Finally after dragging it’s heels, Fall has arrived. I have been waiting for that moment when I could wear my black leather jacket and my lace-up boots. The cool crisp air pumps me up and I feel the excitement of something ending and the patient winter wait for something new. This state is a pleasant alternative to being overwhelmed and feeling overheated with too much work. It is hard to believe the semester is half over and it is only now getting to the point where a jacket or a coat is needed. It is time to get out the winter wardrobe.
I can now wear my beautiful wide leg wool pants that swing when I walk and give me a swagger that matches my newfound energy. I think these kind of pants, unlike skinny pants, really must be called trousers. Trousers brings to mind beautiful tailoring, languid and lovely draping and seem somehow provocative because of gender bending connotations. I am reminded of strong women, like Coco Chanel, Sarah Bernhardt and Kathrine Hepburn, who wore the trousers literally and figuratively with great individuality, rebelliousness and personal flair. Trousers have an interesting historical relationship with women.
I am in a trousers mood, I feel a need to be energetic, comfortable and strong as I gear up for the next half of the academic year and more exciting adventures of Accidental Icon. But I also want to feel feminine, romantic and free. The perfect compromise is the wide leg pant/trouser. Particularly popular on the Fall 2015 runways, they can be worn everywhere and dressed up or down. I have to say I am more than a little enamored with the way Dries Van Noten does them in his Fall 2015 collection.There is of course no one who does the wide leg trouser like the Japanese designers I love. And I will leave you with a quote that suggests the reason why.
“For me, a woman who is absorbed in her work, who does not care about gaining one’s favor, strong yet subtle at the same time, is essentially more seductive. The more she hides and abandons her femininity, the more it emerges from the very heart of her existence. A pair of brilliantly cut cotton trousers can be more beautiful than a gorgeous silk gown.”
How do you “wear the pants” when it comes to your personal style?
Oh, wide legs all the way, or at the very least slouchy and tailored. I am a trousers person, always. For wide legs, I adore Protagonist’s Fall 2014 version in soft grey flannel wool. I also love my gigantic crop o ed and quilted Comme des Garçons. The latter are a bit too warm to wear in non-freezing temps, but soon…
Fishmonkey.blogspot.com
Would I love to see those CDG pants.
Oh, wide legs all the way, or at the very least slouchy and tailored. I am a trousers person, always. For wide legs, I adore Protagonist’s Fall 2014 version in soft grey flannel wool. I also love my gigantic crop o ed and quilted Comme des Garçons. The latter are a bit too warm to wear in non-freezing temps, but soon…
Fishmonkey.blogspot.com
Would I love to see those CDG pants.
What a great shot! : ) With an eye peaking out of your jacket.
I find wide leg pants hard to style for my short stature. They are fine with heels, but otherwise they make me look too much like a oompa loompa. I don’t do well in loads of fabric. I feel buried and invisible.
bisous
Suzanne
I love that attitude, what a great perspective!
Interesting perspective that lots of fabric makes you feel invisible. I do love the peeking eye too.
What a great shot! : ) With an eye peaking out of your jacket.
I find wide leg pants hard to style for my short stature. They are fine with heels, but otherwise they make me look too much like a oompa loompa. I don’t do well in loads of fabric. I feel buried and invisible.
bisous
Suzanne
Interesting perspective that lots of fabric makes you feel invisible. I do love the peeking eye too.
The pants are wonderful and love the shape of that jacket too. Not to mention your saucy hair-whip! 🙂
I’ve just purchased some wide leg wool trousers and am still experimenting with styling them. The silhouette is fun but requires completely different tops than a narrow pant. I love that Yohji Yamamoto quote. I often feel most feminine in clothing that doesn’t follow my shape necessarily but that has lots of swing and movement.
That is a really great point about styling the pants, how you have to adapt tops to compliment. I chose the jacket because it is cinched at the waist for that very reason.
The pants are wonderful and love the shape of that jacket too. Not to mention your saucy hair-whip! 🙂
I’ve just purchased some wide leg wool trousers and am still experimenting with styling them. The silhouette is fun but requires completely different tops than a narrow pant. I love that Yohji Yamamoto quote. I often feel most feminine in clothing that doesn’t follow my shape necessarily but that has lots of swing and movement.
That is a really great point about styling the pants, how you have to adapt tops to compliment. I chose the jacket because it is cinched at the waist for that very reason.
I’m with Suzanne, for the same reason: just too short to feel anything but blocky and chopped-off in really wide trouser legs. But I think it’s mostly a problem finding designers who know that a smaller frame needs proportionally sized clothing, even if that clothing is meant to be oversized. So I wear skinny jeans, which look like boyfriend jeans on me, and expect that some of the "straight" legs in more flowing fabric are going to be quite baggy enough to have that nice drape I see on women of larger build and stature.
