Do I need more trousers in my life? (Keep / Return)

...because I ordered two more from Banana Republic.
They were available in size 14 only which is one size up for me. I ordered them anyway thinking that my mom can alter them if I like them. Imagine my horror when they came and they fit even if in a relaxed way. I only hope that it is BR changed its sizing and I didn't change mine!:-) They are both Martin fit (which is my best fit from BR) and straight leg.
 #1-3 Martin navy lightweight trousers
Angie, look - these are NAVY! :-) I would let the hems down a bit if I keep them. As far as you can see the fit in those pictures - are they OK? I also ordered a navy blazer in a hope to make a suit.

#4-5  Martin plaid trousers
I wanted to have patterned trousers for SOOO long! I do have a couple of micro checks or houndtooth but nothing like this. I think they are fun but maybe I am kidding myself and I look like a clown in them? Also I think the fit is good but again - am I kidding myself? There are 2 " of hem I can let down as well so length is not an issue.

So what do you think: keep or return? If keep then should I taper legs on any or on both?

Thanks!

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39 Comments

  • Beth Ann replied 10 years ago

    Very nice, Sveta, particularly the plaid pants.  Yes, they're patterned, but the look is low contrast and far from clownish.  I think the rise is perfect, not too low or high, and the relaxed fit looks fresh.  They are a classic trouser, so I would stop to think about the direction you want your fall/winter wardrobe to go.

    I've had similar experiences at JCP.  I had to size up in the Worthington skirts, ran home, and discovered I could still wear my original skirts --- same brand and almost identical styling. 

  • Scarlet replied 10 years ago

    If it's not a fabric that stretches out, these are stellar. If it does stretch, no doubt your mom can do a little nipping. Keep both!

  • Adelfa replied 10 years ago

    They look really nice and the fit, for work trousers, seems perfect to my eye. I absolutely love the plaid.

  • Diana replied 10 years ago

    They both look good to me!  I actually like the fit as is, it looks very current.  I would keep both.

    I have ordered the same ones in black but they have not gotten here yet even though the jacket I ordered at the same time arrived yesterday.  Hope I got the right size - I ordered the same size as my existing Martin trousers from last year.  What year are your old ones from?

  • Nadya replied 10 years ago

    I vote keep both! Great fit and I know you'll find lots of combos for them.

  • Lyn D. replied 10 years ago

    They both look great, and the grey ones seem a bit more substantial than your  other grey pant, and therefore good for the cooler weather coming?
    I love the idea of navy verses black in pants too!

  • lyn67 replied 10 years ago

    Both look stellar Seta, I would keep, even if having tons(but I only have a few!)as it's soo hard for me to find good fitting trousers!

  • replied 10 years ago

    love them both.

    and I wish retailers would keep their sizes consistent, maybe they wouldn't get so many returns

  • replied 10 years ago

    They both look great on you, Sveta!

  • kkards replied 10 years ago

    i like them both. the plaid trousers are a great pattern, and navy is my personal fav.

  • rute replied 10 years ago

    Of course you need! You look amazing in those trousers. Sometimes the fit of the trousers has also influence on the size, don't worry you look fab!

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    These are both terrific! I agree about letting the blue ones down in length. I love the relaxed fit of both; it is elegant and refreshing but not sloppy. This is a big score and if the jacket fits, too, you will have a suit! 

  • cheryle (Dianthus) replied 10 years ago

    I think everyone needs a few pairs of neutral pants for those days when you don't want to think too much since they work with almost everything in your wardrobe.  I think the fit is very nice and they drape well.  No cling or bag anywhere.  I think they are keepers.

    I find BR pants are very inconsistent across the different styles.  I don't think you should worry about the size at all.  If the rest of your skirts and pants fit as they did before, it isn't you. 

