The casual pants dilemma
July 2nd, 2008Fab casual pants are a missed retail opportunity. Apart from jeans and cropped pants (clamdiggers and walk shorts), the options are limited.
Here’s why:
- Khakis: It’s hard to look hip and stylish in an ultra-casual pair. Khakis either look too young, too conservative or dated when matched with casual shoes and knitted tops. Substitute a pair of casual khakis with white/cream cotton pants (pique or twill), or jeans (blue or white) and it’s an instantly better look. A smarter pair of khakis matched with a tailored black or white top and dressy shoe is a nice outfit. But that’s business casual, and not the relaxed vibe you’re after.
- Cargos: Few women look great in rigid cotton cargos. They’re best on inverted triangles if you find a pair with a sophisticated edge. Most styles tend to look wide, masculine and teenybopper-ish. Silk or silk blend cargos in drapey fabric are sweet, but delicate and shiny. They tend to look best with a dressier shoe which once again takes you out of the casual dress code.
- Poplin, seersucker, stripes and prints: Casual pants in these fabrics can work, but they’re not versatile. It’s hard to match them with tops and you’ll have wardrobe orphans if you aren’t careful.
- Linen: You either like the creased linen look or you don’t. If you don’t, it rules out another casual Summer pants option.
- Micro-check: I like this casual pants look, but it’s hard to find in America. I’m referring to a very fine, subtle plaid in neutral colours. It’s usually in a cotton or poly-blend and looks great in full length pants or cropped styles. A super look with sandals, thong sandals, Converse or ballet flats. Wish there were more to choose from.
- Knits: casual pants in knits are gear. We either exercise or lounge in these.
So we’re down to denim, or cotton twill/ pique pants (full length or cropped in any colour). Micro-checks and linen bottoms are next on the list of versatile casual pant options. Bottom line: your options are limited if you lead a casual lifestyle and your preference is for pants, but you don’t like denim. Day dresses and skirts solve the problem, but they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.
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Left: White cotton “weekend pants” from Banana Republic are available in other colours, but I think they look best in white. Middle: Yellow cotton sateen pants from J Crew are an interesting casual bottom alternative. I fancy the idea of matching them with black, white, cream and cobalt blue. Right: If anyone wears pants like this elasticized brown linen style, I’ll have an apoplexy.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:53 am
Those brown pants really are bad. I keep a pair of white casual pants in my wardrobe for casual Friday and to wear while traveling in the summer.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:01 am
Hi Angie, another great article. This is very interesting for me, since while I adore denim, I’d like some more casual alternatives - I love to have choices.
Khakis- I hear you on them. I have two pairs that I wear as you described, which puts them into business casual.
Cargos - dislike them and have none. Nicole looks great in hers though!
Seersucker and such- totally agree with you. I have a pair in seersucker stripes ( white, caramel and pink) which I like, but rarely gets worn because it’s hard to match.
Linen- have two pairs, brown and tan, and wear them occasionally
Micro-check- have none, but am very excited to try the look. I haven’t seen them anywhere else other than Esprit tough.
Knit- strictly for yoga/lounging around the house in my case.
I am curious about your opinion on two more options - one is for fall/winter and is corduroy which I love and have plenty. The other one for summer is khakis in color other than beige- grey, for example, or pants in cotton sateen in various colors such as J Crew yellow ones you have posted.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:07 am
I just bought 5 pairs of casual pants at the GAP. I bought two pairs of a dark wash denim trousers and two pairs of black wear anywhere pants (follwing the rule that if you find something you love, buy two pairs) plus a pair of khakis in a dark khaki almost brown color. And about a week ago I bought two pairs of casual white pants at AnnTaylor Loft. There are some good casual pants out there right now.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:12 am
apoplexy! Oh Angie
I always face this problem of very limited casual pant options. I love the look and feel of linen but havent found linen pants which fit well mostly coz I’m curvy and they seem to be made for straighter body types. I do like the sound of the micro-check pants you mention. Are they made by any European store which sells / ships to the US ?
