My disappointment at Express today

I went to the mall to return the pants for my hubby to BR and I don't know how but I ended up at the Express. I wanted to check out their culottes but they were all sold out so I decided to try on the pants.
I am really warming up to cropped pants now and this is what I wanted to try. I grabbed several pairs in interesting colors and patterns. These mini check red/black pattern caught my eye as I wanted to add dark red/burgundy pants to my fall wardrobe so I grabbed them too even though they are not cropped but baby bootcut.
Well, they fitted the best from the bunch (even the front pockets stayed flat on me) and I was really smitten with the fit and pattern. They are full length but not long enough for bootcut style for me in the regular. I decided that I can make them into cropped flares of just the right length to wear with my booties.
I was so excited...but it did not last long. I decided to put them on one last time to assess the fit better and when I turned to look at the back my heart dropped!
I have attached the blown up stock picture for you to see the back - what I experienced in the dressing room is VERY evident in the stock picture as well - at least for my eye. The fit was good but the fabric was bunching into these micro-folds which were moving around the back of my legs with every movement. This was a deal-breaker for me! Too bad because everything else was perfect and these would make cool cropped flares.

I suspect it is because the fabric was too thin and too stretchy - not a good combination. Other pants with the same elastane content did not do it but their fabric was more substantial.
Sign...I left the store with $80 still in my wallet and with a broken heart. It may seem to picky for some but I know that these folds will bug me and I will not wear the pants as much as I should.
However my visit to the store was not for nothing. I have discovered 2 things:
1. I really want to get cropped flares in a fun color or pattern for fall and winter but they are hard to find. I am going to look into bootcut or flared full length pants and make them into cropped flares!
2. I really have some shape change as a result of a weight loss: before Editor pants from Express were my best fit and now Columnists fit much better.

Just felt like sharing this story with my YLF sisters - nobody else in my real life can understand the "broken" heart thing over these pants!

ETA: I have added a comparison of 2 Express pants from the back and I circled the folds I was referring to in the red pair. You can see some folds / wrinkles under the butt or knees in the camel pair but this is not what I am talking about - they are normal. See how wrinkles go on diagonal on the legs of the red? This is what I saw in the mirror too and they were moving around the legs with every my movement. None of the other pairs I tried did that at all.

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Express

Grid Print Barely Boot Columnist Pant

View Info

Top Pick

8 years ago

Anonymous

Oh that's a shame about the pants Sveta, I can see why you are disappointed: they would have been a really great find. Sometimes I don't get manufacturers. Do they just mess up or do they deliberately cut corners and think we won't notice?

Runcarla

Veteran

Just discovered Express recently. Quality seems hit or miss, but items are definitely on trend! Picked up a pair of Editor barely boot cuts in a nice heavy weight that make me happy. The fact that they are one of the few places that carry 'tall' in their store is a plus for me!

On to better things, Sveta.

Marley

I can't see what you are talking about Sveta. You say the folds are around the back of your legs? Why don't I see that????

Suz

(website)

I am so sorry you had this experience but glad for all the learnings. Also jealous that you have an Express, something we do not have here in my town. (So what else is new?)

It is very evident from photos that your shape changed due to weight loss but sometimes this takes a while to sink in.... Even when your good friends tell you....

As for the pants, I don't see quite what you mean from the stock photo; it looks as if there is simply some ease there which would be fine -- but if you mean the "elephant folds" which is what I tend to get with skinny stretch pants that are too large for me (and made of a fairly insubstantial fabric) I know exactly what you are talking about -- I really dislike this also and do my best to avoid it, although it happens with some jeans no matter what.

I LOVE the colour/ pattern of those. Such a shame! I also love the idea of you making some crops for yourself. I am very much in love with this idea, too -- it will not work as well on my short legs without very careful column of colour planning, but nevertheless I want to try.

Sveta

I have added a comparison of 2 Express pants from the back and I circled the folds I was referring to in the red pair. You can see some folds / wrinkles under the butt or knees in the camel pair but this is not what I am talking about - they are normal. See how wrinkles go on diagonal on the legs of the red - especially on the left leg almost across all thigh? This is what I saw in the mirror too and they were moving around the legs with every my movement. None of the other pairs I tried did that at all.

Maybe I am being very picky here but they did bother me A LOT to the point of leaving the store empty-handed.
Just for fun I looked at all pants pictures on Express site and these are the only ones which are doing this!

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

deb

It almost looks like the leg is twisted.

deb, believe me - it is not. This is how they are Just my luck that the only style I was excited about in the store had this issue.

Suz, Express opened pretty recently in our mall - maybe last summer? We also got Sephora now and I heard rumors that we may be getting Zara!

Carole

That would bug the ---- out of me! Too bad, the color and pattern
Would have been great:(

Onward and upward!

I don't think you are being picky at all. It would be a deal breaker for me as well.

Aliona -- I think that manufacturers cut corners, thinking we won't notice. My Mother was a seamstress/tailor. I learned a lot from her with respect to garment construction. I do notice. Sadly, a lot of consumers buy anyway and the manufacturers think is it ok. This is why I get so frustrated with the quality of clothes today.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Onto the next fab pair of trousers for sensational Sveta.

Gigi

Oh Sveta! How deflating. But you are smart to pass. I also wonder what manufacturers are thinking sometimes. I really think that people don't notice and just buy anyway. IMO, there are very few very discerning shoppers out there.

I had a similar situation at WHBM. I bought a shift dress that had a retro feel to it. Fabulous fabric quality, awesome design, and it looked so amazing on me. That is, until I looked at my back in the mirror. There was a poufy section at my lower back, where there was excess material. My waist was apparently on the small side for the dress, although my backside was ample enough, lol. I had had this exact same problem with an equally cute dress from Anthro that killed me to return, but return I did.

Onward!

Janet

How odd! Those are really, really cute pants, so that is a shame. Onward to the next thing...

Gigi, I have enountered that excess material in the back of a dress many times -- in my case, it's not an ample backside, it's my short waist! Sometimes, if it's a sleeveless dress, taking up the shoulders corrects the problem.

CocoLion

Remember: It's not you, it's the pants!

Janet, I made sure that the dress was the petite version, so I would think that my short waist shouldn't have been an issue. I tried on the misses' too, and that seemed (ironically) to fit better in the lower back, but everything else was too big and dumpy looking due to the proportions being off. I didn't want to mess with alterations, so back it went. But I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with this problem!

Category