I am a small woman. My height is about 163 cm, and I’ve never felt self-conscious about that as I did about some other traits of mine. That is until I started working as a fashion journalist. Suddenly, everyone around me seemed to have an opinion on what others should wear according to their body figure. “If you’re an apple, you should always bring attention to your skinny legs.” “If you’re an hourglass, you shouldn’t wear boxy tops.” “If you’re a pear, you’re forbidden to wear anything low-rise.” I always thought this was a bunch of crap - no body is the same. And yet, I trusted them and went on wearing skinny jeans and mini skirts because “my legs are my best feature, and I’m too short for wide pants or long skirts.”
Secretly, inside, I always wanted to wear big pants. Figuratively, of course. Men have worn them for too long and are still wearing which is completely outrageous, and I’m fed up with it. But literally, too. I just really want to wear big pants. I want to let my tiny legs relax in there, to breathe, be free. I want to feel empowered by them, filled with confidence and self-respect. I need that big-pants energy in my life.
Because of everything stated in the beginning, I don’t own a lot of big pants. However, I bought a few pairs throughout the years and then never wore them. I unearthed them a few days ago and decided to try them on and see if big pants and I should reintroduce ourselves.
I loved it.
I found a pair of corduroy pants in a perfect forest green shade (my iPhone isn’t doing them justice here). I got them at a second-hand store in college and completely forgot about their existence. What I love about them the most is that someone altered their waist to make it smaller. The person who did it was an amateur, and their ‘work’ would send every tailor into a spiral. But it kind of works. And they fit me perfectly. I wore them with a camel blazer and a white T-shirt. I wanted to recreate the colors from look 14 from Alberta Ferretti’s fall/winter 2021 collection. It would’ve worked better with a frilly-collar shirt that I simply don’t own, but I liked it anyway.
But there was only one problem - the shoes. What type of shoes does one wear with big pants? For this particular look, I would like a tight, pointy suede ankle boot. I don’t own those. But what about other looks? Loafers or ballet flats that don’t show a lot of skin would’ve worked, too. Don’t own them either. And I kept thinking about these The Row flats that are so ridiculous, but I love them - what can I say? Certainly don’t own those. Oh, well. No shoes, no problem. I went on with the experiment wearing socks only. (No free feet pics, sorry, toe lovers.)
Next, I tried on these knitted pistachio-colored pants I got at a second-hand store in Ljubljana, Slovenia, a few years ago. They fall beautifully and are a great pal with turtlenecks. However, they don’t have a lot of structure. They’re relatively fluid, and they need a strong statement top. So I paired them with a jacket my friend Damir designed and made (it’s part of a skirt suit, it goes with a skirt you might remember from the Neverworns newsletter).
The third look was a whole suit I made in college. (The pants also had an appearance in the Neverworns newsletter.) I took a cue from my friend Veronika and wore a necklace instead of a top because why not. And again, no shoes! If you’re a stylist or simply have strong opinions on other people’s outfits, let me know in the comments which shoes to wear with these looks. Because now that I’ve tried them on, I’m not taking the big pants off.
Hello N,
As I’m waiting for a plane to take off 😁 stumble upon this
Shoes suggestions:
black or white or even color sling back, kitten heel (you know Prada like.. Pointy would like to see on you
If it’s winter some heel boot works too, round and a bit higher heel
1st look - sneakers could work too, low black (maybe white)
X
M.
I love the third outfit especially!
Greetings from a short lady that wears long skirts and wide trousers ‘cause her legs are not tiny and yes always with loafers or friulane shoes .