Elizabeth Suzann Clyde pants (gift for review from Elizabeth Suzann) | size 6 regular
Everlane cashmere sweater | small
Freda Salvador Lock D’orsay sandals | a year old, brown suede version at Tradesy
James Perse mini canvas tote | free shipping through 3/19 with code GRECHENMAR17
Another Elizabeth Suzann item in my closet I should wear more often: the clyde work pants. You may remember, I received these early last year from the company to review, and sent them back, because I wasn’t sure I liked them on my body type, but then last fall, after regretting sending them back ALL SUMMER, I asked if I could please try them again, and the wonderful Elizabeth Suzann obliged.
I usually default to jeans, but it’s really just as easy to wear these, and they’re just as comfortable. And I’m used to the shape now; it’s not “conventionally flattering” on my wide hips & larger legs, but I love the look with something cropped and smaller up top to balance it out. It’s such an interesting look, meeting my “effortless chic” standards and then some. The more “edgy” shoes help to harden the look a bit more (plus the black) so I’m not veering so hard into boho or artsy territory – looks I appreciate on others, but not on me.
I mentioned yesterday that I’d love to have a Harper for every season, and I love THIS particular clyde style, but not all of them. As you know, I bought the clyde jumpsuit during the sample sale, and while I really loved it, I sold it on slowre this week. It was a hard decision, because I would have worn it some, in spite of the fact that it was too big on me once it stretched out, AND my short arms couldn’t even reach the bottom of the pockets (a big problem, since the pockets are what I love the most about the clyde). That was honestly the breaking point – I literally had to lift up the pants leg, and bend over to reach anything I had in the pockets.
Anyway, this all really just reinforces one of my guiding forces when it comes to clothes (I have many), which is you never know until you try. Sometimes, you’ll try something and not like it at first, but will over time, or vice versa: you’ll love it for a little while, and then tire of it. Or is that just me?? I frequently find myself moving on. Not from everything – I never quite move on from most James Perse dresses, skirts or tops, but I’m often surprised that some things I thought would turn out to be wardrobe workhorses, just aren’t.
These clyde pants are, however. And if you’ve been on the fence about ordering them, I recommend them highly. Although I think they might be testing out a new cotton material for them for the next collection? I like the cotton twill, and find it very comfortable. It doesn’t stretch as much as the cotton canvas, but is still very soft. I also don’t find it as much of a hair/lint magnet as the cotton canvas. At least not in the green…
as an fyi, i found the black clydes to be a major pet hair magnet – largely solidifying my decision to return them. after wearing my silk florence pants around the house yesterday, i found myself just not wanting to take them off – ever. i guess that means they are keepers? and they collected virtually no pet hair/lint, and didn’t wrinkle much. makes me want more of their silk pieces.
any idea when the spring collection launches? so curious about what’s next!
Oooh, I’m glad for the feedback. My black Clydes are hair magnets too, and it’s kind of a pain. I’ve been nervous about silk and it’s durability (especially around animals) but I keep hearing such good things about their silk that I might give it a try!
I am also looking forward to Elizabeth Suzann’s spring offerings. Given that she only makes items on order, hence major delay in receipt of goods, I do wish she would do a full preview well ahead of time. As it is, I find that I only receive goods at least half way through the season in question. Which is fine for much of the US, where seasons are longer and experience more gentle changes, but “where I am from” the seasonal charges are fast and hard. And while I think her “seasonless” approach works well for much of her market, sadly not here. (I absolutely cannot wear cotton or silk in winter even as a layer.) I did really love her collaborative sweaters from this past season, as they were real, warm, proper sweaters, although I think she herself would agree that the demand vs supply vs wait time did not work out well. I worry that she won’t try it again because the products were fabulous! As for the clyde pant, I have no idea what you mean by conventionally flattering, but every time you post a picture of yourself in them, I rave about how you look, so as far as I am concerned, they are VERY flattering on you.
Laughing because I’m wearing an almost identical outfit today…not that in our non-color wardrobes that’s really such a coincidence. 😉
I’ve got my olive green Eileen Fisher silk wide-legged pants today with a black crewneck sweater
It’s funny the items that become workhorses, because they’re so often surprises. I bought a retro-style orange / yellow coat by Smythe at a consignment store last fall, and it’s been my favorite thing to wear! It’s a color I would NEVER usually buy, or expect to wear so much, but it goes so well with all my black clothes and has a flattering cut. Now I just wish I could find the same coat in a textured black fabric as well…but maybe I wouldn’t wear that one as much?!?
