfect! But thanks for the support.

Diana, no they are not fitted at all...very "flowerpot" new term I learned last week. At least 1.5 inches of room all the way around.

I'm okay everyone, I will stick with bootcut!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

These booties look different in this photo than they really are. They are quite wide in the shaft relatively speaking. I would call them "boots" vs. "booties" actually. But they are very short boots (i.e. they have a short shaft).

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Well, I'm seeing this post too late, it seems. I like the pants on you and wondered if you could wear them with these booties if you added stirrups. I mean, if you loved the leg-skimming stirrup pants, you've got the fit in these; all you need is the stirrups.
Peri, I get a lot out of your posts. I wish you lived near me and we could just sew you the pants you want.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh...that is a brilliant idea -- to get the pants made up! You'd need to source a pattern. But I am sure it would work, and you could start a new trend!

This type of bootie or boot -- I keep wanting to call it a "Peter Pan" boot -- is perfect for stirrup pants.

crutcher

Veteran

Sometimes when I have something that is causing me deep angst, if I sleep on it and come back again the next day, all looks different...I hope you find the morning fresh and ready to give your concerns another go...I enjoy your posts and look forward to reading more in the future...
(Got to share this one...you were talking about fantasy life, etc...I found a pair of shoes..new shoes not worn in the back of my closed this week-end...I had bought them and forgotton to wear them...I kept looking at the size and wondering why I bought a half size too small...The fantasy life is strong so I guess I was really into another realm...smile...)

Beth Ann

Veteran

Firecracker is right! You can add a stirrup easily with bits of elastic!

I also wanted to chime in with another (musical) voice to say that you are one of the people I watch for on this forum! We are real women, with real limitations and requirements from our wardrobes. It's not the just the forward trending posts that are valuable! And it's certainly OK to give a certain amount of mental effort on a fashion conundrum and then either hit pause or move on. I think Suz's suggestion to focus the party on the top half works for you in many ways:
1. You have high contrast coloring, with porcelain skin and dramatic, but delicate facial features (all the leggings with boots in the world couldn't equal this for style impact).

2. You're a musician, so statement sweaters and dramatic tops are almost a "uniform" among our brethren (and sistren).

3. You're a pianist -- which means you sit down behind a lovely, shiny black box for work. Your top half is highlighted anyway.

I, for one, loved the simple "real life" posts we saw last week. I learned a lot from them -- mostly that the subtle lessons we pick up day to day make a great difference in the essentials of fit, proportion, color, etc. That even simple, classic wardrobes work far better when these essentials are accounted for. You've been making beautiful choices recently. I hope you can keep having some creative fun with them!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Don't they have clippy things to essentially turn pants into stirrups, or keep them tucked into boots in any case? I seem to remember encountering them in skiwear.

Anyway, I agree that I think these boots are too short in the shaft to tuck into. Even if you tucked into your socks the pants would creep out when you sat. I tuck with knee high boots only; even the mid calf boots I used to have were too fiddly to tuck jeans, although leggings might have worked.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Peri, please don't get discouraged! They're just pants, after all. (-:

If I were you, the next thing I'd try is tucking them into socks and letting the socks peek over the boots. Failing that, any other leg opening would likely work fab with these - straight leg might give you something close to the streamlined look you're trying to achieve?

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Peri, I can SO relate. I've been trying to find a pair of lace up booties for far too long now. I've tried every pair that were even remotely a possibility to have all of them fail mostly in comfort. I won't compromise my feet for fashion. I like Merrells but they didn't work in this case. I tried Clarks, Ecco, you name it. Nada. I really *wanted* a pair of lace up booties with a low heel to bookend my hair. How HARD could it be, right? Apparently impossible.

If you do like the booties, and they feel good to walk in, just wear them darn it - and don't worry about the perfect tuck, roll, etc. We shouldn't have to buy new pants to "work" with our new boots. I mean really in the bigger scheme of things it certainly does not matter all that much, right?

I have some not perfect booties from last year and they are going to have to get me through another season I guess. No, they aren't lace ups, they don't *match* my handbag, the openings are a bit large, and they don't bookend my hair, but I own them, they fit. Life will go on.

unfrumped

Veteran

Peri, sorry so late to chime it but this is a great post.
I have a very similar issue in that I got my existing boots to wear with classic trousers and some bootcut trousers worn out over the boot.
These ankle boot still give me problems with flower-pot leg with skirts, but I like how they upgrade my rather classic pants.
I have purchased a couple of types of narrower pants and there's no way I can tuck in.
I don't wear the truly fitted "skinnies" or leggings so anything I would tuck in would give me that Stormtrooper look with the pants bunched up.
I have some "straight" trousers that I learned the hard way, after purchase, that also will not go over all of the boots, nor tuck in. They do work with oxfords and loafers but I swim against tide and don't roll them--just wear long, and sometimes with a thin sock! That works for me because I like those kinds of flat shoes.
I have just 2 pair of ankle boots that are fitted enough for several of my "straight" pants to go over without then riding up and hanging up on top of the boot.
I don't think any pants I'm likely to wear will tuck into any kind of fitted boot. I think I could wear a mid-leg moto type boot or something looser--but right now that is not where I'm headed.

Not sure I'm making sense here, but I had to become very deliberate about matching pants and booties and not getting things that would become orphans or send me on a massive shopping hunt. So that, if pant is rather tapered, it needs to be a summer pant (for loafer, etc) or it can't stay. If I look at a bootie, I have to try it with existing pants and see if it works--meaning, walk around, sit down/stand up. (This led to my getting the Everybody bootie which amazingly worked with straight pants).

Thistle

Veteran

Answering without reading the other posts so as not to bias me.

Honestly, I am not sure the look works with a looser trouser. I have not seen it worn tucked in unless the pants were basically leggings. I have no experience with tucking personally, as i let even straight legs cover the top of my booties.

Peri

Veteran

Thanks everyone for all the help! It is definitely nice to know I'm not the only one struggling with this. It's also definitely nice to realize I can quit trying to force it whenever I want!

I think I just got carried away with the "trying to find variety" that we've been talking about in several different threads lately. I think I will just stick with what I have that works for me, and if something comes up later, that will be fine. I think I do better when I don't try to shop to such a specific goal. I will keep my party on the top as Suz and Beth Ann have so hilariously prescribed for me! It works, and that's enough variety for now.

And Firecracker, I would so love to live near you! I'd never leave you alone, wanting you to make all kinds of custom things for me. You should probably be glad I don't live close!

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