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:16 am
get the smelling salts - I’d buy and wear those brown pants happily. Why? I love linen. I love brown worn with white. They’d be great for the steamy, sodden weather we have here. Except for white pants and some jeans, I don’t look and feel my best in structured, hard finish pants like sateen. I want my pants to have at least some ability to slink/drape so that when I walk, they move. I hate knits.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 am
I just tried on a pair of black/cream microcheck pants from the sale rack at Kohls yesterday! I didn’t recognize the brand. I loved the check but the fabric was shiny which put me off in a casual pant. They seemed to demand a dressy top.
I have, pre YLF for me, purchased colored jeans for casual wear. I will try to replace my chocolate brown pair for fall, as they are shorter than ideal. I also get more mileage than I’d thought I would out of a perfectly fitted coral jean.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:42 am
This is why I wear skirts and dresses most of the time in the summer. While I do like denim, it’s too hot here for that. I did find a couple of twill pants lately that fit well, but I probably still won’t wear them until fall. Even though they are not as hot as denim, they are still not as cool as my skirts or dresses. I did see some micro check pants at Kohl’s about a month ago in a black and white gingham pattern. I’d have loved a pair of those, but they were the wrong length for me and they had only that one style of micro checks in the whole store! I have the wrong figure for cargoes and don’t like linen, so those are out. BTW, my mom loves to wear too-short linen pants like the ones in the photo. I’ve been trying to get her to wear longer ones but without success.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:51 am
Tanya, I’ll devote time to corduroy in Autumn. It ranks below jeans on the casual spectrum. I’m personally not a fan, but I have put clients in them from time to time. There’s a very fine wale corduroy available at JCrew in the matchstick style that looks sweet in cream. I’d consider tucking them into boots but that’s it. I’m on the fence.
I’m into the cotton sateen. It’s a nice alternative. The colours could be fun. Not as versatile, but fun all the same. I don’t fancy flat grey bottoms unless they’re an anthracite two- toned grey (or false plain). There has to substance and texture to the fabric when it’s in grey or beige.
Can’t offer any suggestions at the moment Mirah, but I’ll give you a shout.
Vildy, I hear you on the comfort and heat prevention aspect of the pull-on linen pants. But the length and style is atrocious. You’d probably love a pair of structured wide-leg linen pants. Perhaps that’s an option to investigate.
Halleluiah Joy and Joelle. Love the sound of those coral jeans, and skirts and day dresses are the way to go in hot, hot weather.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:04 am
A technical question: how do you deal with the proper length of the white jeans? It drives me mad to wash the after each time I use, as if I was going back straight from the mines..Or only my streets are so dirty?
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 am
LOL… I used to wear those linen pants; I gave them away a few years ago, after realizing they don’t flatter at all.
Summer pants for me (if you don’t count full length jeans - too hot to wear them now) include two white pairs of clamdiggers (one is more of a walk-short length); one pair denim clamdiggers; one pair seersucker walk shorts, one pair long white dress pants. That’s it. Otherwise it’s skirts and dresses.
Yes I have a nice pair of dress khakis from BR but I mostly save those for days I have to go into the office. I have other, more casual khakis but I haven’t worn them since finding YLF.
Oh… and I have one pair of Jcrew khaki shorts that are about 15 years old… this is what I wear when we go boating because we get too messy.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:05 am
Would love to see some pictures of the microcheck style pants, does someone have a link? Thanks!
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:05 am
I wore linenpants like that when I was pregnant. Loved them then because they were non-binging, comfy and one of the only non tent-like things that fit during the final month–August. To think about wearing them now? I’d rather be 9 months pregnant is August again…
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:07 am
Tanya, thanks for asking about corduroy, I was wondering the same thing. Angie, I’m glad you approve of the matchstick corduroy pants from J. Crew in the sea salt color–I had already spotted those and put them on my fall “to buy” list!
I love the yellow pants from JC you posted today. I was wondering about the cuffs, since I have such short legs. I know cuffs are something to avoid, but if I ordered the short size (31″ inseam) and wore espadrilles or sandals with a heel, would that be okay, or should I look for something else? I’d love to have one pair of casual pants that aren’t denim or corduroy that I could wear into the fall and then pull out again in the spring.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:13 am
I think khakis can be worn casually and look fine. With a pop of color like orange or blue featured in the pic with the white BR pants, its a nice casual look. What type of casual are you speaking of? Also J Crew and BR have some khakis with a bit of stretch in them (spandex) that gives them a cleaner look. I will leave cargos and linen pants alone - too much going on with cargos (am I preparing for battle or what) and I hate the wrinkles with linen.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:14 am
Thanks for giving us a chuckle this morning with the threat of an apoplexy if you see anyone in those brown pants. I’m not sure what that is, but it doesn’t sound good.
