pants – the Spiff

Pants to Get You Through Summer (Yes, Pants)

July 7, 2017 No Comments

summer outfit, ootd, forever21, west town mall, west town mall style consultant, what to wear this summer, what to wear instead of shorts

Bugs.

If you can’t find one thing to love about winter, at least you can be thankful that in cooler weather you don’t have to contend with bugs.

I’ve already taught my 2 year old the phrase, “Eww bugs” in hopes that I’ll deter any future bug show and tells. Doubtful it will work. He handed me a beetle the other day. :-| It was in our bed.

*shutters*

You might think I’m crazy for wearing pants in the summer heat, but truly I’d rather be hot then bug-bitten.

The pants in the picture are my Fourth of July Party Pants. I originally blogged about them here – that’s how long it’s been since I bought these party puppies on a whim from Forever21 in West Town Mall.

The nice thing about them? They’re lightweight, without giving away too much information as some white pants can. And while you would think striped pants would be a pretty bold pattern to wear on your lower half, to me, they’re quite complimentary to the endless amount of solid shirts that I own.

The visual bonus is – vertical stripes make your legs look longer!

Here are some more pairs (more palazzo style) for your wearing pleasure this summer. Here are some crops from New York & Co; and another wide leg version from Charlotte Russe!

Looking for more chic alternatives to shorts! Look no further…

summer, summertime, west town mall, Why this works

The Pants that Flatter Everyone

July 6, 2015 No Comments

I’ve always wanted to be able to pick pocket.

Not because I want to steal things from people, but because I think being so slick with your movements and expertly diverting the attention of your target is so cool and smooth. Thankfully I can channel this weird desire for a life of crime into how I get dressed.

Picking and pairing clothes that flatter your body involves being a master of illusion, because we get to divert attention from where we don’t love to where we do.

And while there are rules and guidelines for every body type, every once in a while there’s a piece that really flatters everyone. Like fuller pants.

Think of this fuller pants shape as the magical jeans you could form a sisterhood around.

A fuller shaped pant or jean balances out the shape of someone who is bigger on top, they give your body shape if you’re straight up and down, and when worn to the ground with high heels they make even the most petite legs look miles long. You can also pull them off if you have a bigger bum, but be sure to pair them with a jacket or sweater (to balance you out) and always always wear them with something that highlights your tiny waistline.

Here are the options I’ve picked out for you – all found at West Town Mall.

1. The Limited: Show off your best summer heels with these full culottes.

2. Banana Republic: They’re cool in every sense and would look great with a light weight summer tee and necklaces.

3. American Eagle: Loose and comfortable? Yes! Wear them with a tighter top to balance out their flow.

4. GAP: Office appropriate and perfect for summer especially when paired with a tucked in shirt and blazer.

5. Dillard’s: A dressier version of the linen pant, which means you could wear these to all kinds of summer functions.

Think about this too – their flow-y fit really mimics the airiness of a maxi dress so they are great for warmer weather (especially on that very rare occasion where you haven’t shaved your legs)!

Maternity note: I bought a pair from Gap that have an elastic waistband so I’ve been able to wear them now throughout the pregnancy and later – which is awesome!

Fashion, summer, trends, weekend outfit, west town mall

White Hot Pants That Won’t Show Your Business

June 24, 2015 No Comments

We all know the problem with white pants – they can get a little too “show and tell” *ifyaknowhatimean.

We want to look cool and crisp in their clean bright effortlessness, but we certainly don’t want our backside and Hello Kitty underwear on full display.

Thankfully, it’s possible to have great white pants without having to leave a room walking backwards. I’ve gathered four options from stores in West Town Mall to show you the different cuts and brands that give you comfortable coverage without cutting out the cute.

Ann Taylor: These are actually eyelet pants, so they’ve got a great texture to them which will help mask any imperfections and panty lines. I also really like their relaxed look!

The Limited: For a more jean-like feel, go for these. With a skinnier silhouette they’ll play perfectly against billowy tops (or kimonos!).

New York & Co.: A long white pant is probably my favorite, and I can personally vouch for the greatness of New York & Company’s white pants. These would work in both the office and after hours with their slack-like shape. The material is heavy enough to give you coverage, but light enough to keep you cool.

White House Black Market: These are wrinkle resistant! AH! That’s so nice. And they’re the perfect length for showing off your cute summer shoes and pedicure!

If you’ve got your eye on a pair of white pants that aren’t in this list, I strongly advise you to read reviews. You’ll be able to learn a lot about the pants and whether or not to buy your size or not. Especially if you’re buying online, knowing if they run true to size really helps, and most of the time people leave that in the reviews.

For more on what’s trendy this season and whether or not you should incorporate it, check here, here and here!

Fashion, outfit planning, summertime

Fun With Pants

June 23, 2014 No Comments

Cute, comfortable and cheap are three words that don’t often exist in the same sentence.

But they’re all chilling together when it comes to describing these $7 pants I picked up from the Target clearance rack. Which is lesson one in this blog: always take time to skim the clearance rack because you never know what gems are waiting (just be sure you try it on before leaving the store, especially if the return policy is tricky with things on super sale).

I love these tuxedo pants because they’ve got that awesome stripe down the side, giving them an edge over just boring black pants (which I admittedly own too many of).

I secretly love these because they’re really really comfortable. They’re soft and flexible and have an elastic waste band making them perfect to sit in all day long. Which in turn makes them perfect pants for the office.

This whole outfit – the blazer with the t-shirt and fun pants – it’s what I would want to wear on a magazine cover because it perfectly embodies my style. Easy going, cool, playful. This could be my uniform, people.

What would your uniform be? If you’re trying to discover your style – the language you want to speak to the world – think about the one piece (or pieces) that you would wear on a magazine cover. Or what you’d wear to meet an old friend that hasn’t seen you (or your Facebook) in years. What would you wear to represent you?

Think about it, then build pieces around that one you love. From there you can grow an entire closet! But while you’re searching for all of that, shop the Target clearance rack and keep an eye out for easy cotton pants like these. They’re so comfortable!