Struggling with work pants [new pics in OP]

[ohgillian]

This is no news to anyone who has seen my pics lately, lol.

So, I get that flared or too-wide-boot-cut pants aren't flattering on me. Here are the J Crew Campbell; I don't think they're flattering (even if hemmed) -- I feel like they made my hips like huge. I do have wider hips than in the past; I've birthed 2 kids. I feel comfortable in my body, but also don't want pants that scream HEY LOOK AT THESE HIPS.  

I managed to get my kid to take a decent shot of me in the Campbells. Obviously not styled with a shirt or anything, so not a stellar pic of how they'd look. But I am really not feeling them. Opinions?  (ETA: I'm 5'2" and 115)



Today I'm hoping to actually go to the mall and actually try on clothes in person. I want to try on the Express Editor barely boot cut, which I think are narrower than the other Editors I own. Open to other suggestions. Thanks for any feedback!

ETA: I did get two pencil skirts I feel good about; then last weekend I fell and skinned my knee like a four year old. So those are on hold for the moment...


ETA: The black are Express Editor Barely Boot in 4S; the gray are Express Columnist Barely Boot in 4S, but still need hemmed. The gray are folded under in the pic. Feedback? Other than "learn how to rotate your photos"?

 

[Deleted]

I lurk on this board but rarely post. I appreciate your threads because I'm also trying to figure out what outfits work for me. Sorry if that's creepy!

Anyway, I actually think the hips look fine and not unflattering at all. It does look like there is a bit of extra fabric around your knees, maybe because the pants are a bit too long? If hemmed, that extra fabric would still be there. I think you can find a better pant, but these aren't awful. (I would wear them - but take that with a grain of salt, I'm not that stylish lol).

[notatree]

Aug 4, 2016 7:11:28 GMT -5 ohgillian said:

This is no news to anyone who has seen my pics lately, lol.

So, I get that flared or too-wide-boot-cut pants aren't flattering on me. Here are the J Crew Campbell; I don't think they're flattering (even if hemmed) -- I feel like they made my hips like huge. I do have wider hips than in the past; I've birthed 2 kids. I feel comfortable in my body, but also don't want pants that scream HEY LOOK AT THESE HIPS.  

I managed to get my kid to take a decent shot of me in the Campbells. Obviously not styled with a shirt or anything, so not a stellar pic of how they'd look. But I am really not feeling them. Opinions? 



Today I'm hoping to actually go to the mall and actually try on clothes in person. I want to try on the Express Editor barely boot cut, which I think are narrower than the other Editors I own. Open to other suggestions. Thanks for any feedback!

ETA: I did get two pencil skirts I feel good about; then last weekend I fell and skinned my knee like a four year old. So those are on hold for the moment...

Have you tried Limited pants? I love them!

I think hemming the jcrew would change the look. Also have you tried tunics over the jcrew Campbell?

[ohgillian]

Aug 4, 2016 8:42:10 GMT -5 @lapsha said:

I lurk on this board but rarely post. I appreciate your threads because I'm also trying to figure out what outfits work for me. Sorry if that's creepy!

Anyway, I actually think the hips look fine and not unflattering at all. It does look like there is a bit of extra fabric around your knees, maybe because the pants are a bit too long? If hemmed, that extra fabric would still be there. I think you can find a better pant, but these aren't awful. (I would wear them - but take that with a grain of salt, I'm not that stylish lol).

Not creepy. I feel like I don't have any idea what looks good on me -- and when I can tell something is "off", I can't tell why. So the responses I've been getting here are helpful. Have you considered posting some pics? As you can tell you get lots of good feedback.

Re: these pants, yeah, lots of extra fabric there. I think that's probably because I just had them folded up. But these were pricey to me, so I'm going to return them. 

[kris356]

Honestly I think they look good, they definitely don't scream look at my hips. I agree that hemming them will make the "lay" better since they will not be all bunched up at the bottom.

Also, I would order the Campbell in petite since it may solve a lot of the bulk issue. You can return to the store for free.

[ohgillian]

Aug 4, 2016 9:12:28 GMT -5 kris356 said:

Honestly I think they look good, they definitely don't scream look at my hips. I agree that hemming them will make the "lay" better since they will not be all bunched up at the bottom.

Also, I would order the Campbell in petite since it may solve a lot of the bulk issue. You can return to the store for free.

Thanks for the help. I am going to the store to return today. These are 2 regular in bistretch cotton; I'll order a 2P in the same. Sadly, they're backordered until mid-September, but oh well.

[kristenbell]

I think your hips look proportional to your body but there's too much fabric in general. I've tried the Campbell and found them to bunch or bag at the knees. I like the Old Navy Pixie for skinny work pants, have you tried those?

[lostarz]

Yeah I think the hips look fine. I don't know how tall you are but a petite or short might help. I'm about 5'5" and just recently ordered a petite jean because of length...I don't consider myself petite though.

Also, Nordstrom has this cool thing called "my true fit" or something like that. Basically you input information about a pair of pants you have that fit you perfect that you really love and then when you're looking at pants (I think shirts too) it tells you what your perfect fit would be. That's how I ended up ordering the petite jeans and they fit perfect!

[house]

Aug 4, 2016 9:33:02 GMT -5 ohgillian said:

Aug 4, 2016 9:12:28 GMT -5 kris356 said:

Honestly I think they look good, they definitely don't scream look at my hips. I agree that hemming them will make the "lay" better since they will not be all bunched up at the bottom.

Also, I would order the Campbell in petite since it may solve a lot of the bulk issue. You can return to the store for free.

Thanks for the help. I am going to the store to return today. These are 2 regular in bistretch cotton; I'll order a 2P in the same. Sadly, they're backordered until mid-September, but oh well.

If you are not petite frame and just want the shorter length for the pants then I'd also order 4P to compare. If a Regular 2 fits you fine, then a 2P will have a short rise compared to the Regular SZ 2 and won't fit the same. I used to work at Talbots and helped many customers with fitting and this was true for their clothes. I however can't help if this isn't true about J. Crew clothes. 

[gilmoregirl]

I think they look good other than the length. Did you try on the Martie at all? Those are really flattering for work though I think they are like an ankle length.

[notatree]

Express pants look great!

[kris356]

They look good.

[magdala]

I am 5'3" and have to buy petite pants to prevent bunching, too. I would return the Campbell pants because of the bunching. If they are available in a petite, they might work better. The black and the grey pants from Express both work well. You are right, the grey pants needs to be hemmed. Unfortunately, sizes vary a lot from brand to brand. My closet has clothes in sizes 4 to 16..and these clothes fit me.

BTW, I love those pointy black shoes!

[Deleted]

Your new pants look great, especially the black ones!

[kristenbell]

Thumbs up to the Express pants.

[holdingthestars]

I think both pairs from Express look great!

[scout8]

I really like the express pants on you.

Your hips look nice in the J Crew pants, but those pants just don't fit you right. I wouldn't give up on that style of pant, but try them in the petite and/or a similar pant from a different store.

[ohgillian]

Sorry for the delayed response; I was travelling for several days. Thanks for all the help and feedback! I am glad people like the Express pants because I also feel they look good. I'm hoping to buy a pair of jeans this week, then get everything up to the tailor for hemming.

Btw, I went to JCrew and tried on the Campbell in a smaller size, but not petite because they didn't have petite instore. I also showed the photo above to the woman in store. She was horrified. "Those pants should NOT fit like that." lol.