Pleated pants review and edit: please offer critique

I have a sugar eye for pleated pants and maybe always will, but I have to work hard to update and edit.

I have purchased 3 new pairs this summer/fall, 2 targeted for work and one is mostly casual. I already had 4 pair (wow, I do sound like I have pleat-o-mania!) and some of those need to go, I think.

1 , 2, and 6: Anthro plaid pants; Chelsea 28 wide leg pants, 6 is Anthro casual joggers. These are new , #2 being hemmed so don't have good outfit photos; will be working on fall-early winter outfits with all of these.

#3: Not a good pic, as it was for jacket try-on, but these are AT pants that had a gathered backwaist. I did enjoy them for 2 summers now, and they turned out to be a surprisingly useful color, but am editing them out due to poufy waist-hip mostly, and narrow hem that keeps hanging up, and rayon wrinkling.

#4 Theyskens' Theory black pleated pant. On the fence about these. I wore them last week and got compliment! They are a tad snug now ( had them taken up last year, haha) and more baggy in thigh with slight taper. Very nice weight tropical wool but pleats are deep and close in.

#5. AT high-faux-leather waist navy pant in a kind of heavy knit. At first I thought okay but now in photos I think they look too full and heavy. They are still very comfortable and I just love the very high waist, so hard to find, so I will have to overcome my sense of, oh, maybe I won't ever find more pants I love, and use Powers of Extraction to pry them out. Last winter I tried to wear more feminine tops with these, so this was just for try-on, but I don't know that that will make a difference. What do you think?

#7: AT black silky tapered pleated pant. I wore these today--untucked though usually I take advantage and tuck-- and am keeping through this fall at least; they work in semi-dressy capsule with dressier pumps. In this outfit I tried the Born "funny pumps" with square toes, hoping the trendier pants and blouse helped them. They do not work as well with skirts as can look f____y.

Things I see from trying all of these: try for shallow pleats when possible, fit more at waist or with taper in waist, drapey fabric, not too pegged or tapered into ice-cream cone shape.

Summary, since I did not put them in very good order: 1, 2 and 6 are new; 3 is tossed; 4 on the fence, maybe wear a few times and ponder; 5 feeling it looks dated already or just not right; 7 still enjoying.

Any thoughts, second thoughts, suggestions welcome.

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10 years ago

Echo

Veteran

Okay, keep in mind that I am a child of the '80's and I LOVE me some pleated pants. I like all of these except photos #3 and #6. I especially love #4 and #5, and I think they are very flattering on you!

catgirl

I agree with Echo, although it could also be the colors as they look a bit muddy in 3 and 6. My fave is 4 which seems most modern in cut somehow. Pleats are not easy to wear, but you did great!

unfrumped

Thanks and see, I am easily confused. Not sure how to rein in my sugar eye. #3 was easy to weed out; I almost did not buy in the first place but ended up using them as gateway-return-to-pleats.
#5 still fit and are warm for winter with layering under and slim booties. I never targeted them for a "classic" but figured on one more winter season, recognizing the knit will start to pill. Will ponder.

Probably I'm not the only one either who may have to wear someting a few times at the "end" of its lifespan to figure out when the love is gone.

carter

Poison eye, so digest with a huge grain of salt! Goodbye #5! I prefer to minimize my hips. To me, these exaggerate. As I said...big grain of salt...so if your preference is to add curves, these may be total keepers!

UmmLila (Lisa)

You can keep the pleats, but nothing that is too big in the hips... Those just look too big for you because you are slender,

Anonymous

My absolute favorite is number 4. They seem to fit the best and I think they look most modern.

#4 all the way. I didn't think the others were flattering on you.

Thanks for input!
# 4 is easiest for me to style, in general.

I like 2, 4 and 7 best. 6 is an interesting style and a fun look for casual wear. You are very slender and this style adds curves. You have inspired me to look for some pleated pants.

Keturah

I'm a total dissenter... 1 and 6 get my vote! They look current, and don't overwhelm your slender figure. I think part of it too is the length. They hit right at your ankle without a lot of fabric pooling or breaking around the ankle.

The others overwhelm you, and also seem a bit long. I think you look best with some ankle showing, or perhaps a shoe that gives more height, or shows more open skin.

2 are gorgeous and I can't wait to see them hemmed!!

Just my thoughts, so you can take 'em or leave 'em. xo xo xo

Keturah, footwear is always the deal, no? For summer I could work with shorter lengths and loafers by for winter I need boots or shoes with socks. So I have to think what styles might work with that, if any.
These considerations have made me slightly more interested in a tweedy culotte that could be worn intentionally with tights and boots.

Poison eye here, too. I can't be objective.

I'm most loving 4 and 6: 4 fits to perfection and is just the right cut on you The jogger bottoms in 6 add some currency and edge to the pleated look and the fit around the ankle provides structure to your look. I also like 1. The only ones I dislike (personal biases in play here of course so add me to the grain of salt pile): 3 and 5. There are fabric issues with both of these to my eye: too stiff in 3 --though it sounds like you already tossed these--and too much in 5. I recognise "our" Chelseas in 2 and think they look really good, at least in this pic. Hope yours don't develop the same issues after cleaning as mine did, though if they do I don't think it'll be as obvious in your burgundy colour.

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