Today’s photo is wonderful! Conveys the mood of your essay exactly.
One of the reasons I like Japanese designers is that they make clothing for smaller women, including wide leg pants that have proportions more suitable for us.
I’m with Suzanne, for the same reason: just too short to feel anything but blocky and chopped-off in really wide trouser legs. But I think it’s mostly a problem finding designers who know that a smaller frame needs proportionally sized clothing, even if that clothing is meant to be oversized. So I wear skinny jeans, which look like boyfriend jeans on me, and expect that some of the "straight" legs in more flowing fabric are going to be quite baggy enough to have that nice drape I see on women of larger build and stature.
Today’s photo is wonderful! Conveys the mood of your essay exactly.
One of the reasons I like Japanese designers is that they make clothing for smaller women, including wide leg pants that have proportions more suitable for us.
Love the look of wide-leg pants – my particular favourites are the beach pyjamas – I just want to hang out on the promenade with these lovelies.
http://thedreamstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Colorized-early-30s-postcard-of-fashionable-beach-pyjama-wearing-holiday-ers-on-the-Cote-DAzure-2-500×324.jpg
Fabulous in every way! Folks check out this blog, this woman is great storyteller.
Love the look of wide-leg pants – my particular favourites are the beach pyjamas – I just want to hang out on the promenade with these lovelies.
http://thedreamstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Colorized-early-30s-postcard-of-fashionable-beach-pyjama-wearing-holiday-ers-on-the-Cote-DAzure-2-500×324.jpg
Fabulous in every way! Folks check out this blog, this woman is great storyteller.
Another incredible surprise. Your hair has wings and you are soaring!
I seldom wear wide leg pants, but I would love to experiment. Perhaps I don’t have the perfect pair, which would make me feel like you describe in your beautifully written post. I am officially on the lookout!
With your lovely frame you will look fabulous. And with that new crown of grey, I can’t wait to see the final look.
Another incredible surprise. Your hair has wings and you are soaring!
I seldom wear wide leg pants, but I would love to experiment. Perhaps I don’t have the perfect pair, which would make me feel like you describe in your beautifully written post. I am officially on the lookout!
With your lovely frame you will look fabulous. And with that new crown of grey, I can’t wait to see the final look.
I’m only 5ft 4, but wear wide trousers with flat shoes (actually wear most cuts of pants, but never skirts/dresses or heels). I think they’re fine, the trick is to avoid fabric that’s too stiff, which can get boxy. Also having them slightly cropped seems to eli with the swing. And even if they don’t look optimum – who cares, they are such fun to wear!
Alice
I love that attitude, what a great perspective!
I caught that: "…when it comes to your personal style…" (smile)
Always on the search for the perfect pair that can adjust to the midsection, the waist and the times. No Jessica Rabbit here.
This photo shows action. Love it.
And I paid with a sore neck for two days!!
First look – ooooh, that hair! I thought for a moment you had styled it like that with products. Heh.
Yes, pants as a word is flat, and after blogging I can’t escape it’s UK usage for underpants. Sometimes, though, it fits my mood. I agree with the quote.
Wide leg trousers, I looove wide-leg trousers, with heels, with army boots, with running shoes. They are challenging on a windy day but worth it. I’m glad you’re enjoying these so much.
Thanks so much, I have to say I do love my hair! I have not a moments that I do not love it being grey and it has retained it’s thickness and straightness. So glad to find another wide leg trouser lover.
And I paid with a sore neck for two days!!
First look – ooooh, that hair! I thought for a moment you had styled it like that with products. Heh.
Yes, pants as a word is flat, and after blogging I can’t escape it’s UK usage for underpants. Sometimes, though, it fits my mood. I agree with the quote.
Wide leg trousers, I looove wide-leg trousers, with heels, with army boots, with running shoes. They are challenging on a windy day but worth it. I’m glad you’re enjoying these so much.
Thanks so much, I have to say I do love my hair! I have not a moments that I do not love it being grey and it has retained it’s thickness and straightness. So glad to find another wide leg trouser lover.
I highly recommend the Everlane version!
Hair, earrings — LOVE
Indeed the photos are very good. For me (I am a person of details instead of big pictures…. It takes all kinds..) it is a shame I cannot see more of the items. But as art pictures they are good. And of course so is your outfit. I don’t think you will wear anything I am not going to like.
Greetje
Thanks for the comment. I think you got it right that I like to post art photography and a story not so much outfit of the day. That being said adding shots where you can see details might be good.
Indeed the photos are very good. For me (I am a person of details instead of big pictures…. It takes all kinds..) it is a shame I cannot see more of the items. But as art pictures they are good. And of course so is your outfit. I don’t think you will wear anything I am not going to like.
Greetje
Thanks for the comment. I think you got it right that I like to post art photography and a story not so much outfit of the day. That being said adding shots where you can see details might be good.