Inspire me - how do you wear your black trousers?

[sweetheart]

In a bif to stop buying more clothes I don't need (and might not wear) I have been using pintrest to try and pin inspiration so that I can make new undiscovered outfits from the things I already own.

I've noticed that nearly everything I've pinned is with jeans which I can't wear to work. I've got a few pairs of black trousers which I never wear because I have no inspiration. Trousers i have are:-

1. 1 pair black skinny / cigarette type trousers
   
2. 1 pair coated skinnies
   
3. 2 or 3 pairs of bootcut type work trousers (which I haven't worn for over a year!)
   
4. 1 pair black skinny jeans
   
5. Black leggings - which are the ones which get worn the most.
   

I'm just totally lacking in ideas of what to wear them with, I think I find shoes the hardest - I have pretty much every colour but I always feel stupid wearing coloured shoes with black trousers. Probably because my wardrobe is mostly navy blue (my black) and browns which I don't really like to mix with black.

I wear very little black - it's a colour I actively avoid normally but being a pera shape it should probably be my best friend bottoms wise.

Any ideas?

[sweetheart]

Day 2 - for anyone thats interested......

I'm in black / teal and grey today and feeling more "put together" than yesterday. I have a large teal statement necklace which is helping to detract from the doudyness of the cardigan I am having to keep wrapped up in because it's still so bloomin cold!

So, black trs,teal vest, grey jumper & cardigan, big teal necklace

I think this black trs thing will be easier when it's warmer and i can bare a bit of flesh!

I was gonna go for red and black tomorrow but I don't think I'll be able to bear wearing court shoes so I'll have to re-think!

[CointreauVersial]

If you are going to wear a scarf, try to find one with some black in the pattern to pull in the colour of the trousers.

Ditto necklaces/bracelets

[buildingmycorestrength]

I think pale blue is a good one to team with black troos, plus it goes with charcoal or white.

I wear a lot of charcoal grey with black. Or more black...tho a scarf can be good if black not good near your face.

Grey or black shoes or boots for me. Or pale blue.

[sweetheart]

carrie, I have a scalf and necklace on - perhaps it's because I'm so bloomin cold so I've had to stick a great big cardigan over the top thus ruining the entire look!

Now black and coffee - I might have to make an addition to my warbrobe for that. i only have stone or brown, nothing "coffee" coloured.

[Abra1d]

Andro you have made my day.

[Andro]

Abra1d - I have to agree about the coffee cashmere jumper and black trousers...few things look more effortlessly stylish.

[Abra1d]

I wear black trousers almost every day during winter and am hard pushed to think of anything they don't go with!

Petrel blue, white and black shirt-- tick
Camel cashmere jumper--tick
Coffee cashmere jumper--tick
Pink jumper--tick
Cream silk shirt--tick
Brown boots--tick
Black boots--tick

[carrie74]

Oh dear. Perhaps it could benefit with some accessorising (MN scarf? Bracelets? )

[Andro]

I love to team colours with black. Mid blues through to ice blue works well for me, as does mid shades of green through to ice green. Scarlet looks great on most blondes from what I've seen. Team with a black jacket/blazer and (with boot cut/smart black trousers) you have a smart outfit for work.

[sweetheart]

well I'm in the black trousers today with khaki vest and nude top. I don't feel very pulled together at all - just a bit "meh" looking really! I don't think I'll be reaching for this outfit again any time soon.

[carrie74]

Love the sound of your challenge and outfit ideas. Nice work!

[sweetheart]

Thanks for the ideas - I'm going to try and wear black trousers every day next week - outfits planned are:-

black trs, black polo and red scalf (maybe red shoes) It needs to bloomin well warm up so I can start wearing shoes instead of boots!

black trs, denim shirt, grey crew jumper

black trs, white or grey tshirt and grey cardigan

black trs, khaki vest and neutral jumper

blk trs and teal top & grey jumper

black trousers & burgandy top, maybe leopard pumps

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I'm desperate for some new cigarette trousers and failing miserably in my quest. When I do have them, I wear them with:

heeled ankle boots or heeled shoes or leopard or red ballet flats
silky tops or v plain tops and a cropped jacket (look especially nice with a Chanelesque boucle one, or a fabric biker)

[sweetheart]

Pendulum - food for thought. I do own a scalf with some red in it and although I never wear it I do actually have a black polo neck somewhere - perhaps that will be an outfit I'll try next week.....

[ivanapoo]

I get round this problem by not wearing black trousers (although I do own a pair of black skinnies which I'm wearing today with dark brown riding boots, a black and white blouse and a greige fine knit drape cardi). I find the colours that suit me go much better with denim on the whole. I have trousers in navy, taupe, brown and pink instead.

[Pendulum]

Sweetheart- I know what you mean about red and black- it can be a bold statement. But I often wear a black skirt or trouser suit to work with just a bit of red top showing, or a scarf with red in it. Since like you I avoid black next to my face, the red scarf over a black top thing can be a good compromise.

[sweetheart]

I may set myself a little challange to wear a different black trouser outfit every day next week.

[sweetheart]

Sorry been out - right so some nice ideas so far thank you......

I cannot do the shirt tucked into trousers look - I think I have a thick middle so it just ends up making me look fat - I'm not very comfortable in shirts / blouses as a whole They seem to always cut me in the wrong place.

Again with black cardigan / polo top etc etc I don't wear black tops at all if I can help it - they are very draining on me and not flattering at all.

I did recently buy a denim shirt after I noticed it featured in a lot of my "pins". i am currently learning how to wear it. When you put it under a jumper how do you stop yourself from feeling all lumpy and bumpy?

Pendulum, I totally agree about colours not going with black! It doesn't go with everything at all does it. I think it goes nicely with teal / grey. I struggle to wear it with red - I think it's a bit too garish?!?!?!

Carrie - I like the sound of your outfit and have similar items at home so I'm going to try that

Oringina - I am loving the whole burgandy / plum / aubergine palette at the moment. I have brought loads of it to complement my wardrobe!

QC - I'm stealing some of your pins

Any other wisdom to share?

[MadAboutHotChoc]

where do you get your cigarette pants from?

[orangina]

black and burgundy? Rediscovered the joys of burgundy these last few months.....

And I would wear black cigarette pants (cropped/ankle grazing?) w loafers or brogues.

Gorgeous w khaki too.....

[bleedingheart]

I like black with grey, navy, khaki or white.

Agree that pastels often don't work.

[Pendulum]

Yes I love black with navy too- think french navy rather than dark

[QueenCadbury]

Some pins from my board...

black andnclouredbshoes

black with neutral

black with navy

[carrie74]

With my straight black trousers today I'm wearing dark brown boots (just for a changes, I usually wear black boots), a longline khaki tee and beige jumper over top (3/4 sleeves, so you can see the khaki top) and green-y tie die scarf.

I agree with Pendulum about having to be careful on colours with black - they can sometimes really cheapen an outfit. On the whole, I try not to wear much black, but I find navy trousers much harder to find, so black it is.

[QueenCadbury]

I know you say you don't like to mix navy and black but I love it together. As others have said I think neutrals work well with black.