One of the things that I love about living here is that you can buy clothes at the grocery store.
I bought these pants just that way 2 years ago -
These are fairly straight legged, flat fronted cropped trousers - add to that their classic black color – and they ride the fickle tides of fashion well -
Audrey Hepburn set a standard with this genre of trouser – that’s great – but that was Audrey – you’re you -
No need to try to emulate this look if it is not right for you.
Like it’s cousin - the black pencil skirt - the black cigarette pant is sobering and sometimes intimidating - if only because of Audrey but perhaps more so because of the blinding number of possibilities basic black and classic shapes proffer -
It helps to narrow the playing field.
Where to begin?
Make it manageable by zoning in on 3 things -
1 - your lifestyle demands
ex. heels or no? work or home?
2 - your figure
ex. high waist or low waist? flat front or pleats?
3 - your preferences
ex. colors or neutrals? solids or patterns?
Why not Audrey?
Solid Black creates a strong silhouette and so this is as close to Audrey as I will ever want to get with my type figure – no need to advertise my hip to waist ratio is not what it should be -
black creates a strong silhouette
Good for Audrey – not so good for me.
These outfits would make me happier -
I played off the masculine vs. the beatnik vibe – I can do that safely because I am curvy – by using menswear shirts and boy tanks – then added just a touch of something feminine or playful - expressing personality vs. emphasizing body shape.
Because Audrey was straight up and down – these outfits might not have worked on her. They might have made her look too boyish. She wisely kept her silhouette slim to show what curves she did have, and in so doing emphasized her slight figure, making the high note in her outfit her delightfully expressive face.
Emphasize what you are comfortable emphasizing. There is nothing more mournful in the world of outfits than to see someone uncomfortable in their clothes.
Rather than applying an iconic item such as black cigarette trousers to emulate another’s style – you can purpose them to discover yourself and bring yourself alive. You can still remain classic or romantic, reserved or assertive and do that. No need to give up your soul.
How about you :) How would you wear black cigarette trousers to suit your personality, body, and lifestyle?
