Paranoid now about my (possibly!) frumpy Next trousers!

[ShadesOfPemberley]

Bought these and have been wearing them loads with the nice weather. Generally with either a plain boxy T shirt or with a half-tucked pale blue shirt, linen or cotton, quite boyfriend style. Trainers or tan leather sandals depending on the state of my toenails!

www.next.co.uk/style/su424729/ab5871#ab5871

Planned to wear them to a casual bbq this weekend and a couple of other weekend gatherings in the next few weeks, and having read the thread about the lovely poster in the Next queue feeling frumpy I’ve lost confidence! I wanted to avoid floral dress (nothing wrong with that look either!) because I’ve gained weight and don’t feel right in dresses. I’ve been more into this style of pleated trouser all winter and feel better in these than a dress or skirt.

but are they just going to make me look (more importantly feel) like style has passed me by?! I adore clothes, always have, but have seriously lost my way with peri weight gain and a lot of stress/worry at home. Just want to feel that I look vaguely breezy and ‘with it’ as my mum used to say, I’m not saying they’re trousers you’d wear to a front row in Paris but are they just hideous and unstylish?! And the dreaded ‘f’ word?

I am 48, am 5 foot 9 and an athletic (broad shoulders) untoned size 10/12, for context! I am working on the untoned thing but for various reasons it’s a struggle.

Any styling advice (or advice to bin the trews!) gratefully received!

Well, I really like them. I don't think they are frumpy at all. You look like the kind of woman who is just on her way to an elegant French street-market, with her perfectly behaved children on hand. Stylish, but not too try-hard. In my imagination, you wear simple but beautiful, subtle jewelry and carry a gorgeous quality but simple brown leather bag. You also look exceptional in a crisp white shirt. You are unhurried and graceful but approachable and warm. (I would pair with a simple sandal rather than a trainer, but just because I am over wearing trainers all the time).

Can I just say that you've got a huge advantage being 5ft9. Cannot help thinking its a lot harder to look frumpy when you're tall.

It’s very hard to make any kind of blue and white stripe frumpy- it’s a classic.

I think they’re really nice, but worn with the wrong things they could look like pyjamas. The model is wearing heels so they look quite glamorous. I think they need to be worn with a tight top - a baggy shirt over baggy trousers can make a lot of people look huge.

I really like them OP.

Unless you are wearing a cropped top or tucking it in, no-one will even see the waistband, so those comments can be disregarded.

Wide leg trousers will suit you as you're 5'9", I'd definitely wear these with a white linen shirt **

Am I the only one that can't see them

I suggest a good slightly fitted navy T shirt. Tan sandals, gold tone jewellery. White linen shirt as as a jacket if it gets chilly.
But what do I know? I am off to ditch my two round neck just on below the knee dresses.

I like them OP but they are everyday casual/alternative to jeans type trousers. I have a pair of elasticated waist trousers and to be honest, they are like wearing pyjamas.

To use that dreaded description, they are comfortable. I also look soft and comfortable wearing them - not quite the look I was going for 🤣

They’re perfect for a casual barbecue. A PP mentioned Abercrombie and Fitch slightly more dressy trousers. They’re likely similar to Hollister Livvy trousers (same company) and they are really really flattering. They come out with a slightly different tweak each season and they’re incredibly easy to dress up or down.

Jumping on OP’s thread but mine have arrived and I really like them. However I’m neither tall or a size 10 like OP 😳

I have an important event next week where I need to be smart (meeting clients) but comfy (lots of walking) and it looks likely to be hot in the day but I’ll still be out in the evening when it may be cooler. I think they’d work well but unsure what to put with them that ticks all the boxes.

Nothing wrong with this trousers, OP, I think the key is how you wear them. Fashionable would be quite low slung with a cropped(-ish, ) boxy top that just meets the waistband. Personally I find elasticated waistbands unflattering, but they’re probably more current right now than structured ones.

I’m 31 and I have a pair very similar to these but with a normal zip fly, I wear them weekly! Navy pinstripe is quite trendy with a more casual look, I wear mine with white sambas and a plain white knit tank or maybe chunky black leather slides. If you don’t like the elastic waist band maybe add a belt?

Linen trousers pretty much always have this kind of waistband- at least most of mine do. I don’t see it as grumpy of having given up- it’s juts how most of them are made.

These are all the rage look at H&M there have loads. I have worn dresses for about ten years but I’m verging towards trousers as I’m getting fed up of not feeling super comfy in my pencil dresses and will never wear a midi again after seeing two ladies at work in them and realising that what I must look like- frumpy as.

All my linen trousers have elasticated waists, including my Toast ones. I’ve just ordered these, they’re going to be so useful. And the word “frumpy” should be struck from the lexicon.

I’m 10 years older than you and similar shape and only just started wearing the elasticated waisted trousers outdoors)apart from running stuff etc) last year. If your comfy go for it but I would wear something with a waist band

These are my ‘look’ and how you style them is how I’d style them and I know I don’t look frumpy 😁 Chunky bangle or necklace or fabulous earrings, a clutch and a good french manicure and honestly, good to go. I rarely divert from this look just in different colours x

So keep wearing them! 💙

Knee length dresses are my perfect dress! They show off my nice legs, but just cover my knobbly knees and make me look taller. I wish more shops would do a better selection of knee-length dresses and skirts