Well, I popped into a different Anthro store yesterday while I was out on errands (the grocery shopping just had to wait for today ;-)), and got a chance to try some pants that were not available in the first Anthro I visited last week. Lo and behold, by a weird turn of chance, I actually found FOUR pairs of pants that were at least acceptable on me. That NEVER happens!
I'll try to take pics of them on me, with a little styling, at some point, to get you all to help me evaluate them, but here are the Finds.
1. The linen blend trousers are really nice and quite flattering on me. They don't hold onto creases the way most linen does, and I usually dislike linen trousers on me because those creases end up as big wrinkles across my widest point. These pants don't do that at all. I did a lot of sit testing and they stretch a little but don't seem to bag out. They are a *little* higher rise than I usually prefer, but the fit is good on me otherwise. The rear view is about as good as it ever gets on me, which is notable. And the length is nice -- I can wear them with about a 2" heel. The issue with these? They feel a little dressy for my life. I am not sure how to best style them for my casual days. But part of me is reluctant to return a pair of really nice-fitting, flattering pants. Perhaps playing with some styling will help me justify keeping these.
2. These patch-pocked capris were a surprise. I liked the look of them but thought that big pockets on the hips might not be the best thing on me. But I had something similar years ago that I enjoyed wearing and thought I'd give them a try. They were more flattering than I expected, and I even decided to try a wild card color for me in that dusty lilac/purple/pink color. There are a couple of printed tops in my wardrobe that have this color in them, and I think this could also look nice with neutral tops. These would fit seamlessly into my casual summer style as good alternatives to shorts.
3. I tried these joggers in a size L last week and they just felt a bit *too* baggy, and they have some stretch to them, so I could feel them getting baggier as I wore them even in the fitting room. There is a fair bit of difference in size between the L and the M in the elastic waist, but the length and the width of the legs are really not very different. I went with the M after going back and forth a couple of times, with the help of the SA. They're ultracasual, but I like that. I like that they're cool and loose and comfortable, and like the patch pocket cargos above, they would be a no-brainer addition to my summer wardrobe.
I also tried on the top in that photo, and was surprised that I liked it on me more than I thought I would. I didn't buy it, even though I'm keeping an eye out for a sleeveless or short sleeve white top (I have plenty of sleeved ones, but currently my only summer solid white tops are very simple knit tees and I could stand a white top with a little more interest). I'll mull it over. I've been on a little bit of a shopping binge lately and will need to pull back, so I'm trying to be thoughtful about this. This top is a little heavier knit, and the overlapping layers definitely present a danger of flying open in breezy weather, so a little stitching to keep them closed might be in order. But I like the minimal yet interesting style.
I also tried and liked a simple pair of chinos in a light grey color. They're really basic, which is not a bad thing, and I like the grey color.
Oh, and as luck would have it, I clicked on that blue wrap dress that Dixie posted, and it was back in stock in a 6! So I jumped on it and ordered it to try. We'll see if that works out. If so, I'm more than set for summer dresses.
Feedback is welcome!