I have bought pants like that in the past thinking they would be perfect for being stuck in the car on a long trip. I never wore them and gave them to my mother and I’m sure she never wore them either.
You would have an apoplexy if you were to see all of the atrocious purchases I’ve made in the past.
Is that a little tiny smiley face I see at the bottom of this page under the thick green line? here
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:29 am
Vildy - you and I must be the only ones buying pants like that! :^) I live in linen and linen blends in the summer, late spring and early fall - Mine are a bit longer and a wider leg, however. I really like a brand called “Flax” and I also make some of mine. I really like the funky, slouchy, casual vibe of linen - I’m not the perfectly pressed girl most of the time.
San, I see the bit of smiley face there too.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:16 am
I did not mean to offend anyone who wears the linen pants shown on Angie’s blog today. The atrocious pants I have bought in the past were not linen and no nearly as nice as those shown here today. Mine were a khaki with drawstring waist, and funny pockets, really bad. They would not drape, just balloon at the butt.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I was just looking at these pants yesterday. Not sure if it’s really microcheck, but it fits the description:
http://www.benshermanusa.com/nshop/product.php?view=detail&productid=BE-GT5002&startColor=&page=viewall&groupName=WomensBottoms&dept=womens&both=yes
I think a light twill pant in a standout color like a bright green would be great, but I’d probably orphan it.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Hilarious, redhead!
Basia, can’t offer a solution I’m afraid. White is white. I wear white pants for 2 days - perhaps Seattle streets aren’t as grubby?
Antje, you’ve seen my black and cream micro-check pants. They aren’t a mainstream style because they’re very ‘80’s inspired and skinny. But versions of that is what I’m referring to.
Ana, you might need to sway me a tad more with respect to corduroy. I’m not 100% convinced yet! But my all out green light on the yellow cotton sateen pants and how you wish to wear them. Play around with the style and see if they work.
I wouldn’t describe wide linen pants as funky. Esoteric, classic, ethnic and arty-farty perhaps?
San, I’m thrilled you’re out of those ballooning drawstring casual pants ! Bless it.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Interesting. The only non denim pair of pants I have at the moment are khakis, but I wear them in a business casual sort of way most of the time to school. This summer I’m discovering that I’m in need of a pair of walk shorts. At the moment I have one pair that is too long and too big. That’s it. I want a pair that fit (and are the right length or hemmed to the right length) in dark denim and another pair in white. I guess I should start shopping end-of-season sales soon.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I have a pair of Eddie Bauer Bremertons (tall) that are quite versatile. The stretch is great and the cut is perfect, not too wide and not too narrow. Totally flat front and no pockets. They must be worn with a top on the outside (as opposed to anything tucked) or they look matronly. But with a top on the outside (I wear mine with a long, tunic-y white Gap blouse, a simple belt and flats) they work very well. They could also work with a crisp sleeveless top for a polished casual vibe.
http://www.eddiebauer.com/EB/Women/Pants-by-Fit/Bremerton-Fit-Pants/index.cat
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Ana, I was looking at those corduroys too! I actually want a pair of skinny charcoal ones for the fall. So far J Crew does not have the matchsticks in that color, but they do have the bootcut cords in charcoal, they call it ‘faded cement’. I hope that later in the season they will make the skinny ones in that color as well.
Angie, I can see that you do not like them, but they work for me in the winter- my lab is uber-casual anyway and I am still a student. Plus they keep me warmer than jeans and I am constantly freezing in the winter. I do not wear them anywhere else tough. I have couple of pairs in various colors, some are bootcuts and some trouser trouser cut, and only one skinny taupe pair that had an accident so I don’t know if they can be saved. Charcoal skinny pair would work with a lot on my closet.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:23 pm
What about the sea salt corduroy skinnies, my neon green Jessie blouse, navy sweater vest and red flats?
