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I Tried on Printed Pants #fashionfriday

When I was at the Target Inner Circle event earlier this week, we got to talk to members of the product development team about how they find and choose what products and designs to put in their stores.

It was fascinating. They travel the world, looking for the next big trends, and then make decisions about popularity and timing so as to carry what people want when they want it without over-buying or running out too quickly.

At one point, a comment was made to the effect that colored denim — which has been a huge trend for a couple of years — is already starting to make its way out.

It was with a great effort at self-discipline and restraint that I managed NOT to shout NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

I love colored denim. I think it’s so fresh and fun and such a perfect pairing for my abundance of neutral tops. But alas. No trend stays around forever. And my guess is I have a few good years left with my colored denim, even if the buyers see it tapering off a bit. It will take a while to trickle down, right??

And yet, this new bit of information begs the question: What’s next????

I hate to break it to ya, but my beloved colored denim is slowly being replaced by . . . prints.

Yes, the trend of printed bottoms — denim and otherwise — is rapidly rising on our fashion horizon.

Naturally we don’t have to all participate in every up-and-coming trend. In fact, I don’t recommend that. And yet, I expect, like most trends, our eye will adjust and before too long, printed bottoms will seem as mainstream as colored denim does now.

Part of our Target experience included a styling session with @SamSpector.

You know where this is going, right???

When I arrived, there was a whole rack of clothes with my name on it, and among other things it included several pair of printed pants. The second I saw them, I knew I wanted to try them.

First Sam pointed me towards a couple of dresses, but after those were a bit of a bust, I tried on a pair of cropped floral skinnies. I can’t find them online; I think they are just landing in stores this week.

They were surprisingly . . . not horrible. I tried to keep an open mind.

We went through a couple of tops until we landed on this sheer aqua blouse with an aqua tank underneath.

Not only did I try on floral pants for the first time, but I also ended up tucking in my blouse AND topping off the whole outfit with a pair of caged pumps.

Sounds crazy, right? Well, take a look. It actually worked! (Pardon the grainy iPhone picture. My professional pictures from the photo shoot aren’t in yet!)

I can’t say I’ll be wearing this to the next PTA meeting, but I might get gutsy enough to wear it somewhere eventually . . . when it gets a little bit warmer, she says as she watches snow fall outside her window.

I especially love the shoes. The more I wore them, the more I got used to the look, and they’re actually super comfortable.

What do you think? Tell the truth.

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19 Responses

  1. Hmmmm, like you I don’t think I’m ready for patterened pants, but once they are everywhere guess I’ll adjust.

    The blouse color is really pretty but I’m not so sure about the collar (even though I know that style is trending now). Also not sure about the tucking in of the blouse. It all just seems “off” to me, but maybe if you had another top that is more your style I would like the pants better?

    1. I totally agree with everything you said. I don’t think floral pants are in my future FOR SURE! No thanks. To me that’s just as bad as tight rolling jeans from the 80s. Blech. LOL

  2. Hi Jo-Lynne,
    I love the color of the shirt on you, but think a v-neck is more flattering to anyone than a peter pan collar. I don’t love the pants, but maybe it can work better with a black tank and cardigan. The shoes are great. I commend you on your bravery trying new fashions.
    Estelle

      1. Okay, now that i look at the neckline, you’re right about that. But the color, the texture, and especially the way the blouse drapes on your wrists and at the waist — I love all of that. Plus the necklace. hmm.

  3. Do you remember me emailing you months ago about patterned (floral) pants???? My nightmare is coming true, although I think I am beyond wearing “trendy”. I’ve skipped the colored denim and will skip the floral pants-I did that enough last time;-) I’ll do it for NK but I’ll pass.

  4. i had this terrible fear that sam was going to put me in some pattern pants, i think other people pull it off so well but i never feel comfortable in them! despite the fact – i think sam was there to push our style, and i thought you looked adorable! 🙂

  5. You’re adorable in just about anything I’ve seen you wear; however (knew that was coming, didn’t you?!), I would only be caught dead in printed pants. It would be just like my twenty-something daughters to throw those on me at my wake!

    Speaking for the hippier, pear-shaped crowd, this look is a definite NO. Glad you had fun with it, though!

  6. I think you look great. I love the shoes! You have the legs to pull off printed pants but I am too short and thick so I will be skipping this trend as well. 🙂

  7. I… think I could get used to the idea, actually. Those are pretty cute, I think, and agree that a simple black tank might be a better pairing. One thing standing out, everything else quiet. I have two reasons to hesitate with prints, though: First, prints are very specific – I could easily buy something from Target, for instance, and see it on several other women (and have a hard time not judging whether it looks better on them); Second, I’m afraid it will make all the wrong things look too big, like my slightly thundery thighs.

    But hey – a couple weeks ago, I tried on a scarf that isn’t meant to be a simple neck warmer and I actually like it. So ya never know. The key is *trying* right?

  8. I WILL be honest. JL, you have a great figure, and you look good in your clothes, so actually, that looks kind of cute. The blouse — I adore!! Seriously, it’s one of the nicest things I’ve seen on your blog. And the fabric of the pants is pretty too. (I personally don’t like the shoes with them.) So … as it is, you look as good in print pants as a lady can. But I don’t like print pants. I think they look very juvenile. I kind of wish that these fashion police would make distinctions about the new trends coming: are they trends for 18 year olds, or for 40 year olds? Because honestly, there’s a difference!

    Also, print pants don’t work for fat ladies. Maybe this is my whole problem with fashion posts. As a larger woman, I’ve already decided that fashion is off-limits for me. Print pants? What do I care about print pants? Print is fattening, right? But if a 40 year old woman looks good in them, and doesn’t mind looking a good bit younger, they’re cute 🙂 Definitely KEEP the blouse!!!

  9. So, um, you have to go to a PTA meeting to wear it to a PTA meeting. Just sayin’!!
    You always look good even in your yoga pants.
    Love,
    Your local PTA President!!

  10. I have a pair of polka dot pants, so I guess I’m already on the print wagon. But, they’re a very subtle polka dot–tiny and just a few shades lighter than the pants. I think fit has a lot to do with making it work, and of course, styling. I don’t love your outfit, but I also didn’t love skinny jeans in general and now that’s practically all I wear. Confidence makes the outfit, and you look like you love your look.

  11. Wow, what a great experience that must have been! You look great in that outfit. I have been trying on patterned bottoms with no luck… I have a difficult “rear” to fit into any pants let alone bringing a pattern into it all. Loving that color blouse… in fact, I just linked my post about all the lovely mint items Target has to offer.

  12. I don’t care for the shirt/pants combo. Each time I’ve seen it I can’t help but think “church lady” on top and “party girl” on the bottom! Lol! However, if that’s the look you’re going for, then you’re rockin it! I’d love to see how the pants look with a different top. 🙂

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