They have the same coat on The Real Real but I just don’t think it looks as good as it does in real life. I’ve also gotten compliments on it from the most eclectic group of people!
https://www.therealreal.com/products/women/coats/smythe-short-sleeve-wool-coat-w-slash-tags
I agree, Kathryn. They don’t cling to your legs or look tight anywhere. I’d say they’re just right! And I love that shade if green with black.
That’s so interesting! I agree about not wanting to take off the silk Florence pants. They’re like elegant pajamas! But I have a long-haired cat and the olive green Clydes have never attracted hair. Weird that…
i agree on the timing – it would be great if she “launched” spring in february, so people would be getting their items in time for spring, instead of summer…
it’s all a learning curve still – and i see that she tweaks a little every time she has a sample sale, or launches in demand items, like the shoes, etc. so i think we’ll continue to see improvements over the next year(s)
and you’re right about the pants, and my use of “conventionally flattering.” i should stop saying that. because i don’t buy into “flattering” anymore anyway. it’s still there, underneath everything though – that voice from high school and before, telling me i should always dress to look taller and slimmer.
yay! that’s a great coat, and i agree with you on workhorses and surprises. i used to think i really “knew” what was going to work for me and not, and for the most part i’m right maybe 75% of the time? but i really enjoy happy accidents, so i’m not going to stop trying new things to see what sticks 😉
maybe we just don’t notice it on the green?? the clyde jumpsuit definitely attracted dagny’s hair.
So I actually asked about their spring collection because I ended up returning the Georgia Midi and wanted to know if I should wait to use my store credit, you know, if their collection is going to come out soon. Well the response I got said something about moving *away* from designing for seasons and continuing with their seasonless philosophy, so I don’t really know if they will be doing one this year or not.
I’m not a regular reader, I kind of visit in spurts and catch up for weeks at a time. But man, I just love your blog!
I know what you mean about certain pants being not traditionally flattering, but it also depends on the angle of the photo / your movement / your mood. I think you’ve styled this outfit really nicely…the balance of the shapes and the juxtapositions of the soft/hard.
Would love to hear how you find these pants a few months or a year from now. I’m 5’2″ with a very exaggerated pear figure. I fit into kids’ tops but my hips seem to be growing into its own postal code, so I’m definitely on the edge about non denim pants.
Hopefully they will do a “hot weather” mini line, the way they did “cold weather”.
ok, so I’ll come right out and say it: you DO look slim in these pants (not that that should be a “thing”. It should be enough for us to look good; in fact, it should be enough to feel comfortable in our own skins while wearing something.) Maybe you don’t look as slim as twiggy did in the 60s, but even twiggy isn’t twiggy in the 60s slim anymore. Can’t tell about tall from pix, but you certainly don’t look short. I think you look as good in this as almost anything else I have seen you in and, needless to say, I’ve seen you in a lot of outfits! I’m not saying that some outfits don’t make us look unnecessarily more bloated than we are, but this is not one of them on you. So rock this outfit as much as possible, and please don’t give size another thought. I don’t know whether this is rant or pep talk, but please take it with the love and admiration with which it is written!
I love your blog, and it inspired me to get the Clyde Work pants in black twill – have loved them so far, and I know what you mean about adjusting to the new silhouette. I just had a quick question about cut, if you have time. I’ve noticed the pocket seam on my Clydes sort of twists over, so that the internal stitching is exposed. They also form some idiosyncratic creases around the pocket area, as if the fabric is doing something that the design doesn’t really want it to, if that makes sense. Have you noticed these issues with your Clydes at all? I don’t want to return them, and I’m sure it’s not noticeable to others, but it does give me pause occassionally.
hi anna! yes, i have noticed that on mine, the pockets on the front of my thighs sort of “pull” since my thighs are rather large. if that makes sense. the pants aren’t really TOO tight there, although they may be tighter than they “should” be…
i’m not sure that’s your same issue, but i did notice that on mine, but it doesn’t really concern me. i wonder if anyone else has noticed anything like you have?
Yes, I think I know what you mean about the ‘pulling’ at the seams, as mine do that also. But, my issue is actually around the dip of the pocket, where the inside seam is sort of being revealed. I love them, but may get in touch with ES to see if that’s a known issue – it is kind of affecting how I feel about wearing them in slightly less casual settings. Thanks, Grechen!