Posts tagged pants

Red Hot Tips on Wearing the Season’s Hottest Color

This season we have seen a surge of fashionistas choosing to don pants in bright hues rather than basic colors. Recent issues of Glamour Magazine and Women’s Wear Daily show women across the globe are daring to bring the heat with red pants this Summer and Fall. Here are our favorite ways to style Red Pants.

It’s all about the silhouette. 

Skinny fit and cropped length – red cigarette pants looks fantastic with everything. This street style pic of Harper’s Bazaar market editor Joanna Hillman is to me the epitome of getting red pants right. Below is a look off the runway for DKNY Fall 2011.
image of DKNY red pant fall 2011
image of Timo Weiland Fall 2011

 

Wear with an architectural or classic pump in black. The White Stripes, No Doubt and other pop rock groups of the early 2000’s got it right – Red looks best with Black and White. Complete your look with solid black shoes.

image of kate moss topshop red jeans 2011

Ground red pants with neutrals. This has to be my favorite accessible way to wear red, with camel, or even greys and creams. Neutrals really help soften the harshness of red pants.
image of red pants and cream blouse
image of red pants camel shirt

 

 

Blue Jean Baby

Lately I’ve been drawn to gorgeous lightweight fabrics and whimsical prints, but when it comes to actually buying clothes, I tend to stick to the basics.  Maybe it’s the Midwest in me, but I’m definitely a jeans and t-shirt type of gal.  There’s nothing better than finding the perfect jeans and wearing them to pieces!

It’s no secret that this Spring the 70’s are re-introducing themselves.  We’re seeing fragments of the bohemian era almost everywhere in fashion, from full skirts and this seasons most sought-after trend: bell bottom jeans.

Hopefully with the new styles and silhouettes, denim shopping will get a little more exciting.

photo: Mr. Newton

Nasty Gal

One Teaspoon

Nasty Gal

Nasty Gal

Like I said, I love my jeans, so I thought I’d give the bell bottom trend a try.  I’ve found a couple brands that I absolutely love.  GAP Vintage Flare denim (kinda a classic and very affordable), GAP also carries flare leg denim in darker washes.  And my absolute favorite pair of bell bottom-y jeans are the Earnest Sewn Lau denim.  These are a little more expensive, a little dressier and make your legs look long and lean (especially if you wear these jeans with heels).

Tights as Pants

Women began wearing tights as pants back in 2009. Since the hideous looks inception, we’ve all seen the awful photos of celebrities and regular women alike making some huge faux paux. In case you need a refresher, here are a couple of my favorite tights as pants mishaps.
image of tights are not pants
A couple of rules to follow with tights and leggings:

  1. Make sure you shirt, skirt or dress covers your butt (seems obvious, right?)
  2. Whenever wearing tights or leggings, make sure to wear underwear that’s the same color as your tights or leggings
  3. Lastly, know your limits. Bend over in a mirror before you leave the house so you know what you should and shouldn’t do (physically in your outfit). Check yourself out in the mirror in different lighting to make sure you know the worst case scenario for your look
  4. If you have doubts, ALWAYS change your outfit.

We’re beginning to see a lot of runway shows featuring tights and leggings worn properly. Here are a couple of my favorite looks done well. Keep these images in mind when you’re putting together your next tights or legging look.
image of Tights for Fall 2011
image of metallic legginngs as pants
image of leggings Spring 2011
For those that are looking for additional support, try thigh high compression stockings. But remember, these are not pants!

No More Jean Blues

Finding jeans has never been a fun, easy, or painless task for me.  I’m not sure what or who’s to blame, but regardless, there is always too much and too little material in the wrong places.  I’ve spent hours in a single store trying on countless jeans and at the end of the laborious event, I’m back where I started, with nothing!  Sure, there will be a pair or two that fit fairly well, but truly, I find myself resorting to that pair or two only out of sheer desperation.  In fact, the pursuit for the perfect pair of jeans –in terms of fit, style, and price– became such a hopeless pursuit, I vetoed jeans from high school to the middle of college, devoting myself solely to dresses, leggings, tights, and skirts.  When I was ready to revisit (just recently) the dreadful idea of finding a pair of flattering AND comfortable jeans, I decided to try a brand that wasn’t exactly known for its denim line: American Apparel.  While I’ve only purchases tanks, sweatshirts, undergarments, and tights from AA, I decided –while in the store last weekend– that I would look at the jeans.  I had also noticed a sales associate wearing a pair from the store, and the jeans looked incredible.  Per her recommendation and with my newly possessed flexibility and optimism, I tried on the Four-Way Stretch High-Waist Side Zipper Pant in black.  Much to my surprise, the pants fit amazingly.  While I tend to keep it conservative with regards to pants, the high waist didn’t bother me at all.  These pants hug your body in all the right places, they are soft and comfortable, and they don’t break the bank at $78.  There’s also a plethora of fun colors, for those of you with more courage than I have.

Let’s just say, I bought the pair immediately and walked out of AA feeling denim-rejuvenated.

AA high-waist jeanAA high-waist jean

AA high-waist jean

Divine Rights of Denim exclusively at Forever 21

image of Divine Right of Denim for forever21

Divine Right of Denim may not be considered a premium denim brand to everyone, their jeans range between $75-$100 (expensive? Meh). I think we all can agree that brand seems a bit expensive and out of place for Forever 21, right?