  • Sveta replied 10 years ago

    Whew, at least one of the two orders was not a bust! I do love BR for quality and good shipping policy and because they have the size which fits!
    Diana, I have Martin skinnies I bought in 2011 and they fit well in size 12. I also bought Martin lightweight straight leg in February 2013 and they fit definitely bigger. I went for size 14 then because 12 did not have enough ease I like now in my trousers but I have mom to take them in now because they are too big in 14. These two feel much smaller, at least 1/2 a size.
    Scarlet, fabric does not look stretchy at all to me. Plaid ones are 68% wool, 27% poly  and 5% spandex. They are also lined and do not feel stretchy .
    The navy ones are 95% wool and 5% spandex. The fabric is thinner than the plaid but nice and not stretchy. also lined.
    But you see how getting these in size up and finding them just right AND getting the Zara order next day and finding all TOO SMALL can damper the girl's self--esteem, right? I still can fit well into my old Martin skinny trousers of size 12 so my head tells me it must be their sizing but still...
    Here is for comparison other trousers I have - just to see if I really need those:
    ##1 and 4 - wide legs
    ## 2 and 3 - tapered slouchy
    # 5 - staring Martin in black which I getting into tapered as well  because they feel too big and I don't feel them much this way.
    #6 - black skinny Martins
    So I have 6 pairs of cold wear trousers now - is adding 2 more pairs is too much? Should I add navy if I have black already? <speaks girl with a guilty conscience because she wants to limit the size of her wardrobe>

  • Eliza replied 10 years ago

    Like the new pants and find the plaid very nice on you.  As far as two new ones, they are different from what you are already own.  Are any of the ones you have showing signs of wear or are you getting tired of any?  Perhaps you will find it easier to part with them if you have some refreshing additions;  the new ones are classic enough to be around for awhile.  I'd play with them a bit and decide. If only keeping one, I think the plaid is particularly flattering and adds something new to your wardrobe. 

  • Janet replied 10 years ago

    I think both of these look great!

    I hear you on the size thing. I bought a forest green pencil skirt (faux leather paneled with a ponte-like knit) in Anthro recently and was dismayed to go up a size from my usual largest number in order to get the fit I wanted (not too bodycon, and a little extra length). But it's just a number! I went home and tried on an old skirt that was labeled two sizes smaller, and it fits just fine.

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Sveta, please keep. Navy and black are different. As the season goes on, if you are not wearing some pairs, you can purge to reduce the size of your wardrobe again. I think they are worth having, truly. 

  • Day Vies replied 10 years ago

    No fair Sveta! You can't ask me if you should keep or return 2 smashing pairs of trousers that a) fit so well and b) are styled to elegantly. My favorite is #1 but I am partial to blues. The gray trousers are just as fabulous, I see no fit issues with either. See I'm no help :-)

  • Transcona Shannon replied 10 years ago

    I love the fit of these on you Sveta - please keep. I actually just bought a pair of Attitude by Jay Manuel black trousers for work (off being hemmed) that fit very similar - almost menswear-ish, which I love. These will both be workhorses for you I predict.

  • texstyle replied 10 years ago

    I'd be tempted to keep both as they look great!  Esp. if you are getting a navy blazer to try with those navy pants to use as a suit. I agree to let them down a bit. I think the plaid trousers would be super useful in your wardrobe. I am all over the size map at BR and other stores as well. Sometimes it can vary between even more than 2 sizes! I still like their clothing options overall.

  • Lisa replied 10 years ago

    I vote keep to both.  You wear a lot of trousers, and I don't recall any new purchases recently.  These both will freshen up your wardrobe nicely.  Navy is especially hard to find.  I like the fit on these, not too tight and not too loose.  I gave up looking at sizing of clothes.  I can be a 2 in one and up to a 6 in another, it's so frustrating I go in with no less than 3 sizes when I try on clothes.  And that can be in the same store, it's like the colors alone vary in size sometimes.  And I agree with Suz, you can always purge one of your older pairs if you see they are not in rotation anymore.

  • Elly replied 10 years ago

    The navy are my faves. Lookin' good.

  • Sveta replied 10 years ago

    You enablers!
    Unfortunately there are no trousers in my closet now I can retire, I love them all! This means I have to break my "one in - one out rule" ...or let them go?
    What  should I  do?! 

  • cobaltblue replied 10 years ago

    Please keep, Sveta! The referee isn't looking!

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Pssst. It does not have to be a trouser that goes. 

    Eject a player from another position. 

    A wardrobe is a team. 

    Get rid of the ones who are not pulling their weight. Right now, in your wardrobe, trousers are pulling their weight. 

  • Vickie KY replied 10 years ago

    I agree with everyone - They both look great and they are both keepers. I personally really liked the grey.

