Straight Leg Wool Trousers: Shoe help?

There are a ton of forum posts on this subject but I'm still confused so thanks in advance.

I've been enjoying adapting to my new style after losing close to 75 pounds. I've switched up my wardrobe as I'm an inverted triangle and simply loving the white jeans on bottom and dark welted top on top. I've bought skinnies and leggings and some nice oversized, fluid tops. Great neutral shoes to match. So far so good.

Lately my work requirements need a bit more dressing up than white jeans. I also have some courtroom appearances to make (witness in a civil trial) where I wanted to make my look more conservative and "grown up." So I got a couple pairs of light weight wool dress trousers. They were both on sale at super cheap prices (like $11 each!) so if I can't make this work, I can donate to Goodwill without guilt. I like them both because they are softer and more fluid, which is a look I'm trying to figure out given that I'm an inverted triangle and want to play with softer fits on the bottom.

Pair one: a dark charcoal gray, bootcut (but not super flared)
Pair two: a lovely light mushroom color, straight leg (rather soft vs my normal skinny or straight leg jean)

both pants touch the ground and break slightly when I am barefoot in them. I don't like high heels and when I cleaned my closet I dumped most of my old kitten heels (they were pointy toe and rather uncomfortable).

So now I have a problem, what shoes to wear with these pants? I've got the tops all settled: very soft fitted cashmere button sweaters, open or closed; as well as two lovely blazers that are very fitted and not too padded in the shoulders, one is navy and one is black and has a little peplum; and very lady like jewelry and accessories. (and if you have ideas there let me know)

Question ONE
What I have now that I think will work--do you agree?

Via Spiga Burgundy leather ballet flats with a rounded toe and quilted leather with a very slight heel (not quite as flat as ballets)
Black patent leather Tieks ballet flats
Cream colored mules with a black low heel but open toe
Black Taryn Rose peep toe pumps but only if the heel isn't so high the pant isn't covering my instep
Neutral sandal style heel with open toes and stretchy fabric straps
NOT loafers, brogues or my converse types unless I'm going for the super casual look. If I could wear any of my lovely neutral, yellow, or black loafers, tell me how.
I do have two pairs of boots, a pair of black knee high books with a low heel that I was planning on replacing; and a pair of caramel colored fancy cowboy boots that I figured were also not appropriate/didn't know how to use

Question TWO
I am shopping for two new pairs of shoes this fall. I had planned to buy two pairs of booties/shooties since I had none; one in a neutral suede and one in all black, both with rounded toes. Could either of these work with the pants above, and if so under what circumstances?

If you have other suggestions, please let me know!

9 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

The pants sound great & on trend. I find it very difficult to give advice about shoes without seeing outfit photos.

Have you seen Angie's post on wider pants?

http://youlookfab.com/2014/02/.....pant-legs/

Melinda SF

Active Member

Thanks Caro, I had. I read a lot of these but didn't see recommendations of the type of shoe, just to make sure the pant was the right length.
Right now as I research i'm leaning toward a slipper style with a kitten heel, perhaps in a leopard print I can pair with my boyfriend jeans as well for fun; or a standard low heel slightly rounded pump in a cognac. Wedges also have appeal, so I'm checking them out.

Angie wears a rounded toe boot/bootie with her all white ensembles, and in a smooth leather so the pant fabric never catches (suede would be a disaster here). but I'm not sure I wanted a rounded toe bootie.

here is my zappos wishlist (ignore the last few things) so you have a sense of what I'm considering

here are the mushroom color pants

the main thing is just to know that they will not be long enough for a high heel. so what are the other options in shoes?

Elly

I can't see your wish list! Both straight leg and bootcut jeans look great with pointy, almond, and round toe flats, low heels, and booties. Basically this fashion season most shoes are an option! Oxfords can be dressy and flat, as can slipper flats and SOME loafers.

bj1111

Pointy toed, or at least almond toe flats if you are averse to heels.

There is a thread on why a pointy toe balances out a wider leg.

unfrumped

I've posted on the problem of my straight pants not always falling properly over a boot. Perhaps I try to wear them with too short a shaft, so hem rides up when I sit etc. "Trousers" , perhaps older style, are 19-20" wide at hem and usually okay. Once going much straighter to 16-18' width it starts to get tricky for me.

I have had the most luck with a low-vamped shoe with slight heel--I have a VC slipper flat where the pant doesn't catch too much on it. I wear some kinds of loafers, especially with a stacked heel up to 1", looking a little dressy rather than a casual loafer. Pants hemmed to scrunch a bit over the top of the foot.
It all depends on the pant hem width for me. Some pointy flats work and I also posted that this is actually better for not-skinny pants, but for straight, so I don't look too tapered down. Plus if find the HEWI of short boot with very fitted at the ankle/calf. I got a laceup wedge bootie to this end.

If it's flats then a pointed toe for sure imo - more modern looking. A Chelsea boot is a smooth option too.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Can you still wear a low heel with the bootcuts and achieve PPL's? A pointy toe gets my vote - and this is a very comfy pump from Sofft.

The straight legs are trickier if they are roomy straight legs. Perhaps you can provide a link to the style so that I can make a more accurate suggestion?

Zappos

Söfft Vesper

$89.95

View Info

Top Pick

Not sure why zappos wants your log in to see this. ugh

so I made a little pinboard of the look I'm aiming for. focus only on the pants/shoe combo, nothing else.

anyway, we're talking wool dress pants, NOT blue jeans. so I do think different styles of shoes would apply, correct?

Booties, at least the casual kinds I was considering for purchase would be way too informal for a court appearance. so they would need to be a more elegant style and not really the chunky bottom look I was looking for for these outfits. Think grace kelly here. I live in San Francisco so I don't need a winter boot or that heavy feeling on my feet.

Pointy toe shoes are dreadfully uncomfortable for me. I am looking at some slipper styles.

Anyway I think I've figured it out on my own: a low kitten heel pump with an almond or slipper toe. Or a wedge well designed and low.

Oxfords are too masculine and squat with a soft wool pant and broad shoulders. without the ankle showing they're really not the right choice.

A brogue with a low, feminine heel might work but I am not a fan of the laces since they catch on the pant leg and make the foot look bulky.

I'm looking for a classic, graceful foot and ankle line that is appropriate for court, church, etc; not necessarily deep fashionista but not old lady either.

I've found some inspiration on Pinterest, and just browsing the zappos selection helped me figure it out. now to measure the exact height I need.

I will probably not be making these kinds of pants my staple of my wardrobe as I really hate wearing a heel of just about any kind and I don't like spiky heels either, they are not the best for inverted triangles. I may move to skirts, palazzos, and culottes instead if slim fit jeans ever go out of fashion, but it's good to have a couple traditional looks.

Angie, we crossed streams! the soffft is on my list, indeed!

here are exact pants I just bought from ann taylor that are indeed "wider" straight legs:

and here are two of the kitten heel pumps I was looking at.

Calvin Klein
Cole Haan Air Juliana
Trotters Lonnie in Dark Grey
Nine West Illumie (not a fan of this brand, as they're not well made, but you get the idea)
I wanted this calvin klein in leopard but not available in my size here.

this one has potential as well.

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