Tuesday 17 July 2012

Cropped tapered trousers? Really?


I have always been a fan of Trinny and Susannah I particularly like their argument, back in their first What Not To Wear books, that cropped, tapered trousers are a definite no no.

I'm very aware that Trinny and Susannah started sharing, some might say spouting, their fashion advice a good ten years ago now, and those of you in fashion circles will obviously say that their view then shouldn't be used as good fashion advice now.

Before this week I would have disagreed.  There are just some items of clothing that will never ever look flattering on anyone other than a size zero, 6 ft tall, 18 year old, and cropped trousers is just one of them.

The fact that so many size 16, short, middle-aged women insist on wearing them astounds me.  They don't flatter your leg; in fact they make it look even shorter, and make you look even wider. 
 Why do it?

This week I may be stepping down from my soap box and admitting that there may just be instances where the cropped trouser has a lot going for it.

A month ago I bought a pair from Monsoon (surprise surprise).  They are lovely and comfortable and were purchased specifically for my summer holiday.  I had my doubts before trying them on, but they looked OK and I figured I could at last buy a pair of trousers that I didn't have to re-hem.  I'm 5 ft 6, you see.  This is taller than average, but short enough that 'long' trousers drape on the floor without a minimum of a 4 inch heel.  So my trousers are either re-hemmed, or I wear them with the heels. 

 
This has always caused me a problem at this time of year; particularly this year; when it's raining a lot.  You see I don't like doing the school run in my heels.  Read more about this HERE.   I buy particularly nice heels for work and don't want them ruining.  The thought of trudging through the mud and puddles to the school yard and standing there with my 3 year old stamping all over my feet makes my heart sink.  So I try and wear flats for the school run (all the better for chasing a runaway child down the road in).   Of course my long trousers then end up soaked.  So I have to tuck them into wellies (not flattering), tuck them into pop-socks (even less flattering) or wear a skirt.

But now I have discovered the cropped trouser.  Not just any cropped trouser.  The work cropped trouser.  The cropped trouser that has this week been worn with flats to work.  It's a first I NEVER wear flats to work, but I did and it was fine. Though I won't be doing flats again; I like being tall too much!  

But the slightly less smart, but nevertheless smart enough for work cropped trouser worn with my favourite smart Irregular Choice heels; now that was a genius plan.  I wore flats in the car and on the school run; happily avoided looking daft, and popped on the heels at work.  

No drenched trousers.

They don't make me look nearly as tall as the boot-cut, overly long trousers do.  But they solve the rain problem.
So I apologise Trinny and Susannah, but I may well be buying some more!


*I apologise for the picture quality, but my photographer is only 6 years old! Personally I think she did quite well with a dodgy model.

10 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Aren't they fabulous! I am saving up for the same style but in black patent and a black and white patterned fold. ;-)

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  2. I really like the cropped trouser look but being only 5'3" (at a push!), I'm not convinced they are flattering on the leg length....although with a heel, they do look better.

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    Replies
    1. Therein lies the dilemma. Maybe just find the biggest heels you can? ;-)

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  3. I really like the cropped chino look, but not on me. Being only 5ft 3 (and a half) I look like my trousers don't fit properly. Oh well, don't look too bad in shorts ;D

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    1. Height really seems to make a difference as to how these look. Pity the models in all the magazines are way over average height eh!?

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  4. As opposed to under average height ;D
    I think this is what makes fashion interesting, how things can look so different on different shapes.

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    1. It's a pity that I find it so difficult to translate what something looks like on a model to what it might look like on me! Hehehe. That's half the fun I guess.

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  5. Hi, I remember you from BritMums, just from the shoes! Love the shoes, and the cropped trews. I'm a fan too.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Cassie. Hope you enjoyed Britmums Live too. I was soo tired after lugging everything home via tube, train and car! But it was worth it. :-D

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