Drifter Hathor Origami Pants | made in the US, size large, I got them on RIDICULOUS sale
Vince turtleneck sweater | year or so old
Veja Sustainable sneakers
Kara small dry bag | bought w/credits via Garmentory
I have short legs. And sometimes, the way I dress/what I wear, makes them look even shorter. It doesn’t help that they are also “substantial” (yes, muscular, but also heavy). This is a problem when I allow the voices in my head that say I should be dressing in a more “flattering” way for my body (the voices I grew up with; the ones that tell me I should only wear flared leg jeans and pointy toe shoes, always wear heels, etc. etc.) speak louder than MY OWN voice. It happens more than I’d like, still, but less than it used to. I appreciate my legs, and there’s nothing I can do to make them longer.
Sure, I could dress to make them appear longer, and to make myself look taller, wear more “flattering” clothes for my “body type,” but I don’t want to all the time. Who am I kidding, I don’t want to ever. I just want to wear what I want to wear. And why shouldn’t I? “Flattering” is code for dressing to look taller, thinner and perfectly proportionate. What’s the fun in that?
So, here I am, wearing what I want to wear, even though when I first tried on these pants*, I liked them a lot, but I also thought “my legs are too short for these pants.” Maybe they are. I certainly don’t look like the model in them, but so what? I look how I look. Might as well rock it.
Happy Friday!!!
*I realize I didn’t say much about the pants. I love them, and I’ve been interested in them since I discovered Drifter, but I shouldn’t have bought them. I didn’t need them, they don’t fill a hole in my wardrobe, and I will probably not wear them as often as I should, considering that everything should really earn a place in my wardrobe. I bought them in person (which is dangerous for me), they were on VERY DEEP discount, like it was almost criminal what I paid, and I just fell in love. So, I’m kind of frustrated with myself that I bought them. But I think they’re cool, and a worthwhile investment if you wear leggings a lot and want an interesting made-in-the-US pair. They’re very well made, substantial (slightly heavier material), and so cool…
I think these pants fit you perfectly and look great! And as fellow short-legged person I have the same internal dilemmas. I’m getting better at listening to my own voice but have yet to tune out the others.
thanks laurie, i like them a lot. so crazy how those voices from way back when still stick with you. mine are from my twenties when i was really learning how to dress I guess – and the focus was completely on looking taller and thinner. nothing else. maybe i blame stacy london LOL – but seriously. all those makeover shows were primarily concerned with making the women look thinner and taller.
I love these pants on you and this whole outfit! I know you know this but sometimes it’s okay to splurge, esp. for something you’ve been eyeing for a long time that’s on a deep deep discount. To use the Kondo terminology, it sounds like the pants spark joy for you, which is a reason all by itself to get and keep them. I love your blog & your honesty abot yor struggles – and I totally relate. Just wanted to drop a line of support!
thank you michelle – you’re right, they do spark joy, but i’m not sure they will for very long, you know? and that’s okay too, because i know i can find a good home for them when i’m finished with them, but still. the struggle is real LOL
For what it’s worth… you’re right, they don’t look the same on you as they do on the model on the website, but to be honest I like them much better on you. On you they look really cool but effortless, and I find myself tempted; on the website model, the whole thing just seems a bit goofy to me and I would have passed right by them.
I do sympathize with you. My legs are actually fairly long for my height (which isn’t exactly a big accomplishment, as I’m only 5’5″, but I’ll take it), but between “thunder thigh” genetics and a lifetime of competitive horseback riding, they’re very thick. I still find myself very uncomfortable not wearing heels, as I feel shorter and thicker without them, but I’m working on it. Your blog helps. My mind still sees you as being so much cuter in sneakers than I am, though!
I LOVE those pants on you! Life is too short not to be comfortable. I have so many other things I would be rather doing than fussing with my clothing which is why I almost exclusively wear Eileen Fisher and Mimu Maxi these days. Overall not the most figure flattering clothing, but they camouflage my issues, make me look polished, are comfortable, easy to mix and match (kind of trying to minimlize a bit) and I do feel pretty badass in them. So there. Maybe it’s the fact that I am almost 50 speaking lol. The cool thing is that my teenage daughters like my outfits these days and say they are cool and simple in an “arty” way.
Keep being true to you Grechen, you have come far in the past year and I like where you are going. AND if those pants ever need a new home, please let me know. I know they would spark joy for me.
wow. thank you so much for your comment 🙂
i am so thankful for my body, and my legs most of all, because they carry me around, quite nicely. and they hardly ever complain. which means i should probably shut up and stop complaining about their being short LOL – it’s just another one of body issues i have to overcome, and i will, with a little more time.
i hardly ever wear heels anymore, just my clogs and wedges, which aren’t very high, really. i don’t even own a “real” pair of heels, much to my husband’s dismay! i certainly don’t think i look amazing in sneakers, or most flats, unless they show enough of my foot, but i have let go of that, because i like to be able to walk comfortably. The key for me and sneakers like the ones i’m wearing is to show just the teeniest bit of ankle, not to have the pants i’m wearing hit all the way at the top of my shoe. maybe try that?
oh, i think these would be just your style!! i wish the place I bought them had another pair for you so you can have them right now, but yes, i’ll definitely let you know when i’m ready to pass them on 😉
i think i’m just still trying to find the balance between what I think is interesting/chic, what is ME, and what i like ON me – sometimes those things just don’t intersect. these pants actually DO intersect, but like i said, i still have those voices in my head telling me they don’t look right. the voices don’t last, but they’re there in the background at first, well, not first, first, i’m like WHOA, these are AWESOME. then, starts the second guessing. story of my life 🙁
Amen to being thankful – I’ve been teaching therapeutic horseback riding for the past few years, and it’s hard to be upset about my legs being thick when there are so many people who have never been able to use theirs. Sometimes gratitude for what they can do doesn’t translate to joy when I look in a mirror, though. Working on that!
I hadn’t even thought about showing ankle with sneakers. Probably should have, but I didn’t. 😉 I’ll give it a try over the weekend. Because really, shoes just shouldn’t have to be such a big deal.
Tell that danged voice to go away!!! You look so great in this outfit, and yes, the pants are super “interesting”…exactly what I’d notice and be envious of if I saw you walking down the street. And to be honest, the old me, the “Stacy London acolyte,” would have said pointy toe heels, bootcuts…blah blah blah! But I am learning right along side you as you move forward, which is WAY more interesting and modern than looking over one’s shoulder.
P.S. Don’t give up on the clogs, wedges or sneakers…they’ve become your trademark! Sorry, Leo 😉
The new Stacy London is a little less cookie cutter!
I love those pants. Not my style but love them on you!! I think you look great 🙂
Ugh, I struggle with that voice too! I have thicker ankles, and too often I am worried if certain hemlines/shoes are flattering. I just want to wear what I want to wear sometimes. I read this post awhile back and it has definitely mad me re-think the ‘flattering’ voice from time to time. (http://into-mind.com/2015/03/25/why-i-dont-believe-in-dressing-for-my-body-type/)
I LOVE those leggings!!! If you decide to part with them, let me know! I’ll buy them from you! 😀
I love your blog and especially that you stay with USA and sustainable clothing.
We are doing DEEP discount End of Season Sale now ; )