May 29, 2023
It doesn’t feel very summery still, at least in Chicago. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be thinking about what we will wear when the weather DOES get warm…
Photo – muvee
One of my new French style books (Le Dressing Idéal by Anne Montecer) suggests jumpsuits for Spring…
Uh, NO. I have hauled the top half of a jumpsuit over quite enough toilet floors in my life…
but I really like her writing, as a general rule – she has a blog too!
But a matching top and pants? Maybe. Or maybe just the print pants. There’s a lot of concern that pants in a printed fabric will make your bottom half look larger, but I think that the distracting quality of the pattern makes it tough to evaluate the size of a body part.
This print is subtle, and has a vertical and diagonal feel to it – these qualities will both distract from any sense of magnification…
Blue bow earrings – Milou Jewelry; white cardigan – Lands’ End; radiant navy tee shirt – Lands’ End; tote bag – J.Crew; espadrilles – LifeStride; navy print pants – Boden
all of the flowers are blooming…
Image – Royal City Nursery
This is the same general idea, but in red. Note that you can wear pretty much whatever suits the temperature – start with a tank top, but carry a sweatshirt with you!
And note the 2nd print – the scarf print is both different, and much larger in scale, so it works well with the pants:
Hoodie – Lands’ End; earrings – Eden + Elie; white tank top – Lands’ End; striped scarf – Alex Mill; print pants – Boden; sandals – Jeffrey Campbell
throw me down into this!
Image – Gardenia.net
What if you can’t live without wearing black? This is still possible! Of course, it wouldn’t be silly at all to find a top in a suitable accent color too!
Cardigan – J.Crew; earrings – Swarovski; print top – J.Crew; rope tote – J.Crew; print pants – J.Crew; sandals – Hälse Footwear
You know that cut daisies are about the cheapest cut flowers you can find, and that they last for weeks? Even the buds will bloom for you…
Image – Gastography
More navy, but with an interesting twist – there IS a matching top for these pants, but maybe you’re more comfortable with a matching tote bag? (why not get both, and give yourself options)
Also, this color print is described as periwinkle, although there wasn’t really anything periwinkle to go with it. Maybe you can find something perfect…
Cardigan – J.Crew; earrings – Talbots; white tee – J.Crew; print pants – J.Crew; tote – J.Crew; sandals – Mephisto
Can ants be pollinators?
Image – Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Maybe you can’t resist some jewelry in a pretty color, and you want to show it against a simple white background…
Note that these tops are NOT suggested to be worn together – this is a “2 outfit” idea…
Necklace – Talbots; earrings – Talbots; white sweater – L.L.Bean; white linen tunic – Vitamin A.; print pants – Boden; sandals – Beach by Matisse
Poppies… pronounced in my best Wicked Witch of the West voice!
Image – Meyer Landscape
I have 2 pairs of black and white dotted pants (how does that happen?) and last summer I wore them constantly. I’m surprised by how much I enjoy wearing them!
love,
Janice
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Gorgeous photos as usual. I wouldn’t want to be making the decisions you do of which photos to include on the post! I like all the outfits today. Thank you Janice!
Oh Sheila, it’s so easy! I look at things, and if they’re pretty, I share them! There are so many beautiful photographs available now…
hugs,
Janice
Janice, thank you for posting even on Memorial Day.
I love a good pair of printed pants!
I love the inspirational photos and the outfits, thanks Janice. And the idea of wearing jewelry you love but haven’t thought to just do it!
Cyndi
Ok I LOVE the navy and white but I would think that the matching patterns next to each other WOULD make my tush look bigger in all 3 dimensions LOL! I am not offended about my size; it is a fact. I’d probably do just the tote as I’m sure it fits lol no matter what my size!!
CONFIDENCE makes the outfit for sure! Janice, I love these looks thank you!
I love colored/patterned pants! I never really understood why until I was chatting with a dear friend who has the opposite body as me. I am an inverted triangle and I would say she is more of a pear. She was saying she loves seeing me in colored pants but doesn’t love them on her and I was saying I love all the cute patterned tops she wears but don’t always love them on me. However, now that I’m learning about different sleeves and necklines, I’m wearing a lot more interesting tops. I like v or scoop necks and sleeves that aren’t fluttery or ruffly. Then I can pull off some pattern on top as well. These outfits are great Janice!!!
Chance meet up with a willowy friend yesterday at a bridal shower. She was wearing a pair of printed wide leg pants in a silky fabric and she looked stunning. Accented with a navy hip length tunic ( also in a flowy fabric and navy patent leather pointy toed sling backs with a chunky heel. The whole look was effortlessly elegant ( and my friend is that <3 :) Interestingly she told me that these pants were her ‘ new shorts’. She now is of the opinion that shorts are fine at home ( d’accord) but her legs aren’t what they were and feels the pants are a great compromise so she has purchased a few pairs in different patterns for the summer. I think hers were from Zara. I am a head shorter and a bottom wider and not sure how those pants would look on me. Maybe in a slightly cropped length ( above ankle). The longer length, less clingy top would also work to balance the wider printed bottoms so I’ll have to head to Zara and try them on.
I like the navy and white Boden pair shown.
Try as I might patterned trousers do nothing for my derriere! I’m best keeping the pattern up top. I like patterned dresses and skirts though. However, textured trousers are my thing – slub linen, crinkle cotton or plisse.
It has been a glorious weekend and Bank Holiday in the UK. Very warm and sunny with a light breeze. If only it would stay like this instead of getting baking hot.
I love the navy & white. I’m fond of print pants in general. Additionally, I like these for being made “properly”, with the print lined up correctly when the fabric is cut. As a sewing person, it’s a pet peeve & really grates me when the cutting out is done randomly. Thanks Janice.
YES! It’s a big NO for me on jumpsuits (and overalls). In my hurry to catch a train connection in Grand Central Station, to meet a young man at Yale, I managed to drop one of the straps of my Levi overalls (it was the late ‘70s) in the toilet. No time to do anything about it but desperately squeeze it between several changes of paper towels. It makes me shudder a bit when I think about it.
LOL!!!!! Not fond of overalls or jumpsuits either, I like how they look but the thought of getting them up and down just gives me the creeps.
Love the first navy set, simple and stylish!
I wore dungarees in the late 70’s. I often used to hit my head with the metal buckles when I flipped them over. Ouch!
I believe that I spent the entire junior year of college in a sweatshirt and overalls… That was easy!
hugs,
Janice
Love all these looks. I know I’m late commenting (5 days at the lake with no Wi-Fi/internet) but the artist with the taupe, gray and blush is my very very favorite. As I’ve grayed and my skin tone has softened these are my best colors. The picture reminded me of the cover from a pattern.