Late to Angie Fab Find--mothership pleated "linen" ankle pants-ETA rolled pics

Here are AT pleated fluid fit ankle pants (rayon -linen) . Angie referenced in April as a fab find but advised rolling at hem.

I had passed these up in store because a) they have an elastic waistband and b) I had sworn off ankle-crops for work because of difficult PPL's.
However I love pleats, I do not have much not-black pants for summer, and the call of the Mothership was strong, so I ordered some on sale.

I think they are "flattering enough" though leg-shortening for sure. They are a little wide through the thigh for the optimal tapered look, but then that is what helps them work for curvy fit. They do taper at the hem. The waist rides low for me, which can put the pleats at suboptimal place, but I think it works okay.

The elastic waist is not my fave--as reviewers noted, it can cheapen the look plus adds a bit of pouf just below. I have shown with belts to cover the waistband, or wear top out--it also helps to belt loosely.

My dilemma is that I would likely wear them at the YLF-awkward length for work, though could roll for casual. Actually they may not be very roll-able due to the narrow hem--I could not roll under or over for pix when I had them on.

Shown with a slew of tops and different footwear. Things in favor of keeping are just that--I don't really have to buy anything to go with them. (BUT shown are tan loafers amazingly found just a few days later at local discount store, so I could not pass up for a tonal look and as a kind of "nude" with some other outfits.

1-2 with Loft linen sweater, D'Orsay leopard flat
3-Fr Connection sweatshirt
4--? boutique cotton-silk sweater and tonal ballet flats
5--AT dot blouse
6-AT print blouse
7-Loft linen sweater and wedge sandals
8--unexpected find--tan Nicole loafer in a nice leather
9--Blue T, D'Orsay flat
10 Black T
I like the drapey-sweater looks best to balance the pleats and will SYC for more options for that . The button-front shirts are hard to keep tucked in with the loose and lower- rise waist.

On balance, I think these add something different to my wardrobe's sea of black pants, and I plan to give them a bash. Not adding any cost with alterations, which I usually have to do. I may try to get by with the fact that ankle pant lengths are all over the map, on the street here. I like the fact that the color can read "fall" in Sept and Oct when I can still wear nude-ankle look with loafers--that increases the wear opp's for me.

What do you think? Useful option, or pleat-and-PPL fashion faux pas?

ETA added 11-12 --rolled up 2 narrow turns, and #13 showing problem with pants staying hung up on legs after getting up from sitting.

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11 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I like the color and the pleats. I am, however, having a lot problems with the length, especially with flats.

Gracie

I like them best on 7, where the ankle strap is blending in with the cuff... they look narrower in that photo as well. Great color and they look very comfortable.

unfrumped

Thanks, Anna. I suppose I should look at some more style photos. I would usually aim for longer scrunched tapered pants, which are not exactly ankle pants, though show top of foot with low-vamped shoes.
These seem like these show ankle because if not in a static photo, with movement they move up, of course, and for sitting would be well above ankle. But I presume they are not technically hemmed to ankle length which for some means showing a couple more inches of skin above the ankle. Not sure these can fit higher on my leg without special tailoring.

Thanks Gracie! I like that look too, though it is a special-occasion shoe for me.

Hmm--maybe this is why I kept passing the open windows heretofore. I've had very little luck with getting the right combo of waist and hip fit, taper, length and fabric ( avoiding black).

For example look at the last row of pants from today's blog post. Notice that they all hit higher than yours.

I can sure play with that option, as hemming up is at least more doable than adding length. I have to see if the "correct" ankle length works for my idea of workwear. The shorter it goes, the less sure I am for me, even though other people wear lots more casual looks. If not but I like a shorter length, I could still keep them for fun, but I wouldn't HAVE as much fun!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

What Anna said.

These must be rolled at the hems - which I suggested in the post when they were a top pick. No other way of wearing them to my eye.

To shorten them doesn't work as well because of the hem width. If you can manage it, please show us a new photo with the hems rolled, unfrumped.

crutcher

Can't wait to see how much rolling improves an absolutely excellent pair of pants...I was drooling..The color in a sea of black pants will just be a treat for you...and you can wear it in the fall...Looking forward to more pictures...

How is a cropped pant not appropriate for work but a t-shirt is? Unless the t-shirt options were for casual wear.

jackiec

I agree with the comments on length. I love #7 with the ankle strap wedges!

I will take some more photos. The problem is the leg opening is quite narrow and so then becomes something of a constricting element if rolled up higher on the leg.

Added rolled pics next to the originals.

So, I haven't looked at the construction, but it could be possible to open the side seam at the hem to give a teeny bit of ease, like a vent, and then do the rolling and use a hidden stitch to tack it down. That would be to see if that were enough to keep it from sticking to my leg. The problem is, I would not know if it would work until I messed with them !

Also, if I were not concerned about the narrow hem problem, tacking down the roll might be a good idea anyway, because if they would always be worn rolled, this fabric doesn't "hold the roll" as well as denim or cotton and so securing it unobtrusively could be helpful.

Not sure it this is "meant to be". I thought I was on to a nice change of pace, and didn't expect the fluid fit to have tight leg issues!

Thanks for taking extra pics.

See how much better they look rolled. Unfrumped, the rolled hems don't look tight on your calf at all. Plenty fluid on my computer screen.

Thanks for looking, Angie! I like the look, too. They are fine when I am standing, but when I sit, they ride up higher as if youd hiked them up, and when i stand up again , they stay stuck on my leg as in the last photo-even after taking some steps. It's a little better if I just turn up the hem width ( like a cuff but not a roll) but still happens. I thought they might just shake down in a second, but I
have to reach down and scrape them back down my leg! This is totally unexpected and very frustrating because that is the only thing wrong , but if I can't figure out a fix, I couldn't be fussing over it and wondering what my pant legs are doing.
SO crazy.

Anna, yes , the T tops are more casual though I do wear tops like that( zip- back rayon T top and lace- trimmed T) in summer, tucked into a skirt or trousers. With lab coat covering most up, it reads like a fairly random knit jewel neck.

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