Joined the club - now what - YouLookFab Forum

I have joined the barrel pants and brown clubs!

I am a late adopter and finally found some barrel pants that I like, they are soft and drapey and very comfortable. And they are a dark brown which I haven't had in my closet for years. These are way outside my comfort zone because I have always been very figure-flattery-conscious, but I really love them and want to make them work.

I wasn't totally sold on the way I wore them here. I think it is the color of the tee and also the cardi feels dated. I wore them on Thanksgiving with the Madewell sweater below with a denim shirt underneath and liked that but didn't get a picture.

I am looking for a brown cardigan, probably cropped or slim fitting rather than chunky, but what else would work with these?

Any advice on getting together a small capsule to make these pants wearable?

Any ideas you all have used to make a new color work? What would be good shoe stylings with these pants? Lots of questions! Thanks for helping me out

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Nordstrom Rack

MAX STUDIO Faux Suede Barrel Pants

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Dolce Vita Zohara High Top Sneaker (Women)

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Madewell Donegal Lawson Crop Sweater

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13 hours ago

Star (Lise)

Veteran

Such fab pants! I agree a more fitted cardi will be better. It is the volume on volume that is not working that well, the length of the cardigan more specifically. Pull out all you shorter tops and shorter jackets and see what works. This is a very versatile colour and will go with almost every colour imo. The colour of the tee is great. I like them with these high top sneakers. Some boots will work well too. Probably with a narrow shaft. Also MJs, loafers and ballet flats if you have.

12 hours ago

Carol

(website)

I think they are easy and flattering on you, and would go with just about any top, from a hot pink turtleneck to a black organza blouse. Good choice!!!

Other neutrals, like charcoal or black, would pair well with those pants. And shoes--a pointy, heeled boot would look good with how the pants wear on you...or if not so into heels, then any refined flat, like an Oxford, or the Mary Janes that are so popular now.

Runcarla

Brown (like green) is a colour found in nature, and goes with just about anything! Play around with what you have in your closet before feeling like you have to acquire something new. Lean into what makes you comfortable (figure flattery) and pick a top and footwear that are close tonal matches - even if different colours - for a column of dark value. Try charcoal grey, dark olive green, navy blue, or black.

If you want to wade into festive, try a red top and bookend with red socks- giving the bottom of the pants a roll to expose the socks.

The description (faux suede) sounds like a great textural addition and bonus style element for you to play with.

11 hours ago

Irina

Nice pants!
I like to wear mine shorter, like on the model in your post. I agree with Star, shorter tops look better with barrel pants. Play with proportions and see what feels like you.

Suz

Those are fun pants! I love that they are faux suede. Cozy and adds textural interest.

I tend to wear my barrel pants in warmer months so I wear them shorter, ankle length as on the model, and if I do wear in winter months will wear with a high shaft boot. I also like a shorter or tucked in top with mine as a rule.

As the others have said, just about any other colour would work to pair with these. They have lots of potential!

Jules

Love the new pants which are right up my alley And do we both own the same Old Navy T (see find below)?
I like the colours in this outfit a lot, but the length of the cardi is hiding the shape of the pants. Figuring out new formulas for new pants shapes is a ‘whole thing’ for me, involving a lot of trial and error. Outfit styling session time?

Custom Find

by Jules

LJP

I think these look great on you , and I’d just not wear a cardigan and stick with a semi tucked top or shorter / cropped top . I actually wear mine with a cashmere sweater or a French Terry sweatshirt and roll the cuffs of the pants sometimes . I think the less “ styled “ barrel pants look , the better .

10 hours ago

Lisa

Lovely new pants on you. I've found that more fitted tops, or tucked in tops, or shorter length tops work best for barrels which already have some volume on the bottom. But one other option that can be fun is a shorter length, boxy shirt, worn open so you can see the form fitting layer (such as a tank or tee) underneath. Enjoy your new barrels!

9 hours ago

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Fun pants, RobinF! Welcome to the teams

I'm with Irina and Suz! The pants will look even better a little shorter. About an inch to two above ankle bone is a great length. Look awesome with your high tops and boots!

Yes to shorter tops, welted tops you look shorten when you scrunch them up (like LJP's sweatshirt idea), and semi-tucked tops.

The Carys sweater from Anthro is great with barrels because you don't need to tuck it! It glides over and is the right length.

Karie

I think they’d look great a little bit shorter. If you’re like me and don’t like cold ankles in winter, I think Angie had a post a while back about styling barrel pants with socks, maybe check that out.
I also like to pair mine with a shorter, cropped, but not too cropped, top.

7 hours ago

RobinF

Thank you everyone for the thoughtful ideas! I really appreciate it.

I do agree that brown will be a great neutral with a lot of colors. I am a kind of matchy person though and like to have things tie, hence the idea of a brown cardigan or other topper.

Star - I do need to take a good look in my closet and pull out every top that is shorter and try them. It is a new proportion for me.

Thanks Carol, I do have some pointy black booties that I should try. I am more a stompy boot person so that is what I mostly have. But I could also try some loafers and mary janes.

Runcarla - I love the idea of red with them, especially with red socks. Easy and festive.

Irina, Suz, Angie, Karie - regarding the length. I did try rolling them up and didn't hate it. I should have taken pictures. They drape a bit differently at the full length than they seemed to do when folded up.

Jules - I agree it's a whole new thing figuring out this new pants shape. I do just need to try on everything that might work. Yes, we are tee twins

LJP, good point about being less styled. They are already a statement all by themselves and probably don't need a lot of help.

Good idea Lisa, about an open shirt. I have collected a few over the last year or so, will have to try them. I was thinking a brown striped one might be fun but maybe too matchy?

Great ideas!

6 hours ago

RobinF, Karie is right! All you need is high shaft footwear and socks, and you're in business with crops for colder weather.

Here I am wearing 6 year old barrels at a shorter length with my new boots, and the Carys sweater. Hope the visual helps.

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3 hours ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Those pants are fantastic--and fantastic on you.

Given that you want to match something and you like cardigans, I would say pull out any cardigans you have that are cropped or hit at high-hip. Then see if you have a tee or a scarf that has the right shade of brown in it, to pull the cardi and pants together, color-wise.

If not, look for a new tee that matches the pants--then any cropped cardi or jacket you put over it will have the column of brown.

I guess what I'm suggesting is trying to find a way to buy the least expensive piece to "match" with the pants, to make your wardrobe work with them the way you'd like.

Jaime

Agree with the consensus - great pick, should be shortened and you should try them with shorter tops and cardigans. I like the stripe top here, I think it is the length of the cardigan that is bothering you. Also fab example of brown with silver hair !

2 hours ago

Jenni NZ

I like this outfit but do agree with everyone that a shorter cardigan would look better. A column of colour would be good too. Star’s ideas are good.

50 minutes ago

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