WIW: wanting to incorporate a new silhouette...or do I???

I've posted before about wanting to add straight leg pants to my wardrobe. So, here some are... maybe???

These are my first two outfits with the new silhouette and I confess I'm a little underwhelmed.

These jeans seem... not all that different from skinnies, actually, except for being less flattering.

Do my eyes just need to adjust to a different look after so many years of wearing pretty much exclusively skinnies? (And my body to a different feel.)

Is something wrong with the styling? (Maybe more contrast between top and jeans so I'm not just an undifferentiated blob? Maybe I shouldn't have chosen my very bulkiest short cardi?)

Are they too long and need hemming? (See cuffed version in photo 3)

Or is this not quite the right cut? (These are pilcro slim straights, purchased secondhand so I could obtain a lower rise than is currently available at retail.)

I don't care about being up to the moment trendy. I was just looking for more of a modern classic (??) alternative to skinnies that would be easier to wear with hip-length tops and toppers. I don't want to wear bootcuts or flares.

Help?

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6 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I think these are fabulous! And I *do* think they’re different from skinnies.

slim cat

Defiantly not like skinny jeans .I like your straight jeans cuffed in the last photo ( like new "full length" ) plus the boots are more visible. It takes time when you changing your jean style preference ( I still struggle with some of mine ).

Gretchen

Definitely in favor of the cuffed look! For me, straights need to hang perfectly straight. If they are puddling near the top of the foot, or trying to create a break, I'm not a fan. That may be where you are feeling the difference as you're used to a sleek line near the ankle?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YOU DO

Think of it as Skinny-Lite. or Evolved Skinny. Still skinny, actually. But with a little more room.

These look a lot better than super skinnies to my eye. Much more stylish match with booties.

I like #2 and #3. Yes they need a little hemming.

Try ONE cuff too.

Jenni NZ

I like the pants and feel the cardigan is the problem- yes, too bulky. I only wear straights, as we discussed in your post about date night footwear some time back!

nemosmom

What Gretchen said! It took some time for my eye to adjust from wearing skinnies to straights, but now I wear them equally. If the leg bunches too much, it feels 'off' to me - especially when paired with a bulky top. I cuff mine to allow for different heel heights, as I am non-committal when it comes to choosing shoes LOL

kkards

i love them...especially #3

Janet

I think these look great on you and your eye will adjust. I do think it takes a little getting used to, after all these years of skinnies that fit the leg all the way down.

I find that I have times I want to wear those old skinnies, and times I want to wear the roomier straights. If the straights are roomy enough, they almost end up a little more like girlfriend/boyfriend jeans on me, so I consider this when pairing tops and toppers with them and end up usually choosing fits on top that are a little less roomy than the big shirts we all seemed to wear with skinnies. You may need to think about your tops with a new jean silhouette a little bit more at first.

Definitely play with the cuff too -- a larger more dramatic cuff looks current and can showcase your boots. I think it can create a more casual look, if that's what you're going for. If cuffing is not your thing, you may want to have them hemmed to the length you prefer.

Glory

I like these and hope you can adjust your eye
I think they are quite a bit different than skinnies and will give a nice alternative-they look terrific.

Helena

I think these look great and really like the cuffed version

SarahD8

Well, thank you all for the vote of confidence! I will definitely keep playing with these, and with non-skinny pants in general. Sort of relieved to hear that others have experienced a similar need to adjust when branching out from skinnies.

It seems like the shorter, cuffed look is people's preference. Duly noted. Gretchen and nemosmom, I think you're right, some of my discomfort (both visual and tactile) might have been with the puddling/break -- a shorter length helps fix that.

Angie, I will persist! Skinnies-lite is an interesting/useful way to think about these. I'm slightly confused by the "try ONE cuff" suggestion -- in the pic they're only rolled up once?

JenniNZ, will try with a different cardi!

Janet, that's helpful information, thanks. It's really interesting, for me a big part of the point of wanting to branch out to straight legs was to make it easier to wear the shorter tops and toppers that I don't really like wearing with skinnies -- I would feel too exposed and find myself thinking: if the pants were a bit wider/more fluid this would be fine. But it turns out it's not so simple!

And thank you rachylou, slim cat, kkards, and Glory!

What I really wish is that these were slightly looser on the thighs and that they would smoothly cover the tops of oxford/loafer type shoes (I don't like wearing loafers/oxfords with visible socks). I'm not sure these will do the latter, especially if hemmed/cuffed. So maybe what I really want is a slightly different cut, like a not-too-overwhelming boyfriend style?

Cross-posted with you torontogirl, thank you so much! It helps to have a cheering section as I ease out of my comfort zone.

Sarah, YES. I see that now. One roll of the cuff already. You are there! Good job.

Anonymous

I like the cuffed version most too, and yes to "skinnies lite." Some footwear works better with skinnies, like tall boots, while transitional shoes and shooties seem more balanced to my eye with straights.

Jaime

What huh? Your description did not match the jeans, which look excellent on you. Work with the cuff as suggested and your eye should adjust.

I think the jeans look great and fit you well.
The first top looks better on you in my opinion as it’s not as loose. But for contrast all your shirts are untucked, if you tuck a shirt in or even a partial tuck it will show off the jeans more and give a different look. For my style I add a belt in the jean loops to give that added pop to the outfit, even if it’s an ordinary black belt and it could be what you are needing for that new style that doesn’t feel blah

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