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....

I agree - the fabric is 88% Viscose and 12% Polyamide - yet they are £225. They are dry clean only.

Viscose drapes well but for that money, I'd be looking for wool or wool blend.

If you look closely at the back view, they are wrinkling between the pocket bindings and the waistband.

If I were going to splurge £225 on trousers I think I'd go for black and a high wool content with perhaps some stretch.

And then you’d look like a person in stretchy black trousers.

The OP likes these.

Whereas I would avoid anything with a high wool content in summer. Viscose feels much lighter. My daughter has a pair of 100% wool trousers (which cost WAY more than that) and can only wear them with leggings underneath as they are too itchy otherwise. My wool coat is lined with silk or I couldn't wear it.

OP likes these trousers.

I have quite a lot of me&em stuff. they can come up big and are nearly always really, really long -I'm 5.6 and half their trousers swamp me.

You might need a belt!

They're gorj, they would work with or without a belt, and be great with a white t-shirt. The uniqlo cotton ones are fantastic, if you're in the market for a new one, and only about £15.

Lots of the people on this board have really ghastly taste so I wouldn't listen when they say that something is hideous.

Thanks @LittleGwyneth I love Uniqlo and absolutely agree re their cotton T shirts!

I think viscose falls really nicely and is perfect for trousers like this BUT beware can initially shrink in the wash but is normally fine again after a steam iron!

all my dresses from nobody’s child are like this but steam iron gets them back to the right size!

Dry clean only is often a way of covering themselves because they've not tested the fabric, or else it might not have been pre-washed before use.

Viscose (and often other supposed dry clean only fabrics) can be hand washed (or even washed in a machine on a cold wash with no spin), then dried flat once the water has been pressed out. It can seize a little, but a good steam will see the garment return to its pre-wash state.

I actually think viscose is the right fabric for these trousers. It hangs nicely. I don't think a wool/linen mix would make the stripe look as crisp.

Enjoy your new trousers OP!

Because some people can’t get out of the rut of black trousers.

Those are lovely. Probably no belt. Will need a stunning top.

I get quite furious with 'dry clean only' labels on clothes that are likely to need cleaning frequently. Boden is bad for this.

Why limit yourself to one or the other? I like them without due to the horizontal stripe detail, but equally could see a nice navy or red belt. I don’t like the belt they used! Just get the trousers first, no need to rush. Try without a belt first and you can easily add a belt later.

There has been a fair bit of argy bargy on this thread but to be honest I wouldnt buy them as they are not a timeless classic. If I was spending £200 0n one piece of clothing then it would be something I would be confident I could still wear in 10 years. Yes classic black trousers have been mentioned, why? Because they are.....classic. A good quality pair that fit well will last donkeys years. I would be thinking "capsule wardrobe" and not high fashion.

So a classic cut jacket, or dress that will withstand the years using the right accessories.

Its not that I dont like them but for that kind of money (I am on a low income), I would want something that I would feel happy wearing years down the line. Not something that I love now but would make me feel out of date in a couple of years. If high fashion is your thing then spending that on one item is wasted money.

It’s good that you mentioned your own income, @PyongyangKipperbang - because (and this is in no way meant to belittle anyone; we all spend our money as we choose) it may well be that people who are encouraging the purchase don’t consider £225 to be a huge amount to pay for trousers. I am considerably poorer than I was during a previous career, but I’ve always had a taste for Good Clothes, have complete confidence in my own tastes and find it easy to spend that amount and more on items of clothing without a huge amount of cogitation. (I mean compared to all the other things adults are free to spend money on.)

If the OP felt a need for Good Black Trousers I’m perfectly sure she would have the wits to buy some. She wants these.

I see what you are saying but the OP describes them as "extravagant" and not something she would normally spend this much money on, which suggests that she is closer to my income bracket than yours.

ETA

My point was that if £200 odd is a lot for her then maybe making sure that the money goes as far as it can is the best idea. Thats why I would be looking at something that is more "capsule" than "so last year" as I suspect those trousers will become.

My parents gifted me some money for my 50th, not masses but enough to either go on a high fashion splurge or a bag that I know will still hold its place in 10 years. I chose the bag.

you could do either and they would look great either way. $630 AUD though, wow!

I wasn’t really talking about income brackets - more attitudes to spending on clothing. Plenty of people spend astonishing amounts on things that mean absolutely nothing to me. I’ve tended to prioritise clothes whatever my financial situation (which has not been linear).

And yes, I appreciate what the OP said about the price - but she wasn’t questioning their value to her (she knows they look good on her) - just asking about styling. It was posters who turned the price into a fractious debate.

I think what I’m saying is that it’s best to rely on instinct. Money is best spent, surely, where it will have the most impact. In this instance the OP anticipates getting the most bang for her buck by buying something that will make her look and feel fabulous. That’s a justification in itself.

I own one pair of black trousers and hardly ever wear them, not even for funerals, and they will date at the same rate as the rest of my wardrobe. For me they were a bad buy. Maybe the op's the same.

I love them! Can't see what's wrong with viscose- it's a versatile material and breathable. Do you people only wear silk or something?

I would style them like they are on the model with a neutral coloured blouse and jacket so that the trousers make more of a statement. Don't think they need a belt though- the belt makes them look too fussy.

If people think viscose trousers should be cheaper- what should expensive trousers be made of?

I agree. If you’re investing in an expensive item it’s better to find a timeless classic that you can still wear in 10 years. These ultra wide pants are very now and the stripes even more so. You may not be wearing them in 2 years let alone 10.

@OneBadKitty , I don't like feel of viscose, but the quality of the fabric can vary. I don't have much in silk.

I can see both sides of the argument, but as others have pp, the OP isn't looking for black trousers.
Black or navy trousers are fairly unremarkable.
I wear them a lot because of that.

I really like them but what shoes would you wear with them ? Those suede Ugg boot style boots are making my heart sink