Wrong, as of October 1, 2010 Divine Rights of Denim is selling a maiden collection exclusively at the thousands of Forever 21’s around the globe. The kicker is that this ‘maiden’ collection at Forever 21 retails for only $30 a pair. The collection is rather limited, only featuring three silhouette; skinny, straight, and (of course) jeggings. Each silhouette is sold in a variety of washes.

The brand claims that the quality of the $30 denim at Forever 21 has not been compromised. If this is so, then I think all of us Divine Right of Denim wearing girls have been ripped off (paying $100 a pop) for years. It’s frustrating isn’t it. It seems that as soon as brands hit their climax, they get into this crazy vertical segmentation crap and instantly lose their cool factor with the early adopters. Ladies, we can never stay ahead of the masses these days.

So, I guess if you’re looking for great denim at a bargain you should run off to your local Forever 21 for Divine Rights of Denim. If you buy anything from the collection, please let me know if the quality is that of ‘premium denim’.

Will Skinnies Become Obsolete?

Skinny jeans have become a denim phenomenon to hit the fashion industry.  Skinny or tapered jeans were popularized by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and more.  Five decades later, the style has become the standard of denim, with people of all shapes, sizes, and preferences sporting these jeans.  They’ve been a favorite hit among hipsters, indie rockers, women and men of all ages, children, etc.  In addition to the range of fans, the particular style has proven to be incredibly versatile.  Whether one is tucking them into boots, wearing them under dresses or with long blouses, or indulging in jeggings, one cannot possibly refute the power of these jeans.  In fact, nearly every well-known denim designer has designed an array of skinnies: black, white, leopard, zippered, lace, you name it!  And nearly every retail establishment that carries denim has at least one style of the skinny jean.

image of Sienna Miller in Jean Leggings

Sienna Miller in Current Elliot Jeggings

image of closed denim

Close Denim Spring/Summer 2010

Kate Moss in Topshop denim

Kate Moss Topshop jeans

While this particular style remains hot, there’s some undeniable competition with other denim styles: wide leg, boyfriend, straight leg, etc.  In speaking with several fashionistas, including a hip designer for a renowned denim line, they’ve all agreed–“We’re bored with skinnies!”  Just as trends come and go, one definitely wonders, “Will skinnies last?  If so, for how long?” While I have been a fairly strong advocate for the dissemination of the skinny jean–I did work for a denim designer after all–I have always questioned this particular style, like many trends.  I, too, have wondered if the novelty will wear off.

In all honesty, there’s something refreshing about seeing someone sport a pair of comfortable, worn-in, unglamorous jeans.

Roll Up you Khakis for Spring and Summer

image of current Elliott the Captin Khaki pants

Traditionally cut of lightweight yet durable cotton, chinos were introduced through the US Army during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion in China. It’s not coincidence that ‘chinos’ is a derivative of the Spanish word “Chinese.” Today, chinos are the perfect warm weather alternative to jeans. For Spring and Summer 2010 chinos look is effortlessly stylish and versatile with skinny and wide leg silhouettes to choose from in cream, khaki, tan, olive and gray colors. Pairing you cuffed chinos with flats for the office keeps the look very casual, swamping the flats for heels or platforms will dress them right up for evening.


The ‘Tights as Pants’ Debate.

Shall we define what “tights” are? We must in order to settle this issue because many people have different ideas on what the true definition of this infamous clothing article entails. By definition, tights are of clothing that cover from the waist to the ankles and can be either sheer or opaque. They are pant-like in nature yet are traditionally covered by skirts, shorts, or dresses. Traditionally they are worn under other garments but there is a trend that is sweeping the world and has sparked controversy wherever its been spotted in action…

Tights as pants. No covers, just a shirt and some tights.

Let me start off by saying that I have been wearing LEGGINGS as pants since I discovered that skinny jeans will never quite fit my body right (I am too short and my hips are too wide for the sizes that are available). The difference is that my tights (or leggings, whatever) of choice have always been opaque and thick in nature (American Apparel knows how to make them right). Typically leggings are also footless, where as tights have feet but this is not always the case. At first I was appalled at the idea of someone wearing shear tights, A.K.A pantyhose, as pants in public but through further investigation I find that when done tastefully… it really isn’t so bad.

exhibit A.

But when it is done wrong, boy is it wrong. Exhibit B.

So should tights be worn as pants? I believe it should be judged on a case-by-case basis. I personally follow one key trick: the underwear check. If my panties are on display, then I say “no way!”. Some people are a little less inhibited than that and who is to say that they cant put the drawers out for everyone to see as long as the nether regions are covered?

But like every trend, there has been incredible backlash. Statements, blogs, and even websites have been dedicated to the ending of this trend. If you ask me, the effort put into all of this is a little too much (the energy should be redirected into banning crocs). But people are outraged and where this is outrage, there is an internet source to support it.

Leggings, tights, pants, or whatever you choose to cover your booty up with… its your business. As long as the person is comfortable, that is all that matters. I for one would rather see someone wearing tights as pants than see someone covering up calf length tights with a medium length skirt (so unflattering), but that’s just me. So to settle this debate, I say to each their own! And if you don’t like the trend then keep wearing your denim or corduroy or whatever and let it die out like every trend before it

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