Everlane Wide Leg Crop pants (gift from Everlane to review) | size 10
Etoile Isabel Marant sweatshirt | SOOOO old
Golden Goose superstar sneakers | purchased secondhand via The Real Real
James Perse canvas tote
So, I’ve really been trying to wear these pants to determine whether or not to hem them, and I think I won’t. They’re an okay length on me – I do wish they were just a teeny tiny bit shorter, but I might actually just wash and dry them (gasp!) and see if they shrink in length just a little bit. I prefer showing a sliver of leg lately, as I think it’s a more interesting look, for me especially, so as not to look too covered up, but I can work with this length generally.
When I put these on, I originally wore them with this underwear by Land of Women*, which is super high waisted and a bit compressive (not that comfortable to be honest, and a little tight on me in the medium) to hold my hip-bits in a little more, but I had to change into my regular-old organic cotton Only Hearts bikini panties because the high waisted underwear with the high waisted pants was too much pulling in the crotch region. Sorry for the TMI.
But that also got me thinking about VPL. Andrea left a comment on one of my posts about these pants that she was having trouble not getting VPL with these, and then that day or soon after I read a conversation somewhere about body suits and if they should ONLY be thongs, because otherwise what’s the point? The bodysuit issue aside, I was interested in the idea that was part of that convo that women should NOT have VPL Like, God forbid it LOOK like we’re wearing undergarments.
I am not a fan of VPL and try to avoid it generally, but I’m not overly concerned about it. I love my Hanky Panky thongs and tend to wear them a lot with tighter jeans or pants I don’t want to show a crease in from my underwear, but that’s just because they’re comfortable. If they weren’t, VPL be damned…
How do you feel about VPL? Who else has received the Everlane wide leg cropped pants? What do you think about them? I’m hearing that nearly everyone is sizing up…
*I bought those to try with credits I earn at Garmentory. When you use my referral link you’ll get a $20 account credit to use on purchases at Garmentory and so will I.
Am I the only one who googled VPL? :c)
Ack! Sorry you had to do that 😉 should’ve clarified. I can’t imagine what came up lol
Hi Gretchen,
Thank you again for letting us see your outfits! RE VPL. Look at your guy in his undies. Do the elastics at the waist or legs dig in anywhere? No. because most men won’t wear uncomfortable clothes. VPL is caused by BAD materials and poor design (cheap elastics digging into your flesh.) It’s not really an aesthetic issue. Don’t settle!
and BTW, J Peterman has been selling lightweight wide leg jeans in a variety of colors for several years. Not obviously sustainably sourced, however.
A.
Well I was expecting a different V word… The world is big text message now, must adjust.
Hey Grechen:
Just wanted to introduce myself. I just recently found your blog, and you have created a monster. I now want only sustainable/organic/free trade goods, and it’s costing me a fortune. I will say I purchased some stuff of slowre, and poshmark has some nice James Perse stuff!
Thanks for making me spend more money on clothing! Quick question, i’ve searched around and haven’t seen any posts: what do you do for undergarments? Do you have a post about it?
I love that shirt! It’s fun and interesting.
I was thinking about something similar today, in regard to bra straps. I really hate trying to hide my straps. I pretty much only wear racerback sports bras now (difficult to hide racerbacks!), and when I’m at home or just out socially I don’t care about them showing at all…but I got a new job where I’m in the office every day, and have to wear more business clothing, so now I feel very self conscious about my straps showing. But I wish I didn’t! I wish straps showing, and VPL, and any other “omg she’s wearing underwear” issues would just go away. I’d like it to be an aesthetic choice thing, not a “must do” thing. Like makeup, or heels, or whatever – if you don’t want your straps or your panty lines showing, then I’d rather that be your own choice, and not because you feel forced to hide them.
The Everlane pants look sort of like the wide leg structure pant I had for a while (they live on SLOWRE now), so I’m hesitant to try them. I like the look, but I’m afraid they’ll be too tight in the hip area and constricting like the wide leg structure pants were. They looked good but ultimately weren’t as comfortable to me as I wanted.
yay! i think? 🙂
i have done some posts on undergarments but mostly i just address those issues when they come up..
here are some:
http://grechenscloset.com/underneath-it-all/
http://grechenscloset.com/review-organic-cotton-undies/
http://grechenscloset.com/lingerie-made-us/
I don’t like VPL and try to avoid it myself. Hanky Panky is the only comfortable thong I’ve been able to wear, and wear these under almost all my clothes, with the exception of jeans. I’ll usually wear cotton bikini under jeans and my top is usually long enough to cover my butt, so I feel OK. I was in Paris in August and it was interesting to note that many Parisian women simply don’t care about VPL. I know this might be a weird thing to do, but I was so obsessed with observing locals’ sartorial choices, but that’s what I like to do. Judging by the many clothing stores I went into and what I noticed women wearing, they seem to prefer much more comfortable cotton or lacy bikini high coverage styles with a higher waist, regardless of what clothes go on over. I wish I could adopt this attitude since I find this style infinitely more comfy, but I just can’t get over VPL. In my own mind I think it looks sloppy.
