Pants! - YouLookFab Forum

hi guys! i am at the interview phase of my job search (at last) and it has brought up a style conundrum for me: pants. until now i have been sticking with skirts because i'm so fed up with pants, but i have a followup interview coming up so i can't wear my default interview uniform again. i could just wear another skirt, but i know i can't keep avoiding pants forever. it seems like wide leg pants are EVERYWHERE and they look positively atrocious on me. i have a pair of black pants that fit well, but i never know what to wear on top or how to make them less boring. i'm applying for creative jobs, so the last thing i want to do is come off as uptight and dull. i would love a pair of brown pinstripe slacks, but i can't seem to find them anywhere. i tried nordstrom, macy's, and banana republic. my budget is suffocatingly tight but i want to get a nice pair so i dont have to replace them six months later. esprit has a pair but they have flap pockets in the back and slant pockets at the sides, which is a strict no-no for me.

here is a pair i like a lot but it's out of my budget. this is about as wide as i would be willing to go at the bottom:

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....sn_results

any suggestions on good pants, or on ways to make my existing boring pants more interesting are welcome. thanks ladies. i miss you guys! i'm glad i had an excuse to post today

17 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Hi Maya! So good to see you on here again!

Well, I sort of think that if your pants fit properly and are clean, they play second fiddle to your blouse (meaning that they aren't usually what make the first impression), unless they are an unusual color or pattern. So I'd look and see what you have as far as interesting tops and accessories if you want to go with a pair you already own.

If you want to get a new pair, have you tried Express? They have dress pants for under $100, and the editor style usually has a flat front with welt pockets in back. Might work in a pinch.

Good luck on your interview--hope it works out so you can come back soon.

Julia

Active Member

Welcome back Maya! We missed you a lot.

Congrats on the progress of your job searching! The BCBG pants look great. Have you tried TJ Maxx or similar stores? I've found good pants there before.

As of how to make it more interesting, I used to pair my dress pants with smart casual tops so they became business casual. How formal do you need to be for your interview? Is a jacket required?

Tanya

Maya! I have missed you terribly! So good to see you here again.

If you already have a nicely fitting pair of black pants, how about wearing them white a white button-down shirt layered with some funky vest/ short sleeved top you already have? That may work for your environment. Or you can do something similar with a blouse, You could even layer two patterns (e.g. argyle over pinstripes) if they are in the same color family. You could add some intersting necklace, or a thin belt over the second layer.

I second Ana on Editor pants. They are not as nice as BCBG ones, but I have a few that have held up very well over the years.

Good luck! I hope it will work out well and we can have you back here soon.

Maya

hi ana!

i'm not much of a blousey girl, so that's why i haven't given it much thought. i found blouses difficult to wear because of my chest. i'm not sure what kind of interesting details i can wear in a blouse that won't emphasize my top half. i'd also almost assuredly have to take it in at the waist, which is fine but then i'd have to find it ASAP or i won't have time.

the blouse i usually wear is a white short sleeved top from BR with a very subtle paisley print. it looks ridiculous on its own (too long), but it looks REALLY nice tucked into my brown tweed skirt. so tucking is always an option.

i guess i'm not sure what's going to be more frustrating: trying to find pants, or trying to find a top :p

geez i forgot how fast you guys are!

i checked out the express pants and found a pair that i like. just wondering about the rise. it says low rise, but do you find they fit that way ana and tanya?

julia, a jacket is not required for my job or the interview. i have been told to look crisp, clean, and smart, but not stuffy or conventional (unless applying as a creative director or something, but i'll worry about that in another ten years or so).

i wish i could take you guys on a tour of my closet! tanya, you have no idea how much i love vests but i haven't found one yet that looks right on me. they usually end up being too long or my chest pops out from the middle. eek. the belt idea sounds interesting though. of course i'd need a shirt to wear it over first, but it might be enough visual interest to keep me from being boring. i guess that is my worst fear.

Maya, the Editor pants are not too low waisted at all. I have a long torso, and they usually come up to 1-1.5 " below my belly button.

yay! i'll run back to the mall tomorrow and try them!

Good luck!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Welcome back kid. The gals have you on route. I totally agree with Ana – worry about the top more than the pants. That’s what people tend to look at first. I’d go with white and pop over a turquoise belt. How about Forever 21 or H&M?

Sihaya

Welcome back Maya. Good luck on the interview. Express has a range of rises so you should be able to find one that works. They also have a very nice black and white houndstooth vest that you might try and see if the length suits you.

I'll have to see about that Angie. I tried to get a turq. belt from NY&Co a long while back but they didn't have it in my size, and now they seem to be out completely. Dunno how much luck I"ll have finding another one. I do have my red belt though. I have 2 white shirts, one long and one shorter. the longer one would definitely work belted but of course I wore it already on the first interview. I'm not sure if they would notice or not, but better safe than sorry. The second might be too short, and it's 3/4 sleeves, which I'm not too keen on in the 90 degree weather we'll be having. Getting a third sounds silly, but I suppose if it's from H&M it's not a big deal.

Sihaya, a houndstooth vest sounds right up my alley. I'll check it out when I head back to the mall.

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