Review of My Jeans and Casual Pants for Fall and Winter

After inspiration from the recent closet reviews and clothing counts by
other YLF members, I tried on ALL of my jeans and casual pants last
night to analyze what I will keep for fall/winter and what will move
on. A glass of wine helped motivate me for the task.

I wasn't too pleased I had duplicated 2 pair of jeans that I don't love
(so that's 4 pair of nearly the same jean, slightly different washes
that I'm putting in the hold bin). I was distracted last year with
another business and I think I forgot I had already ordered the same
jeans. Those are mostly feeling tight right now.

I don't know why I have trouble styling light colored pants like the
cream BR jeans. I've worn them only a few times and feel a bit odd in
them for some strange reason. They seem very comfortable on, but maybe
it's what I'm pairing them with that isn't working to my eye. I have
purchased some new tops that may work better with them so I should try
to do an outfit lab post I guess.

I decided the burgundy Dres are going back. I just don't love them on me and they would require alteration in length.

Which of course meant I just *had* to find a potential replacement. I
ordered 2 more pair of jeans from AE (one being a deep berry) - every
pair of AE jeans I have in my closet I still love! It's a fit/fabric
combination for me. These were on deep discount so I ended up getting
them for $15 with the other pair. I can't create a Find for some reason
so here's a link. I sized up per reviewer's suggestions.

https://www.ae.com/women-aeo-d.....m=sUS-cUSD

My inventory now includes:
White Jeans with silver brocade type pattern (only wear on occasion but
thinking they'd look good with the new silver Ecco sandals)
BR Cream Jeans in (boyfriend fit) - rarely wear but I'm going to try again this year

BR Black Ponte Pants (only wear on occasion)
AE Crop Jeans in light wash, no real distressing (slightly slouchy)
AE Straight Jeans in light wash, no real distressing x 2 (slightly slouchy)
AE Artist Crop Jeans (last year's model) dark wash with some whiskering, fading (skinny fit)
AE Tomgirl Pant in Twill in Khaki (a lovely golden Khaki in a boyfriend fit)
AE Tomgirl Pant in Twill in Olive (boyfriend fit)
Big Star Skinny Jeans in Deep Olive (skinny fit)
Big Star Jeans in Dark Wash 2 variations (skinny fit)
AG Crop Jeans with embroidered hem (slouchy fit)
Levis in light wash, no real distressing (a few years old)
KUT Jeans in dark wash, some whiskering, boyfriend fit (heavy weight/winter only)

15 total pairs of pants (so far)

I may pass on the BR Cream jeans if I don't wear them this year.
and I may be adding the AE burgundy jeans and a dark wash cropped pair as well

Since I wear jeans/casual pants every day from late fall to early
spring I need a fairly large assortment but I need to be mindful of
wearing them all instead of picking just a few favorites as I tend to
do.

Sorry for such a long post - maybe it will help others planning their own fall/winter pants.

Amazon

Big Star Women's Alex Mid Rise Skinny Jean

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Sale

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Amazon

Big Star Women's Alex Mid Rise Skinny Brushed Twill Pant In Dark Moss Color

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Custom Find

by texstyle

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Nordstrom

KUT from the Kloth 'Diana' Skinny Jeans (Wise) (Online Only)

$79.00

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8 years ago

Anonymous

You do need a good selection Texstyle, because your over all personal style and your lifestyle mean that casual pants work so well for you. I think the numbers sound pretty good to me, though I'm no expert. I'm glad to hear that you've ordered a replacement for the Dres btw, as I think a burgundy tone of pants will be fab for you. Fingers crossed that the new ones work out.

I had planned on starting some kind of closet assessment this week as I though I had a bit of free time before going on hol, but instead I'm doing so much cleaning...why do I always feel it necessary to clean the house from top to bottom before going away??

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Have you identified your issue with styling the cream jeans yet? Do you like high or low contrast outfits? Do you crave color or are you a neutrals girl? Is the style/cut the issue?

texstyle

(website)

Diane, yes, I agree burgundy would be a good change from the denim day after day. That's also why I added the deep olive and the two twill pants to change things up. Here's hoping they work.

