Minor Epiphany - The Pants - YouLookFab Forum

I've been so focused on jeans over the past several months, obsessed may be a better word, I had forgotten to consider other options for my casual wardrobe. For some reason I decided that since I didn't like khakis any more (and that includes the newer slouchy ones I got from the Gap and don't find myself reaching for) that I must not like anything that is tan or olive in color. I haven't hopped on the colored jeans bandwagon and still feel "odd" wearing bottoms that aren't neutrals. I have white, light blue, dark blue, medium blue, etc. and I do have black pants as well. Grey jeans didn't excite me, because they felt too hard to style (I have grey mini-cords for winter and also found it hard to style them).

Then I realized that two pair of pants I had put in the "to donate" drawer, were actually pants that I *would* like only if they were the right size and style for me. One pair is a light tan jean with too much of a boot leg and not a great rise for my current tastes and the other is a skinny cargo style in a deep olive/grey color that is simply too tight and has pockets in non-flattering places. The minor epiphany is that I need to find replacements for these, not something totally new and different. I got kind of sidetracked with my own thoughts, thinking I must not like tan/khaki/olive pants. But I actually do. These colors would help me pull together many of the tops and jackets I already own and I've been missing them.

So, I already ordered a tan potential replacement in a slim jean style from AE since I've been having really good luck with the fit and style of that brand. And now I know that I want (need?) a pair of slim, olive or similar neutral toned pants to round things out.

I wonder how many other items are in that drawer that I like the idea of, but just didn't quite get the fit/style correct...

12 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

texstyle, that is great! Being able to purge the unusable item but realize that there was something right about them at one time. I love pants in medium not-black colors also--olive, khaki, taupe--and wish I could find more dress pants in those colors.

Suz

(website)

Great observation. I think our small irritations about fit and cut can sometimes really confuse our thinking. But really, once we know the colours that work well for us, it's more often going to be a question of line and fit than colour when we need something new....although of course it is always great to branch out and try new things. Hope the new AE pants work out for you!

bj1111

Epiphanies come in all shapes and sizes. Can't wait to see what pants you get as replacements.

Jenava

Well, sometimes we can over think things...I also say go out of your comfort zone and try some RED pants! (-;

CocoLion

The neutral pants / jeans color I have been crazy over has been grey. Light and dark. So versatile. Also white and black. I think white, black, grey, tan and khaki have staying power, followed by red which will always project a sort of fun punk rock attitude.

Sheila

Your epiphany is an important one. For me, the excitement of the hunt while I'm shopping for a new item is way more thrilling than the careful examination of the back of my closet (so dark, no halogen lights with cool music playing in the background, etc.). Very good lesson, thanks for sharing.

Caro in Oz

Nice one. Sounds like this was bubbling away while you were thinking about jeans:)

Mellllls

sounds like you are on the right track with your style journey.

pil

That's using your noggin! I hope your new pants do the trick.

Sarah A

That sounds brilliant. Kind of like upgrading placeholder items almost. Hope the new tan jeans work.

texstyle

Color choice is a big part of this lesson for me and how it plays into my clothing choices. When I paint or do design work I spend a lot of time thinking about color combinations, but when I'm dressing, I sometimes forget the importance. I think I may mistakenly relate the color of an item to my happiness factor when it's actually the style/fit of that item and not the color at all.

Sveta's recent post about color and some of the insightful replies made me think of this.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Ephiphanies like this are always meaningful. But I also vote wear your slouchy Gap khakis! They looked so good

Angie - I'll try to give those Gap slouchy khakis another run this week. I have an idea to mix them with an unconventional color to see how it might work.

For those who mentioned red pants - I really have a poison eye for them. I could do rust or deep wine or pale blue (like Deborah's which I loved) or maybe some shades of green - just not red for me.

Carole

Why don't you like your newer Gap slouchies? Seems like they would be so perfect....I am on a quest for olive BF's but haven't had any luck yet- found a pair from Old Navy and loved how they fit but they are sold out in Talls,

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....=385284012

in the Fernsworth color

Yay! I'm excited! Wear your favourite belt with them too. I know how much you love your belts

RoseandJoan

Ah yes, it is colour blindness of a sort, when love for a colour means we quieten that internal doubtful voice. It sounds as though olive and tan form part of your key neutrals but a good colour does not guarantee a match with your style.

I don't think there is anything little about your conclusion.

Carole, I'm not sure exactly why I haven't been reaching for those slouchy khakis. I think it's due to the bagginess factor. They aren't huge on me but they are def. baggier than any other pants I own. And then they also stretch out when wearing. It might just be a matter of getting used to them. I'm going to try again.

Category