You Have, You Need: Black Trousers

Dec 13, 2016

Let me set the scene…

It’s 6:04PM on a Thursday night.  You have a holiday party in 56-minutes.  You’re standing in your closet thinking, “Why didn’t I buy a new dress for this?  I don’t have anything that I haven’t worn 10 times.”  Then, you reach into the back of the closet, pull out the trusty dress/jeans/blouse that you wear when you get into this situation, throw up your hands to the sky and say, “It’s fine, I look fine.”  But who wants to look ‘fine’ for a special occasion?  No one.  That’s who.

‘You Have, You Need…’ is a series dedicated to making the most of the pieces you already own.  In our first post, we cover what to add to create a stylish holiday look when you already own black trousers.

youhaveyouneed1

Black Pants. A wardrobe essential that even a dedicated proponent of skirts and dresses, like myself, needs.  This gorgeous pair is Armani, but since that is out of the question for most of us, here are some more affordable alternatives.  My current favorite pants are the Ann Taylor All Season Trousers ($98).  The Limited also has great choices like their Drew Bootcut Pants ($79) and their Ponte Straight Leg Pants ($69).

Both The Limited and Ann Taylor carry petite and tall sizes.  For plus-size wearers, try these Sejour Ela Suit Pants ($89) or these Talbot’s Lindsey Pants ($79).

Outfit No. One. The first outfit is an ivory, off-the-shoulder sweater with two crystal brooches.  The pins allow you to add a bit of sparkle without altering the neckline of the sweater.  I chose two Starburst brooches from Banana Republic ($28).  I also like this Cluster Brooch Set ($69) or this feather-shaped Eglantine Brooch ($22).

This ivory Cupcakes and Cashmere Sweater ($100) is a great choice for an elegant holiday look.  This Bardot Jumper ($44) gives a similar look for less.  Want a different color?  This Le Ciel Bleu sweater ($155) comes in a pretty eggplant color.  I also like this grey Do & Be Sweater ($54).

For this look, I would wear my hair up, but down and wavy is another great option.  Given that it’s the holidays, I would wear a winged, black eyeliner and a bright red lip.

Outfit No. Two. Lace tops are perfect for the holidays because they can be worn with anything.  Pair them easily with trousers, skirts, and jeans.  Or, if you can, remove the liner and wear it over a sleeveless dress.

This DvF Yeva Top ($328) has a slight crop look that makes it a bit more modern.  This Free People Kiss & Bell Top ($100) has an on-trend bell sleeve and a thick lace.  The geometric pattern in this lace BCBG top ($148) is very unique.  For something under-$50, try this $34 H&M top with a mock-neckline.

These large tassel drop earrings from Baublebar ($36) are perfect for holiday gatherings.  I also love this sparkly pair in shades of blue ($36). They bring a lot of impact to even the simplest outfit.  For a slightly more subtle version, these AQUA Leslie drops ($22) have a timeless gold and black palette.

Both of these outfits utilize pieces that are both classic and trendy.  All of these pieces could be brought into any wardrobe to create elegant outfits.  The ivory top would also look lovely with a pencil skirt and simple boots.  And the lace blouse could be paired with skinny jeans and a fun shoe.

You Have You Need

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  1. Mary says:

    This is a great series idea. Love these recommendations, too.

  2. Crystal says:

    I love this new feature! Great idea!

  3. Britt says:

    I love this feature! In outfit 1, would you tuck the sweater in or leave it out? Would it depend on whether you have straight leg or wide leg pants?

  4. Nikki says:

    I also love this new series!

  5. Anna says:

    Oooo loving this new feature!

  6. Maria says:

    This new series is brilliant … a perfect solution to the “I have a closet full of nothing to wear” dilemma we all face at some point.

    • Valerie says:

      Exactly! Especially when the dilemma also involves “I have very little budget left for holiday clothes after buying gifts for everyone else”…

  7. SM says:

    Ivory is quickly becoming my fav color for the holiday season. Unexpectedly fresh in a sea of red and green.

  8. Valerie says:

    FYI, I just looked at the Armani trousers. and many of their suiting items are on a 50%-off sale right now. The pair in this post is now $130, which isn’t too much more than the $98 Ann Taylor trousers. Just in case anyone was hesitant about splurging on higher-end designer pants 😉

  9. Mary says:

    Hey Belle – Twice today, I have clicked to see the comments and a spam pop-up has appeared. It hasn’t happened with any other sites I’ve visited today, and this is the first time it has happened to me while visiting your site. Wanted to let you know in case something needs adjusted on your end.

    • Belle says:

      Wait, you got a popup telling you the link you clicked was spam or you got a spam pop up ad?

    • SC MD says:

      I’ve had the same issue as Mary, I clicked on the comments link, but instead of taking me to the comments, it took me to a page that was definitely spam – something like “complete this survey to get a $1000 gift card” type page. It’s the first time that it’s happened to me as well, and it only happened once on your site, and no other sites I’ve visited recently.

  10. Missjenhend says:

    I got the spam pop up as well, and it happened to me more than once. Yikes.

  11. M says:

    No pop up here but I love this series idea!

  12. Meg says:

    I can’t repeat previous comments enough: this is such a great series idea. I have a closet full of nothing to wear! Please send help.

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