The very notion of them goes so entirely against my nature I can hardly believe I’m even throwing this one out there. But occasionally, when something you’ve never particularly liked becomes a trend—and very styish people embrace that trend with very successful results—it can suddenly start looking quite appealing. I’m liking pairs on the slouchier side, in monochrome palettes. Please do weigh in.
This pair from Theory is pretty elegant, don’t you think? And like I always say, you can get away with a bit of wild pattern if the cut is clean enough.
Total double jeopardy: printed and parachute. And yet—even as I worry that they’ll add significant width to areas that are already quite wide enough—I’m liking. Nuts?
Now I think these, with their ever-so-vaguely batik print, are just lovely. And the high waist, although terrifying to me, grows things up just a bit, don’t you think?
It’s 2pm. You can have a drink.
Just say no. They are super trendy and 3 weeks from now they will be so 3 weeks ago.
No. Just no. I love prints, wear them daily. But prints on pants can be pulled off by oh, .0000005% of the population.
Oh, honey, nooooooooo!!! Those parachute print things will make you look like a balloon.
My momma always said, if you wear printed bottoms your butt will look two sizes too big.
I guess I am the voice of unreason here. I think printed pants can be very chic — I just bought Isabel Marant’s printed harem pants (there’s a pic at http://sumally.com/p/284712 )
Sure, they look at first glance like clown pants, and I thought about it for about a month before committing. Now
LOVE LOVE LOVE with a T by Alex Wang top and chic, smart cropped blazer (think Helmut Lang). It looks cool but needs a heel, even though I’m very tall. I do think that, much as I love Iro for the jackets, the pants in the third pic with the higher waist look very “mom” to me.
I love the look, but it’s not for mere mortals. Meaning me. And my rear end.
Thinking printed pants are like hats…you do or you don’t and it’s firm either way. I cannot wear hats and it has always made me MAD..although I always keep looking. I do, however, love printed pants and am loving and wearing them so I comfort myself with knowing that there does seem to be sort of a “hat/printed pants” mojo thing going on and I have been offered a fashion olive branch!
I think they’re great! I have been wearing patterned pants for about a year, and now own several pairs. They are surprisingly versatile. All the ones you feature are very subdued–go for it!
Can I just say that I still have all of my old Lucky mags, and I notice that you guys were very ahead of the game in terms of pattern mixing? Like, about 10 years ahead of the game?
Kim, it’s so ironic you posted this because I was just out shooting for my street style blog here in Syracuse and I had to shoot a woman with the cutest printed pants. I would struggle with wearing them myself, but they look super cute! I just started the blog on Syracuse.com. Here’s the link if you are interested: http://blog.syracuse.com/cny/2012/06/cny_fashion_printed_pants_are_right_on_trend.html
The pair in the top photo are very cute. The pattern on the second pair is nice, but the cut is kind of boxy, so they may not look so great on a mere mortal.
No, no, a thousand times no to the parachute/harem pants abomination.
The fourth pair are pretty cute. If any, I would try these.
I find you and your writing divine. Speaking from the well-trunked and stumped-legs quarter, printed pants are a no for me.
Nobody and I mean nobody wants to see size 12 me in any of these…
I’m a girl who has spent 3/4 of my life dressed in black and right now I’m loving patterned pants. My favorite pair this past winter were a black and white houndstooth. This summer I’m loving the subdued plaid of these Current/Elliot jeans http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446462319&site_refer=GGLBASE001&CAWELAID=1357928757
When I think of printed pants two words come to mind: Joey Buttafuoco.
Well. I am very picky about prints (just like everyone else here).
The jeans pattern is a maybe. I don’t like the top with them, and it distracts me. But if it were just the pants, they could grow on me.
For me, photo 2 is a no. The print is too much like camo, and not tie dye. Camo is for people on active duty of some sort, imho. I don’t want to see it in civilian life. Whereas, tie dyed jeans if well executed are divine — even on a size 12!!! (But try finding good ones.)
I like Print 3 the best. It’s rather nice. And if one were ever to wear parachute/harem pants, those could be the ones.
Print 4 had potential but I don’t like the execution for some reason. It doesn’t look tie-dyed enough. It is too small-patterned and uniform for me somehow.
But in theory, prints can work.
The rear view mirror in my head would never permit a print ocross the wide canvas behind me. Love the printed pants on super slim women who can really pull them off.
oh dear, i wanted a pair for a while, but, they were cute last summer, now they are all over, i would suggest the least expensive printed jeans you can find, worn strictly with neutrals only, for a summer day, be prepared to ditch them very soon, too trendy too fast, too over, too soon,remember the red jeans thing last year? xo diane
I love the top picture because the pant print isn’t too wild. I’m into stripes and florals…even a floral scarf over a striped tank. It works as long as you get the colors right.
About 10 years ago I was in Thailand with a friend who is an interior designer and was shopping for clients. I fell head over heels in love with the textures and patterns of the fabrics. Not needing any drapery or reupholstery I decided to have several pairs of pants made. I know they thought I was a mad woman, but they came out beautifully and for a few years I rocked them really well. Up until reading this post I had chalked it up to another awkward phase – like extra large shoulder pads with permed hair…
until I saw the pants in the top photo! Navajo(ish) blanket(ish) pants! Whose are they?! They are awesome and I think you should definitely get them – or maybe I should get them!!!
I am in love with the pants in the top photo – googled them, etc., obsessively! I suspect they are Isabel Marant jeans – there are a few pairs on eBay that look very close. Rockstar jeans has a similar pair on Ideeli website on sale today, which I ordered right away… The Rockstars are much more affordable, but the pattern is not quite as large or colorful. I think the print is ideal because it’s not too overwhelming and you’re left with mostly dark fabric, which is more slimming, I think.