At ease: the styles that feel modern now

Lately I’ve found myself drawn toward more slouchy, relaxed silhouettes. Here I’m trying something new: a casual outfit with relaxed trousers and a longer v-neck sweater.

A casual-but-polished outfit with relaxed trousers

Normally I don’t wear slouchy-with-slouchy, but here I like how the longer cardigan keeps the overall vibe casual and relaxed. I’ve added some color with the bag and bracelets, but could just as easily have kept the whole look neutral.

I’m wearing a size XS in the cardigan, and 8 Petite in the pants. I sized up as the waist in the 6P was too snug. Because I’m petite (5’1″), I usually shy away from fuller cuts, but really wanted to give this look a try. The pants are full through the hips and legs, but because the fabric is light and a bit drapey, they don’t feel like they overwhelm my frame.

With the longer, fuller pants, I went with probably the more obvious shoe choice: a color close to the pants with a longer toe box to further elongate the leg. But in my head, I have a vision of a pointed or snipped toe style shoe or boot in metallic finish, just to funk things up a little bit. (Still haven’t found the right one.) I’d also wear these with a low-heeled sandal. I’ve seen relaxed trousers like this styled with sneakers or fisherman sandals, but those felt too clunky when I tried them.

One of the questions I ask myself when trying something new is, “can I wear it multiple ways?” I could easily dress up these relaxed trousers with a silk top, jacket, and different shoes and jewelry. (Will be playing with options, look for more stylings soon.) Or with my leopard print cardigan, or a tee.

Pants are available in 5 colors, Classic sizes 00-24, as well as Petite and Tall. Cardigan is available in 4 colors, sizes XX-Small to 3X.

Tweaking our style to keep things fresh

Even the most classic styles evolve over time. Silhouettes, details, fabrics…what once felt “timeless” starts to look a little stale and dated. And we aren’t static either; our lifestyles and perspectives change and evolve. Clothes that perfectly expressed who we were a decade ago now can feel “off,” like they belong to someone else.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not advocating for chasing trends or treating our wardrobes as disposable. But sometimes we need to tweak around the edges in order to bring our style back into alignment.

There’s a certain ease that feels modern now, and I find I want to lean into that, and away from anything that looks or feels constricting. I’m not talking about crazy oversized pieces, but rather slightly relaxed fits and fluid fabrics. I still want to look neat, but be comfortable too.

Have you tried any new styles lately that are a change from your usual?

More styles with modern ease

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