WIW: new pants & another cold-neck sweater

I made another pair of pants from the pattern I used for the cropped brown ones I wore recently, which some of you liked on me (shown here in outfit 1). I am wearing the new ones in outfit 1 below. I lengthened the pants this time around, but not quite enough to be full length (due to the amount of fabric I was working with). I'm unsure of whether this length really works. I've worn them twice, regardless. I could shorten them, or I could try facing the hem to get another inch in length (not sure that would be enough to be worthwhile), or I could leave them alone. Your thoughts?

In the second outfit, I'm wearing a sweater, new this season from NAS, the neckline of which, I've discovered, dips down low enough in back (especially as the sweater rides back on my shoulders, annoyingly) that it leaves my neck cold. I have the same problem with this sweater, which I was ready to purge until you talked me out of it. Again, I tried the scarf-as-under-layer trick, which Vicki wears so nonchalantly. Once I got home from errands today and got my photos taken, I could not get changed fast enough! The scarf slid forward every several seconds, exposing the back of my neck to chilly air. Brrr! And every several seconds, I would tug everything into place again. I barely got the photo taken without re-adjusting it. Note to self: Either leave that look to Vicki, or I will save it for sweaters that don't require extra back-of-neck-coverage from the scarf!

The outfits:
1-3 (worn to work): sage wool slouchy pants (made by me); gray silk placket-front blouse (Vince); mauve and gray print wool fleece cap-sleeved sweatshirt (made by me); taupe trench (Calvin Klein); taupe hobo bag (Aunts & Uncles); taupe nubuck booties (Paul Green, Jano).

4-5 and 8 (worn for a day off): fuchsia cashmere shirt-tail tunic (Halogen); fringed scarf with blues, purples, greens (Nordstrom); medium wash skinny ankle jeans (Lucky, Charlotte Rail); gray moto boots (Frye); taupe trench and bag as above.

6-7 (what I changed to): swapped out the scarf for an eggplant and sand micro houndstooth check cowl-neck pullover blouse (made by me) under the cashmere tunic. Much more comfortable!

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions! Thanks for looking.

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Nordstrom

Frye 'Lynn' Bootie

$317.95

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Nordstrom

Calvin Klein Double Breasted Trench Coat (Online Only)

$158.00

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Nordstrom

Halogen High/Low Cashmere Tunic Sweater (Regular & Petite)

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10 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I love that wool fabric!
I'm thinking they should be longer or should do the roll thing above the boot.
I'm terrible at this though as can be seen in my recent post.
The post on how to wear the jeans with boots has a link to, How to wear pants with ankle boots"! Which was good except it doesn't help with all the different permutations of pant widths and styles. Can you wear them with an oxford? That would not be warm, though.
I love the tunic--no solution for the cold neck except I keep replaying my sleeveless collared blouse with some. I have struggled with the necklines on the new fluid sweaters--I can sometimes use a turtleneck but otherwise I want a simple crew or high boatneck but many are wide and scooped.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Thanks, unfrumped. I'm not sure I want to wear them rolled. I'd like more of a streamlined look at the bottom, so I may shorten them. I tried them on briefly with oxfords and wasn't in love with the look. For oxfords, I think they'd need to be longer. I'll have to check out the pants and boots link.

I really only like the rolling for summer, too and even then I have to be careful lest it veer too much to Huck Finn on me.
Hmm, need leather pant-extender or to add contrasting cuffs for length.

I liked yours the way they are. If you like them, too, I say go for it and don't worry.

UmmLila (Lisa)

I am really liking this color palette on you!

I usually don't go for the scarf under the sweater....but I love it on you!! All outfits look great!

Beth Ann

Colors are rich, seasonally appropriate and so flattering on you! I like both versions of #2. As for the pants -- I'd say go a bit shorter. I am searching for slouchy trousers myself and having a devil of a time finding them -- I think I may have to make them myself.

Jaime

(website)

I love your second outfit with the cashmere sweater. Gorgeous! No need to suffer with an uncomfortable scarf.

Suz

Oh no, you had me writhing in sympathy with that scarf story. That would be EXACTLY my experience, I know it! And the photos say it all! I must say I prefer your second version of that outfit visually as well, so it is win-win! You look amazing in that colour, by the way.

You know, I looked and looked at that sweater and was so tempted by it, but couldn't resolve myself to the neckline.

I have no wisdom about the pants. I like the shape of them. I feel as if they are in that no-woman's length land....but maybe with different footwear they would feel okay? Not sure.

cheryle (Dianthus)

I also love this color palette on you. I like the length of the pants myself but then I am as far from expert at pants length as you can get so take it with a grain of salt.

Thanks for the sympathy, everyone. Glad you liked the replacement look with the top and sweater. I'll have to try the pants with some other footwear before I decide what to do. Beth Ann, it would be easier to go shorter, for sure--thanks for your thoughts on that possibility.

Astrid

I love these colors on you! And I really like the look with the other layer under the pullover, I wouldn't be able to do the scarf look either... I definitely vote to try more footwear before shortening. Have you tried to tuck them into boots? The only way I've been wearing my slouchy navy pants is tucked into my booties.

Thanks, Astrid. I'll try tucking the pants into boots, too.

Sharan, what do you think? What is in your mind's eye for this type of pant, maybe your inspiration photo or another outfit that worked well, and what proportions you like best.

Anonymous

I have no advice on the pant length in #1, but really like the harmonious muted colors in the outfit.

And I actually wore the same Nordstrom tunic sweater the other day and also was kind of annoyed by the neckline! Nothing as dramatic as your experience, but the neckline was wide enough that the layering tee I was wearing showed a little and looked sloppy, and wide enough that I had to keep readjusting the scarf I was wearing so it covered as much as possible. Maybe next time I'll save the sweater for a day that's slightly less cold, because I do love the color and shape.

I do like the look of the scarf under the sweater, although it's a shame it didn't work out.

unfrumped, that's a good question. I've pinned some looks here:

http://www.pinterest.com/irecrackerfay/pants/

What I was hoping for on these pants was to have them a little longer so that they would pool just a little bit at the top of my foot, over a shoe, for a drapey, tailored trouser effect. Most like the Eileen Fisher one titled "chevron slouchy pant" on the board. But they didn't come out that long (partly because I was attempting to salvage an effort at a different pair of pants that didn't work out, so I had limited fabric). I also think my pants are bigger in the upper thigh and seat than most if not all of the looks I've pinned.

Other pants that inspire me are these by Oska:
http://seattle.oska.com/en/pro.....140710143/
http://seattle.oska.com/en/pro.....140710190/
http://seattle.oska.com/en/pro.....140710222/

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