Okay... I am about to buy a very expensive pair of trousers, gift from my mother - Do I need to wear a belt with belt loops??

[loveyouradvice]

Really love these trousers and have NEVER bought anything this extravagant, so loving getting them as a gift...

Key question - Would you wear them with a belt? (If so, I need to buy, as not got the right colours) Or better without?? I don't want to detract from the beauty of the trousers....

Huge thanks for SO many comments - really really appreciate them!

And this is giving me the confidence to wear them without a belt to start with... and I can decide later. At the mo, my instincts are that a belt would draw the eye away from the trousers.

This is definitely a new me ... I've lost a chunk of weight and am able to wear different clothes again, which is fun. I bought a pair of "stand-out" trousers at Christmas which I wore to virtually every occasion I could, and still adore.... so this is what is inspiring a second, rather more expensive, pair. I'm not sure why they are so expensive, but the cut really works on me and I can imagine wearing them lots.

I'm loving that so many of you would wear with a strong red or I'd be pairing them with olive green, burnt orange, burgundy red and mustard yellow although I do wear these shades a lot so I'm probably biased😂 @Panicatthegarden These are so my colours too, and I have a fair amount in my wardrobe ... I'm definitely "shopping the closet", finding treats from yesteryear that I can wear again.

£225 for some crappy polyester trews made in China? Get a grip OP.
Buy some lovely linen ones instead, preferably not made in China for 50p.

I'd hold off any belt buying decisions until the trousers arrive. Decide whether you intend to keep them first.

They’re mostly viscose - and you’d have to pay a lot more for really weighty and good quality linen trousers; the sort that don’t turn into a limp mess after ten minutes on the Tube or the time it takes to eat a sandwich on a park bench.

I’m saying nothing about provenance. People will make up their own minds. But - as someone definitely not in thrall to Me and Em - they do look rather splendid.

Also, they touch the floor on the model. She'll be at least 5'8. Perhaps you are taller. If not, they may need taking up.

@loveyouradvice , if you love them and will enjoy wearing them, then get them. Yes they're expensive, but they are striking, and if you wear them and feel confident then let your DM treat you.

Luckily I'm tall and they make my legs look ridiculously long!

Love them! Enjoy your treat x

Absolutely love them and agree you don't have to make any belt decisions until after you've tried them on and see how they feel on you. You'll be able to chose from so many different colours and it's all going to look fabulous. Enjoy!

Beautiful trousers. They do not need a belt.

Some lovely tops at Mint Velvet that would go with those trousers:

https://mintvelvet.com/products/white-knitted-waistcoat

https://mintvelvet.com/products/white-linen-scallop-shell-top

https://mintvelvet.com/products/ivory-linen-waistcoat-2

Some draping?
https://mintvelvet.com/products/neutral-satin-wrap-top

Marks & Sparks?
https://www.marksandspencer.com/linen-blend-waistcoat/p/clp60728605#intid=pid_pg10pip48g4r3c1%7Cprodflag_plp_ts_QP_100+

only £25!
https://www.marksandspencer.com/tailored-waistcoat/p/clp60677470?color=ECRU#intid=pid_pg1pip34g4r1c2%7Cprodflag_plp_ts_QP_100+

Those trousers are GORGEOUS and now I want them... 😁

I dont care for the belt they use. I would try without to begin with.

Wow! Nice pants, but soooo expensive for the fabric! Each to her own though.

Yes I've been wondering about the fabric - it is the only thing that puts me off... but hangs so beautifully and perhaps this is the best fabric for the pattern???

I've linen trousers aplenty but just plain colours, so really fancy the idea of "statement trousers" like these!!

I think the main thing is that you should resist any temptation to wash them as there’s always a danger of shrinkage. And as they’re in more than one colour you wouldn’t want to risk colour bleed. They should be fine if only dry cleaned as infrequently as possible. Soft clothes brushing, spot cleaning and gentle ironing (covered with cloth) will help to preserve them.

£225 and viscose! I think they look clownish.

Dry clean only! I would never buy trousers that I couldn't wash at home.

To put the price in context:

Bite Studios wool and silk

Beulah silk blend

Cawley Studio cotton and linen

Christian Wijnants 100% silk

Margaret Howell wool linen

From what I've seen of Me and Em - and particularly their trousers - I would say they prioritise design and cut and compromise a bit on fabric. It reminds me of Whistles a few years ago. (I don't know if Whistles do it still as they took it too far and I stopped shopping there.) Yes it would be lovely to have these trousers in a high quality fine wool or wool / linen mix but, unless you have a Margaret Howell budget, then I think it's a moot point.

Though one wouldn’t be washing tailored wool / linen mix trousers either - at any price!

(Might be different if they were wfh / loungewear elasticated waist and all one colour things.)

The trousers are nice enough but I could never justify the price, especially knowing I could make them out of better quality materials for a fraction of that.

It’s madness how much brands can up charge their naff clothes and people will still buy imo.

I'm an occasional (not very good) sewer myself and I'm particularly envious of anyone who has the skill to make well cut, well fitting trousers. But I've learned firstly that good fabric either isn't cheap or requires a lot of hunting down and trial and error, and secondly that making my own clothes, while satisfying, takes a massive amount of time and a lot of mistakes (which don't come cheap).

I think this is often underplayed on this board, possibly because, once you're an experienced sewer, it's easy to forget just how hard and time consuming it is to learn. It's really made me rethink my attitude to the price of high street clothing.

Agreed - I love Me and Em, but sometimes the quality is not right for the price (even if it's not a Margaret Howell budget). But I still buy from them because I really like their stuff. I feel good wearing it, even when I'm not feeling particularly good about myself. When stuff isn't up to standard (I have had a couple of shirts rip) I've been pretty persistent about them addressing it, because for me it is expensive enough to make that effort.

The trousers are great OP, enjoy them and ignore the nay-sayers.

I have trouser envy, OP! AND they do them in a shorter length. I think I will have to wait for the sale, sadly.