WIW: Muted color & Just Flattering Enough (?) silk cargo pants

Last week was chilly but not cold (for me, anyway) and I am gleeful that this week's forecast is calling for temps in the mid 80's to mid 90's (my ideal temps). So last week I tried experimenting a bit with a pair of silk twill cargo-type pants I bought at the flea market last summer and hadn't yet worn.

They're a mid-weight 100% silk twill so they are soft as a dream and they are one of my favorite colors (olive green). They were brand new with the tags still attached ($245!) when I got them at the flea market last summer for all of $15.

I haven't worn them largely because I don't consider them terribly flattering (but neither are they unflattering) because they are very flowy with knit bands at the ankles and pockets down on the lower leg. So overall they add volume to my lower leg that accentuates my shortness. I'm sure they'll look good with a towering heel or platform sandal but last week was too chilly for either.

So I just decided to roll with the thought that they were "Just Flattering Enough" paired with flat boots and what would otherwise be considered a workhorse outfit (moto jacket, t-shirt and boots).

I'm really loving the Jeffrey Campbell Oriley booties in blush leather snakeskin I got at Anthro's sale a few weeks back. They make a great neutral, are really comfortable, and have this cool sculpting wire along the edges so you can actually mold them a bit to a shape around your ankle. In a previous post someone asked whether they stay on my feet and the answer is yes. There are no issues with slippage whatsoever.

I used the colors in the scarf to tie everything together, since the blue, green, pink and olive all appear in the scarf.

So what do you think? Do the pants qualify as JFE when worn with flats or should I keep them for outfits that include a substantial heel to overcome the extreme fluid fit on the lower leg?

Blue/Gray cropped leather moto: All Saints Tide biker (via ebay)
Pale pink t-shirt: three dots (via ebay)
Scarf: No brand and damned if I haven't had it so long I can't remember where I first got it.
Silk flowy cargo pants: Love from Ya-Ya (never heard of the brand but these pants are of gorgeous quality and fabric!) via Santa Monica flea market
Blush leather open-side boots: Jeffrey Campbell Oriley (via Anthropologie)
Pin on scarf: Antique arts and crafts era (c.1915) sterling and moonstone butterfly
Sterling bracelet and ring: 90's Vintage Tiffany & Co.
Earrings: Sterling, apatite and black diamond snake earrings by Sataya (via Max and Chloe)
Bag: DVF Stephanie (via Nordies)

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11 years ago

jackiec

Veteran

I think it looks great. Cool pants for sure. I really like the muted colour palette. The jacket really brings out your eyes. You are an expert with all of the tiny details and accessories. I enjoy reading about your analysis and the background of your pieces.

Anonymous

I do think they are JFE. You could even try folding the pant cuffs and pull the bottoms down a tad so there is a little less blousing perhaps? That's probably just me being picky though as I adore the colours you've used here, so soft and harmonious. The snake ring and bracelet are amazing.

Jaime

(website)

Well this totally works for me - I would call more than flattering! I am also impressed how you wore the bluish jacket with the olive pants. I shied away from doing this the other day but will now re-think.

Ledonna N.

Those pants are so cool even as a "base" for the rest of the outfit.

unfrumped

I think they have great potential and are certainly flattering enough. I find it hard to style boots with the cuffs and would like to see you let them slide down and un-pouf. To me that means a low-vamped shoe (or possibly a cage sandal that fits closely around the ankle; so it's not just heel height, but footwear that allows them to slide over the ankle.

Janet

I do think they're cool pants, but they blouse out a lot at the lower leg to my eye -- I wondered the same thing as Diane, if maybe folding the cuff might allow them to slide down lower on the ankle and lessen the pouf. This is a tricky thing about this style of pant -- it rarely seems like the elasticized cuffs hit at the right spot. On me, they're always halfway up my calves.

Karie

I think this is a fantastic outfit - I love the color combos you've used here. You could try as Diane suggested and fold the cuff to de-blouse the pants a little, or wear them with your non boot shoes. I do like them just as you're wearing them, though.

rabbit

I think the colors in this outfit are beautiful, and the scarf is magic in design and color variety.

For myself, I'm really not into ankle blousing, so would probably either try to tuck the pants cuff very low into some lace up booties so that it was invisible, or it would think about how it might work if I cut off the cuff and had it rehemmed, but that's my thing with lower half pants volume, I like it to hang down straight or taper in until it meets the ankle.

Otherwise I think the pants look great and the material makes the pockets hang nicely flat, and I'm sure they are super comfortable.

Kiwichik

Beautiful clout combination as sways. I like the harem pants but would like to see them with lower camp shoes or as suggested with heels - they are JFEwith boots but I think will look even better with other footwear.

crutcher

Those look like super comfortable pants...I cannot believe you found them for $15...Take me shopping...
Great outfit...I hope you get a lot of mileage out of that one this summer...

Cindy S

Active Member

Wow, pant score! And to answer your question about them shortening your leg, I feel the cropped biker jacket takes care of that, along with the pale boot - it is proportional to my eye. Beautiful blending of soft colors, and the pants are trending...congrats!

fuzzylogic

Totally fabulous! Is that a chain-mail bag??

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