Seeing Spots (and Wide Legged Pants!)
What is it about wide-legged pants that's so fun? The movement? The dramatic leg line? Or perhaps they're no more fun than other pants, we've just all been shrink wrapped into skinny jeans for so long that a swishy wide leg feels exotic. Whatever it may be, I've been in the mood for some movement-capable pants.
I'm back In The Lab for today's post!
Let's get right to it:
THE EVENT: A busy, out-in-the-world workday.
THE BROKEN RULE: For awhile now, I've seen style bloggers rocking a cropped straight or wide legged pant with a flat bootie. The cropped pant sometimes stops before the boot begins. Sometimes there's a visible sock. There is definitely no long, continuous, monochromatic leg line. And not surprisingly, I have been convinced that, as cool as I think this trend might look, I can't pull it off. Not only that, but I shouldn't pull it off, because of another rule I often follow and have yet to discuss here: Trends are fleeting and a poor investment.
Now, I don't deny the validity of this statement. From an economic standpoint, only purchasing trendy clothing is a poor investment. However, not purchasing any trendy clothing is substantially less fun. (Trust me, I've really tested this one out.)
THE OUTFIT: I embraced the trend. I wore cropped wide-legged pants with visible socks. I started with these Loft pants (with buttons down the side!) that I've been harboring for awhile now. I added a black racerback tank, black booties, and a white cardigan with black polka dots. And the visible socks? Black with little white polka dots. I also was running rather late when I put on this outfit, which became a forcing function. There was no turning back. Or looking in a mirror. I pulled on the socks and booties, and ran out the door.
In hindsight, I could have pushed a little harder into the visible sock realm.... I also could have cleaned my boots.
THE EXPERIENCE: As I emerged from my car at the first stop of the day, the client I was meeting said, "GREAT PANTS!" so I suppose it's safe to say this experiment started off well. As the meeting began, I was grateful that the pants were both swishy and not too tight. I was both comfortable and feeling fancy.
On this particular day, there was a brisk, chilly breeze. The breeze went right up my cropped pants, and my patterned socks weren't tall enough to add much in the way of insulation. Luckily, the outdoors portion of my day was short.
I left that first meeting, and continued the day with work errands. I was alone, except for a quick run to the grocery store. No one there called out my visible socks. I pit-stopped at the Starbucks drive-through for sustenance, and though my car is small and easy to see inside of, the pants/socks weren't visible to the barista.
The workday eventually ended, and Christian came home. We'll be traveling to see his family over New Years, and as I was asking him what I should pack, he said, "this looks nice," gesturing toward my outfit. In the past, he's been skeptical of my more adventurous pants, so I counted that as a roaring endorsement!
The location of Izzy in both of these pictures is cracking me up.
I imagine she's hiding behind that wall so I don't catch her rolling her eyes at me.
THE CONCLUSION: I see now that this outfit was far more subtle than it felt as I left the house. You really have to spend a lot of time staring before you realize that the sweater and the socks are inverse of each other. Most of the look is black. But, as understated as it turned out to be, I loved this outfit! I felt work appropriate, but with a kick. I love, love, love the button detail on these cropped pants, and though they may have been hard to spot, I loved the peak of polka dot socks.
As has become standard, I started testing out a new rule in black. (As I did before here.) I'm excited to try to this look again, but punch it up a bit with some color!
Now, I'm off to speed pack! Happy Holidays!