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Ana, your combination sounds yummy to me! I suspect Angie might say that it would be even ‘fabber’ with white/cream denim skinnies. Let’s wait and see
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I cannot for the life of me find cream skinnies, or else I’d be all over them! White skinnies would be great too, I think you’re right Tanya. I need to find a pair with a decent rise that fits okay. I might try the J. Crew white denim matchsticks.
I’d really love to have a pair of cream skinnies for winter though.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Please do try J Brand 14″ cigarettes in white Ana. They did work for me.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Oh thanks Tanya! I’ll see if I can find them online.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Kyle, I’ve also worn the Eddie Bauer Bremertons although have none that fit me right now. I love the side zip and that I don’t have to iron them. I especially get lots of winter wear from the charcoal color. They aren’t as fashion forward as skinnys, but very reliable casual pants. The legs are described as “slightly tapered” but they look like a straight leg on me.
There are other fits available in the same great fabric. It has some stretch but doesn’t bag or “grow” on you.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Tanya, we shall have our corduroy conversations in Autumn. I’m not entirely convinced!
Ana, the colour combo of your outfit sounds delicious. I’m unsure whether a Summery cotton blouse works with cords. Knitwear is good with cords. But I haven’t seen these JC cords and don’t know how Wintery they look. Tanya is right – I prefer the sound of the outfit with cream denim skinnies.
As for cream denim, they’ll surface. The BR pair didn’t work right?
I’d have to see the Bremerton khakis worn the way you describe, Kyle. They still look matronly and dated to me. But I’ll reserve judgment until I see you post the outfit on our forum!
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:48 am
[...] The Casual Pants Dilemma–from You Look Fab [...]
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:27 am
I love cargo pants
(you said I’m a straight-ish hourglass tending towards inverted triangle). The point is exactly as it says - they shouldn’t be rigid or too voluminous. Soft is the key word. 
Fine cotton works great for casual outfits - I like the ones with ankle ties, they can be worn with soft little flats and simple top for a very comfortable Chinese inspired look.
I also like the safari\tribal motif, that can be done, too. I like pairing the “Indiana Jones”-like khaki or beige cargos with metallic bronze ethnic thong sandals and a simple white shirt, sleeves rolled up to the elbow. Not a very feminine look, but it flatters me for some reason.
And silk blend cargos in drapey fabric can look sooo dressy with the right footwear - I have a pair in hot pink with satin decorations.
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:59 pm
hahaha - I like corduroy, too. Wouldn’t ya know it.
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I bought some casual pants two years ago, got rid of them last year, and for the time being, have put a moratorium on them. For the work place I would rather wear dark skinnies, a skirt or a dress and in my free time, they just don’t work for me.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:52 am
This article was spot on. I’ve always struggled with this fashion issue and you’ve nailed it with your descriptions. I hate to say it, but I think the solution is a skirt instead.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Aside from walkshorts–which I love–I struggle with casual pants.
I prefer to dress up jeans or dress down a nicer pair of trousers. I also like adding a turtleneck to dressier walk shorts and flats for a into-fall look. By switching up accessories and changing the tone of an outfit I find it easier to stretch my small wardrobe and dodge the casual pants dilemia.
July 14th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
[...] and tips on how to be stylish and dress well. A few of my favorite recent posts include one about casual pants and another about ten must-haves for spring and summer this year. The blog is informative, [...]
July 18th, 2008 at 6:10 am
[...] can’t imagine my wardrobe without jeans, pants and cropped pants. They are the quintessential practical solution. As much as I like to throw [...]
August 21st, 2008 at 6:48 am
[...] Select a leg silhouette that works for you and commit to a heel height. I like micro-check pants best matched with plain tops, but prints will work if you choose them carefully. Add a denim jacket when it’s chilly and check-mate, you’ve beaten the casual pants dilemma. [...]
August 21st, 2008 at 8:16 am
I managed to get rid of most of my casual pants for the reasons Angie stated. Last week, however, I tried on a pair of tan cargo pants from Laundry and, since I am an inverted triangle like Angie mentioned, they actually do work! I think they might be a nice bridging piece for the fall since the weather can be so unpredictable. By the way, I love the site and I always read the comments sections too. I have learned a great deal from the youlookfab site! Thanks!