Neat TREND! Bottoms up to soft, baggy pants

By Marianne Schnell, NEAT contributor

Do you ever look forward to pulling out your “fat pants?” Didn’t think so. Thankfully the time has come to ditch these depressing duds in favor of the recent reinvention of loose fitting pants. Let us not revert to the days of the running man, because, yes, we are indeed too legit to quit hammer pants. Time to let go of the stigma and embrace the comfort of the harem, carrot, stretch, eased or slouchy style pants. Our new go-to bottoms are offered in a variety of interesting silhouettes and roomy alternatives to your stale staples.

“I wear them to pick up my kids from school, and the other moms in their track suits kind of stare,” said Tez Hartney, the minimalist-chic owner of Portland’s Parallel Boutique. We were equally mesmerized by Hartney and the countless looks – both casual and dressy – that she quickly put together using the Paul & Joe Sister silk “Sultan” pant. Be it a cropped sweater or tunic length T-shirt, this pant allows the freedom to play with proportions and versatility.

To step it up a notch, swap out your typical trousers and sashay in a pair of dark, silky pants with a luxurious feel. Scrunch them up mid-calf to reveal your best statement-making high heels and top it off with a simple, plain top and bold necklace. You’ll be the talk of First and Last Friday, and don’t count out pants for a wedding or special occasion either.

We’re not suggesting you ditch your denim and go all soft on us, but we encourage you to consider lightening up a bit with some help from Portland’s local trendsetters:

Shop Adorn
After a hugely successful offering of the celeb-endorsed J.Brand “Houlihan,” Adorn owner Nicole Whitesell has extended her cargo selection to include the Siwy Denim uber-plush yet simple “Marielle” ($187) and the funkier “Valentine” denim cargo pant styles ($228, top and above right), both of which are plush, comfortable and meant to fit baggy at the waist. Looks as though the skinny cargo just got 15 more minutes of fame. Shop Adorn, 4759 N.E. Fremont St.; 1-888-654-0570. www.shopadornonline.com

Golden Rule
Didn’t mind changing in the closet (no, really) to test out the bright coral extreme drop-crotch style by local label Greater Than 3. The adorable shopgirl Wendy’s suggestion to pair it with a teal green vintage silk top sealed our deal to rock a look that extends beyond our local fashion parameter. Golden Rule, 811 E. Burnside St.; 503-477-5124. www.goldenruleportland.com

Red Light Clothing Exchange
For those unafraid to take a fashion risk, here you will find every shape, color, detaling, embellishment and fabrication possible. The Red Light boasts an incredible selection of slightly drop-crotched, often high-waisted and elastic banded pants. A little stretch in your mid-section never hurts, and a tucked in top in a contrasting fabrication defines instant, effortless chic. Red Light Clothing Exchange, 3590 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.; 503-963-8888. www.redlightclothingexchange.com

Goodwill Industries
For the best selection of trendy retail head eastbound towards the ‘burbs. There’s never a guarantee of what slouchy goodness you’ll find, but for the price — and the jackpot of more than 50 outlets within 20 miles of Portland — it’s worth the trip. www.meetgoodwill.org

Parallel Boutique
This upscale boutique isn’t short on downtown style. In addition to the line by Paul & Joe Sister mentioned above, you can slip into a the Praire Underground “Savoy” loose pant ($155, above right) in a basic black or trendy tan silk/hemp blend. Parallel Boutique, 1022A N.W. Johnson St.; 503-274-8882. www.parallelpdx.com

Mario’s
This chic downtown boutique department store has the perfect soft substitute for work trousers by way of a gorgeous pair of Brunello Cuccinelli Italian wool pants ($735), made to hang low with a pleated front and ankle cuffs. Belt these babies and off you go.

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