I can relate to wanting to clean everything before a vacay - I do the same thing. I think because I want to know I will be relaxed when I return, instead of dreading housework.

chewyspaghetti - I haven't quite put my finger on the cream jeans issue but they are a pretty loose fit so just a little baggy. They are very comfortable soft denim. I am a neutrals girl so I was thinking of trying them with a simple charcoal linen tee (for warm weather) or maybe a navy top, but not sure what color belt/shoes to pair them with. I don't mind some contrast as I love to wear white tops with dark denim for example but when I turn it around I get a bit stumped on the shoes and belt mostly.

I have worn my white jeans with a dark heathered gray T and lighter brown belt and sandals. You could go with a total warm neutral look- shades of tan/brown from head to toe, or do a black top with brown accents. With a navy top you could do brown shoes, or gray or black. I think it's just a matter of finding the right combo.

Style Fan

I love the look of the AE burgundy jeans that you have ordered. Burgundy is such a great neutral that is also a colour. It seems it will work well into your jeans collection.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Tex, I wonder whether you could supply the Finds to these items? It would be fab to see your wonderful capsule visually.

I tried to add what I could - I can't find some of them as it's been quite a while since I purchased them.

Suz

I hope the burgundy AEs do work for you. I think that will be a great addition.

I just passed my cream jeans along because while I used to enjoy them in the winter as a kind of "softer" less stark version of white, I feel with my grey hair the brighter white will work better.

I wonder if it is partly a footwear issue for you with those as well as fit? I think you have lots in your closet that theoretically would work with them.

Your numbers do not sound at all extreme to me. As you know I'm in a similarly casual life/ environment and I have this many jeans alone -- mind you that is across all seasons and as I mentioned in another thread, in practice some of my denim is "winter" denim and some is fall/ spring.

Would you like to add a patterned pant of some kind? They can be surprisingly enjoyable to wear -- IF you get the right pattern. A big if.

celia

You actually make me wonder if I should add more jeans to my life
I like the idea of burgundy and patterned pants/jeans.

Suz - footwear does feel like part of the issue with the cream jeans. They seem to be a little bulky when I roll them much and I really need to roll as they are long for me. I don't want to spend $ altering them because it doesn't make sense, it would be better to just replace them.

I have taupe sandals and tan sandals that are lower contrast and they work okay, but in fall/winter I get stuck. I have taupe booties and new cognac booties. I also have some dark taupe oxfords I never wear (another issue there). I guess I feel like the BF fit of the cream jeans with booties or oxfords feels too masculine for my taste. I have one other shoe that could work - a deep pewter flat with a cross strap in front that is more feminine, but then I think I need a more "feminine" feeling top. I'll have to see what I can come up with.

So, maybe I've figured out the issue somewhat - baggy fit BF jeans may be too masculine to fit into the rest of my wardrobe which is already fairly tomboy - button downs, plaids, simple v-necks, simple crewnecks, etc.

I may want to invest in a few more feminine tops but first I need to really look at what I have.

Thanks, Tex. You are Queen Slim Leg. Why don't you hack the cream jeans?

Angie, I was thinking of that too - but do you mean into shorts or into shorter pants?

Shorter pants for starters.

Angie - I think I'll give it a go!

viva

This is a great review, Texstyle, and one I'm going to read again when I am not on a plane that is about to take off. Hahaha! I'm really interested because you and I both spend so much time in casual pants and I'm trying to make sure I have enough/the right choices.

What is fab to me, though, is that AE is such a great brand to you. How fortunate!!!! I would love it if that were the case for me instead of the much more costly AG.

viva - I know! AE is such an affordable brand but time and time again I favor those jeans/pants over higher priced ones I buy. Of course I haven't tried all the higher priced jeans - only a couple. Have a great trip!

I used to like AE. I'm going to have to go back and give their pants try.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

Great assessment and thought process. I too would like to find some burgundy pants/jeans, and an olive pair. I found a wine-colored pair of skinnies at an outlet recently, but they're a tad too short and now that they've been washed a couple times they're basically crops. I should be able to wear them as ankle pants for a month or two longer but not through the winter.

I haven't tried AE in years - I should probably give them a try-on again.

When I shop at AE for jeans I try to really pay attention to fabric content and the reviews (as sizing up is often needed). I must say some of the jeans I got a few years back were excellent quality, 98% cotton and still look great. I will have to see how this latest order comes out - I'm actually trying 3 different jeans - waiting for delivery.

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