oh, i’m obsessed with watching people too – i love to observe what people are wearing…
i’m not a fan of vpl overall either, but i think sometimes it depends on the whole outfit? if everything seems to be rather put together and fits like it should, i can give it a pass LOL
i tried on those pants you sent in and they were too small, yes, but the main difference was the waist – the old style is a much lower waist, which interestingly enough would probably be better for me, personally. and i think the legs were wider, and more “structured” LOL
i HATE HATE HATE to see my bra straps. or anyone else’s. even when i’m at pure barre – so funny that today i wore a combination of sports bra and tank and my sports bra straps kept peeking out and i was so frustrated i couldn’t stop every second and fix it. i don’t know why i’m so obsessed with that. i mean, i don’t think i mind if bra straps just casually peek out from under a tank or whatever – what i really don’t get is wearing a “regular” bra with a racerback style tank or dress. like, that just gives me a panic attack…
Like you, I’m aware but not obsessed with VPL. Try to avoid it but try not to judge myself or others when it happens. Except that time I attended a wedding and one of the bridesmaids was wearing black panties under her pale pink dress. 🙂
🙂
I’m with you! I can’t stand to have my bra straps show…it just doesn’t seem right for me. And I can’t stand VPL, but on the other hand I detest the constant wedgie feeling of a thong! (I equally hate bikini undies that slide down my but evertime I sit down! 🙁 ) What’s a girl to do??? Anyone have a link to “perfect” undies?!?
Yes! Hanky Panky is great and I wear their high-waist full briefs when I’m wearing something that might show VPL. I typically don’t worry about it that much. And Cup of Jo wrote a very interesting post a while ago about French women and bras. It was incredibly insightful, especially the comments. Many French and other European women consider bras to be part of their outfits and wear them in all colors, so it’s okay if they show. I think it’s only here in the U.S. that we are so concerned with everything matching our skin color and not showing. I don’t mind a bit of strap peeking out, especially when it’s pretty lace.
Hi Grechen
So funny what bothers people- I dont mind bra straps showing especially if they are pretty. I do mind sloppy twisted nasty looking ones. I dont mind VPL either but because I have a bigger butt I wear this German brand Slogies they are seamless and another brand from Germany also seamless Nur Die, in all cotton.They are really comfy and only $12 a pair in the local lingerie shop. I also got the Wacoal shorty for more control, from your suggestion and they are great. Thank you!
How about the wide leg pants w your Rag and Bone stripe T for another day w the oxfords from vince and the moto or a long cardi? 🙂
My sister just goes commando on everything to avoid bra straps and panty lines showing….I don’t think I could be that “free”! I like the feeling of security that underwear brings…
More than VPL, what I can’t stand are baggy underpants, especially beneath fitted clothes. But I’m not one for thongs so I wear the Vanishing Edge microfiber panties from Soma. Not sustainable and not made in the US but they’re very comfy, fit like a glove and are often on sale. I hand wash them – either in Forever New or the Laundress Delicate Wash (LOVE the scent!) – so they last longer. The silicone grippies on the back may not be for everyone but they work really well for me. They have several different coverage styles – I go with the hipsters for more than a bikini, less than brief.
After nursing 3 children for 2 yrs each (18 years ago!), I cannot go braless without incurring the wrath of my children! Even at home… My son-in-law calls it #grandmatits 😉
oh, i’m totally commando at home (i mean…i wear clothes, but you know, no undergarments) except with my step-son is here. i used to go commando with jeans but now i find it sort of gross . ew. just thinking about it.
I’ve had such a hard time finding underwear that isn’t too tight and constricting but not too baggy, especially under a dress in the summer if I’m not wearing tights or leggings.
BTW Grechen, I’m on a business trip and downloaded Schitt’s Creek to watch on the plane and OMG I love it! Moira’s wigs, David’s clothes…it’s so funny. I never would have thought to watch if you hadn’t suggested it, so thank you!
I was just thinking about this (and “camel toe” too)! I guess it really doesn’t bother me. I don’t really like thongs because I’ve never known a comfortable one, but then I am also sort of weird about tight things in general. So usually I just say to hell with it and wear whatever. Ditto with leggings as pants. I have some leggings that definitely show “camel toe” (isn’t there some other word for it?) but they are two of my most comfortable pairs, so I just let it be. I mean, often I see the outline of men’s, uh, unmentionables through their pants. I also have no problem with bras showing through clothes, but again, I am very petite so finding an armhole on a sleeveless blouse that doesn’t show it is basically not possible without tailoring everything I own. So I just live with it and try to wear minimal, chic black bras (I’m not big busted, so I understand this particular issue may be a bit less stressful for me than for the more well-endowed, because if I was wearing a full-coverage bra with thick straps I might not feel the same way).
I’m surprised that people have to size up in the pants, I tried them on at their showroom and had to wear the 00. ? YIKES. I was a little worried that I had lost too much weight again, but I think my butt is just not quite the shape the pants are designed for? Hahaha. They look so cute on you. I’m still debating whether to buy them or save up for a pair of Kamm pants someday.
thank you 🙂 i think it all depends on your body shape – and i say if you have a more straight shape, then go for the kamm pants!! i tried them, but even in the largest size they didn’t work for my hips/butt LOL