Party Pants
The effortless charm, chicness, immediate confidence boost, and, dare I say, wearability? of a pair of fun pants, and thoughts on just wearing things that make you feel great
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I have had this thing with fun pants, basically my entire life. A fun color, fun print, unique pattern or fabric. There is just something about them. For many, many years I leaned heavily towards neutral colors and patterns and leaned away from color because I got some idea in my head that everything in my closet needed to match (thankfully I’ve moved away from that idea!). And yet, the love for a fun pant has always endured.
These days I don’t have very many rules for my wardrobe other than will I actually wear that thing and does it make me feel good?, and so color and prints are more noticeable in my closet — in a very me way. There is still just something about the party pants - my love for them, my constant interest in checking a pair out when I see them, or trying them on in store. I remember a pair of rainbow pallazzo pants I found at Target probably 12 years ago that I loved for years (sigh, I wonder where those are now!). As my personal style has evolved and shifted (most notably since I entered my 30s, became a mom, and just feel more comfortable in my skin and confident in my own convictions and point of views), I’ve started to realize that the Party Pant is a great analogy for how to think about getting dressed, and how to make getting dressed fun and easy by focusing on what you love.
Although there is more color in my closet these days, I do tend to focus on wearability, and my own desire to wear a piece over and over again. Generally — super bright colors and tons of pattern doesn’t fit that bill for me — it’s not that I don’t like pieces like that — I LOVE them, but shirts, blouses, even dresses with really bright colors or loud prints - I don’t typically find ones that I know I’ll wear time and time again.
The party pant though? That is always breaking the mold. The brightest colors. The boldest pattern. It doesn’t matter how they fit in with everything else in my closet - I LOVE THEM.
Why? Because when I put them on, they make me HAPPY. Confident. Great. Like me. I can wear them in a million ways - for all the different things I get dressed for on a regular basis, and still feel like myself, and like I’m wearing them in a different way. With a t-shirt and sneakers or birkenstocks on the weekend. With a button down or collared sweater and a low heel or loafer to the office. With a silk tank and strappy shoe to go out at night. With a bathing suit as a cover up to the beach. Sometimes they might have a fabulous matching top and can be worn as a full set from time to time.
This is, in my opinion, a major, if not the unlock to make getting dressed fun and easy (okay, easier) and looking great. Filling your closet with things that make you happy, confident, like your best self — and then wearing the crap out of them. THIS is the secret sauce that makes you screenshot an outfit that is actually super simple, or notice someone out in the world who just looks fantastic — you are stopping — your scroll, your walk, your observation, because they feel happy + good, and it shows.
articulated this beautifully on her instagram stories recently — she said that most people in NYC who we look at or see pictures of and admire are wearing jeans and a t-shirt. And what makes us admire them, or look to them for style cues, is because they have that feeling of quiet confidence, of satisfaction with what they’re wearing, of feeling like they are wearing their most comfortable skin — it’s a thing that you feel, and that other people pick up on. And, its a great example of why clothes matter.
It’s the je ne sais quoi — the feeling that you just feel so great and so you in what you’re wearing. This is what threads the pieces you have in your closet all together —- how you feel when you’re wearing them.
The cardinal rule when you’re getting dressed should really be — do you feel great? So simple. Not always the easiest to satisfy — but, forget about trends, what’s in or out, what’s “flattering” or not — it’s about tuning in to yourself by listening and paying attention to how you feel in an outfit.
For those of you who might be turned off from a party pant because they are too statement-y, or hard-to-wear — here is my counter to that argument.
A pair of silk, wide-leg, patterned black pants - that I wear, on repeat, to all different kinds of things. (The pants are Doen, purchased in late 2024, they appear to be fully sold out!) I really wear them ALL THE TIME. And yeah, they are a piece that are recognized and recognizable. But I LOVE THEM. They fit great, they feel great, they are fun! I always have a basic piece that is clean that I can pair them back to (eg: they are not fussy and long look right with one thing!)
A fun pant is a season-less piece, but now that the weather is warming up, they are EVERYWHERE. And there are OPTIONS! I am excited to lean into summery fabrics and textiles, and I have been saving all the best pants I’ve stumbled across in various scrolls to share with you today, plus, details on how I would style some of my favorite pairs.
These Simon Miller striped pants started this spiral/deep dive/ rabbit hole. I love them, they’re on my wishlist for sure!
Our fave J.Crew Stratus pants with an extremely fancy twist! Or a fun pattern!
The shape and pattern of these is literally perfect!
La Veste La Veste (a spanish brand), has so many options - I love these!
If you’re more of a trouser girly — this stripe is perfect, this gingham is so fun, and in my opinion, Posse can do no wrong - example here.
If you love a silk or satiny pant — here is a great option with a subtle pattern, here is a great solid color, and I love everythi
If you love a stripe: Love this blue striped option, this rainfall - like pattern, Love this colorway - almost creates a bit of an optical illusion, these are amazing and a great price, and these would be great with a bathing suit!
If you prefer a pant with structure (eg: a waistband, button-fly, etc.) — I love that these work for the office and feel casual and comfortable. Or this more vibrant colorway!
Pelican Bird Pants - There is something about the bird pattern on these pants that is making me obsessed with them!
Donni Taffeta Drawstring Pants - These basically broke the internet, and are sold out, but you can get on the waitlist. If you’re dying for the look, these are similar!
If you just can’t do it with patterns, you’re not excluded from this — solid color party pants are in abundance. I love these, this is a gorge high-waisted trouser-style option, these yellow ones are insanely chic, and I have this white pair in my cart right now.
For under $50 — these, these ($20!) and these are amazing options! For under $100 — I love these (a stripe really does get me every time!).
Browse all pants (and several not pictured,) right this way.
Last couple bits of styling inspo (and in all of these, by the way), you could wear the same pair of pants in all these different ways — just trying to prove my thesis on not having clothes (or, at least, not too many!) that are only for a certain occasion — most of your closet should be things you wear for all the different occasions that you get dressed for!!
If you made it to the end, thank you so much for reading, and I hope, if you haven’t already, that you’ll subscribe. Lots more fun getting dressed content coming including summer essentials, what to wear to work when it’s warm, mom-friendly outfit ideas, what’s catching my eye, what I’ve been wearing and more!
ICYMI:
Getting Dressed Postpartum (or anytime after your body has changed)
Two Recent Motherhood Moments that Made My Heart Explode with Joy
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I love a party pant! This is a brilliant post, and I loved that you linked to some cropped options because as a short girl i find that a lot of party pants are always longggg! Loved your styling tips, too!
Oh, you’re speaking my language!