Ok, so you’ve jumped on board the coloured jeans fashion train … what’s next for your legs?
Printed pants, that’s what.
Now before you freak out, click away and shake your head thinking this time I’ve completely lost my mind, I’d like you to take a fashion moment.
You know why?
Because I hear you.
It wasn’t until Carly Findlay contacted me in response to my post on how to wear coloured jeans, that I even contemplated going THERE.
Carly asked me kindly to consider doing a post about how to style floral or printed pants. My first reaction, fired off in an email reply was “not on your life”.
But something happened. Carly had unknowingly planted a little seed – a fashion challenge if you like – in this 40-plus brain.
And then I saw these pants online at Feathers Boutique …
And I thought … yes, I COULD do it. I WOULD give it a go.
When the pants arrived, Mr SY just shook his head. I think he’s given up vocally expressing his opinion about some of my fashion choices but the look on his face said it all.
And then … I styled them up. Three ways. With items I already had in my wardrobe.
He may have (reluctantly) changed his mind.
Style 1: Casual barbecue
Feathers Tropicana Pants $179 (Size 14)| Sussan top | Necklaces: Coolbabycool (neon yellow and blue), Ruby Olive (orange) and Sancerre (white) | Peachy shoes
Style 2: Out to lunch with the girls
Feathers Tropicana Pants $179 (Size 14) | Calvin Klein chambray shirt (bought in the US) | Salita Matthews necklace | Gorman shoes (last summer)
Style 3: Date night
Feathers Tropicana Pants $179 (Size 14)| Country Road jacket (last summer) | sass & bide neon tank layered over Country Road seamless white tank | Peter Lang necklace (from three years ago) | Renee Blackwell Design ring (green/silver flower) | Colette ring (pink) | Robert Robert heels (from four years ago)
Printed pants styling tips
1. Choose pants that are as streamlined as possible. Yes, there are billowy printed pants out there but my money is on the tapered and/or cropped styles. In the right cuts (and fabric – a little stretch goes a long way) they are most flattering.
2. Wear and style tops to suit your body shape. I love the tucked in look. Just not on me. I’m a go with the flowy kind of girl … particularly when it comes to skimming over my “front bottom”.
3. Let your pants do the talking. A bit like wearing coloured jeans, if this is a trend that scares you, don’t try clashing patterns and styles straight up. Start with making the pants the focal point of your outfit and working back neutrals from there.
4. Darker prints will be more flattering on your legs. The thing I like about a printed pant, dark does not have to mean dreary. That’s great news for people who still want to wear the pants in spring and summer.
More styling inspiration
If you’d like more styling inspiration, head on over to my Printed Pants board on Pinterest. There is a range of looks there – from summer to winter styling and everything in between.
More shopping suggestions
Click on the gallery below and scroll through – these are all available now online. Just click on the caption for a link through to buy or have a closer look.
Do you wear printed pants? If you don’t, do you think you could give this trend a little try?
* I was gifted these printed pants for editorial consideration, in accordance with my disclosure policy.
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