    Don't worry what a tag says. I have things from an 8 to a 1X. I buy things for my adopted grand daughter. If I have to go up a size for her I cut the tag out so she won't know and won't get upset. The only thing bad about sizing not being consistent is that when you order something  by mail shipping to return an item is aggravating and expensive.
    Vickie

  • Angie replied 10 years ago

    They are killer. I vote keep both. Good job with the ink. xo

  • Karie replied 10 years ago

    Girlfriend, you were made for trousers! The new ones look fantastic, and I would keep both. 

  • Sveta replied 10 years ago

    Suz, I like your idea. Have to look in my handy spreadsheet what can go now...ok, have 2 long sleeve tops I already gave to my niece but did not replace with anything else: do they count?:-)
    If Angie gives her blessing I am taking the tags off NOW!

    Thank you all for enabling!!! :-)

  • rae replied 10 years ago

    You need the navy! Period. 

    What about tapering the gray ones? It looks like you have a few wide legs. Just an idea, not a necessity. 

    And yes, Suz is right that you can eject a different type of item!

  • Janet replied 10 years ago

    I'd say if you gave away those two tops, you've easily qualified these trousers as your two "in" pieces! Fret no more. :-)

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Yup  -- if two tops are out then these are completely justified. This is how Angie operates it. Not by category type but pure number. Maybe for two or three years you are in love with pants but not so much dresses. Fine -- out go some dresses. And then the love for dresses returns? Fine - say goodbye to a few worn out pants. :-) 

  • Lisa replied 10 years ago

    Great idea to swap the trousers for something not a trouser.  I haven't tried this yet with my one in one out shopping.  I kept trying to replace a like item with a like item and found it very challenging to do so sometimes.

  • Joy replied 10 years ago

    You need to keep these trousers. As you start wearing your fall things, a couple of spaces are bound to open up in the closet when something looks more worn than remembered or no longer your style.

  • replied 10 years ago

    They both look great, especially with that shirt. I don't think they need to be tapered, and usually I am all about that. But these have a lovely line as-is.

  • Gaylene replied 10 years ago

    I was so caught up in the Zara drama that I missed this thread, Sveta. Of course you can use a couple of extra pairs of pants in your wardrobe; we live in Canada and wear pants nine months of the year. ;)

    Both of those pairs look great on you and I also like Suz's way of handling the one-in, one-out issue. Cut the tags (including the size ones if they bug you), and wear those pairs to death this fall and winter.

    And, by the way, I recently showed a couple of your WIW pictures to my sister who wears the same sizes as you do and who has a very similar body shape. She was also feeling a bit disheartened because of some of her recent shopping experiences. Her first reaction was to dismiss you as just another model. Once I convinced her you were just a extraordinarily striking, well-dressed, "normal" woman, she wanted to see more and more. I think I called you "the fabulous Sveta" in your other thread. You are exactly that--and a total inspiration for all of us who need that XL in Zara.

  • Sveta replied 10 years ago

    Rae, I do have 2 pairs of wide legs but these ones are straight. That was thinking as well: taper plaid and keep navy straight especially if I get the balzer as well and make it a suit because straight legs are classic and will have more longivity.
    Angie suggested to try them first as they are and I think it is a good idea. This is what I did with my black straiht legs which are bigger and baggier and I just did not feel fab in them: too much volume but not enough structure. My mom is tapering the black ones now.
    These ones fit smaller, not baggy but just relaxed. I will try them as they are and we will see! :-)
    Janet and Suz - I alrady removed those tops from my spreadsheet and added the trousers. No rule is broken, I am a good girl so far! :-)
    Lisa, here you go - new rule bending example for you! :-)
    Gaylene, that was a very sweet comment. Sometimes I doubt if I should continue with WIW on regular basis, if it is too much vanity or something but if they can help anybody then I will continur to post them. I wish good luck to your sister in her style journey!

  • Inge replied 10 years ago

    Oh Sveta, I have nothing new to add but had to chime in to say that both pairs of trousers are wonderful and definitely deserve a place in your wardrobe (yay for flexible one-in-one-out thinking, I approve!-)
    AND to second what Gaylene wrote: please don't stop posting your WIWs!!! You are my Tall Lass inspiration on YLF, and I can't even begin to tell you how much each and everyone of your outfit posts has inspired me to come up with new outfit combinations and ideas on how to wear certain items myself.

  • replied 10 years ago

    Sveta, *I* will be the one crying if you stop your WIWs!

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