The Look: 

Eileen Fisher Tweedy Drawstring Pants (on sale here! very inexpensive version here)

JCrew chambray shirt (here)

Christian Louboutin pumps (here)

Thierry Lasry sunglasses (here)

Dannijo necklace (here)

Eddie Borgo bracelet (here)

Jennifer Fisher bracelet (here)

3.1 Phillip Lim pouch (older; similar here, gold version here)

Deborah Lippmann nail polish (here)

Track Pants:

Confession : I don’t really do casual clothes.

Well, that’s not entirely true. I should say my sartorial selections tend to be extreme – either extremely casual or very dressy. If I’m just spending time at home, you’ll likely find me lounging in Lululemon. Or, if I’m going somewhere, I almost always prefer dresses. I just like the way I feel when I put on something pretty and feminine.

When fall trend alerts started pouring in, everyone seemed to be including track pants on their lists. Fashion magazines, editors, online fashion authorities, and stylists all seemed equally keen to try this trend. My initial reaction : definitely a trend I could skip. Heck – I rarely do jeans or denim, much less something that resembles drawstring sweatpants!

But when I tried these particular pants on at Neiman Marcus, I was won over. The nubby tweed texture took them from gym territory to cool territory in my book. I knew they would be a unique addition to my closet, different from anything I already had. These drawstring pants have been especially useful when traveling. I like to be comfortable when I travel, and these certainly fit that bill. On the day of these photos, I was spending the morning with girlfriends in Portland before hopping on a plane to head back home. I flew back in comfort, while avoiding the dreaded sloppy traveler look.

The key to making this trend work for me personally has been pairing it with dressier items to elevate the look. Here, I added a pair of classic heels. I might also try pairing it with a structured blazer.

Is this a trend you might try? It’s definitely proven to be a practical and versatile closet addition for me.

 

Photos by Kelly Purkey in Portland, Oregon

“You are confined only by the walls you build for yourself” mural by Blaine Fontana as part of Forest for the Trees, a not-for-profit public mural project; The project has many outstanding murals, such as this one. I highly recommend you check them out if you are in the area!