The other day on the podcast, I was discussing my long-held desire to wear more colors—something that intimidates me greatly—and Jenn had the best suggestion: wear the color on your bottom half. This makes absolute sense to me somehow, so I dug up some options, starting with these carpenter pants from Gap in a truly perky green.
I’m pretty sure I’ll pull the trigger on these mustard yellow cords—they look so slouchy cool and would be great with a black turtleneck sweater.
Lavender is kind of happening at the moment (I’m a bit obsessed with this puffer, for instance) and the color looks so excellently disco-70s on these wide-leg corduroys.
A really wide-leg pant in deepest wine red.
I love the salmon pink of these chinos.
Okay, I pulled the trigger on the yellow Free People cords, and buyer beware: The color pictured on their site is deeply misleading. They are a *much* more muted mustard color, bordering on beige. So disappointing. Why do online retailers do this?? Drives me nuts!
Regarding the post last week about graphic sweatshirts: I ordered the black one with the tie-dye accent and it is the perfect weight. Too-heavy sweatshirts are so smothering to me. (How’d I get so picky? Old age.). Anyway, it’s so cute! I’m always looking for things to throw on over yoga clothes. And Anthropologie got it to my house within 2 days of ordering. Thanks for the tip, Kim.
I have a couple of pairs of Gap bootcut cords in rust and bright blue and they are so flattering and a nice pop of color. I think they have them again this year. I buy clothes for my teens from there and always wander over to the women’s section you know, just to take a look.
I love the idea of color, but I know myself, and my color range is solidly in the neutrals camp – I’m ok with that. Currently comfy and relaxing in my black Cosabella pj’s.
FYI. I own the wine red pants from anthro and they are DEEPLY flattering if you’re pear shaped. I also own them in a lighter weight capri version (in black) that I wear constantly.
Salmon pink, royal blue, coral: check. It’s just as much fun as a party on top.
Wearing coral-orange wide-leg jeans today! Also bought a sweater with wide colorful stripes. But the struggle is still real (in terms of not defaulting to black or navy)
I would definitely go for the mustard pants. Brilliant suggestion by Jenn for color on the bottom––so much less intimidating!!
Love all of these but am still a bit intimidated by pants in color. I am fine with color from the waist up. Memories from too many magazines telling me how to hide my thick thighs and wide hips with black pants. The styling on a couple of these is hilarous. Thin strappy stiletto heels with carpenter pants? Tulle camisole top with corduroy pants? I must be getting old or at least a GOACA.
The models are not “women of a certain age.” They can maybe get away with some of these ridiculous styles. A typical 50-year-old woman who isn’t a model? No, lol.
I came here just to see if anyone commented on this. I saw those strappy heels, and was like “whaaaat?” Glad I’m not the only one who thought this was hilarious.
On Saturday I tried on the red/wine ones. I really liked them but ended up buying the black. Old habits die hard.
Jenn’s a genius and thank you for all these great choices. I recently bought the Maeve pants (in a different fabric) in green and really enjoying how the color gives a pop to so many of the neutral tops I already have. The wine red corduroy ones are already sold out in my size, but those Free People mustard yellow ones are calling to me.
Those mustard pants! Love the red and blue from Anthro as well.
I’m the opposite – used to mostly wear bright colors but lately am really into black. And last weekend, some guy told my husband and I that we looked like 60s French film stars, which may be the best compliment about my appearance I have EVER gotten. I do love those wine red pants, though.
I’m with you there. I used to be all over the place with colors. (Still am a bit in the warmer months) but now I’ve been leaning towards navy, black, gray. Any color I add are via accessories. And i do have a highlighter yellow puffy coat that i bought from Universal Standard last year that I can hardly wait to wear again.
I wonder if we can ever see models for these clothes picks who are ACTUALLY “girls of a certain age,” lol.
Ooh, the color of that lavender puffer *is* amazing. I wonder if eco-down is warm. One would think so, since fleece is. Hmm.
Color on the bottom is a great idea, I agree!
Random thought: is it time to retire “pull the trigger” with regard to shopping? Gun culture, routine mass shootings, ongoing dystopian nightmare? It’s such a standard phrase but maybe we can come up with something better.
I think that is a good point – I’m sure I could be more careful with my choice of words, for one. It does seem as if a lot of the country is in emotional distress. Maybe I will try to be less hostile when I drive (really – I don’t honk or anything, but there are a lot of gestures … not the finger so much, but, other stuff … it’s a problem). I’m not usually hostile the rest of the time, but, I could probably be friendlier.
I’ve adopted the thumbs down when driving. I have shot the middle finger once and got it back and it made me feel terrible! Thumbs down doesn’t feel so hateful.
Yes, I try to avoid it too – if someone is very rude, maybe the L sign. I try to only honk if the person did something that could cause an accident. And maybe not even then – most people probably know when they are transgressing. Oh, also, I try to leave earlier … ha.