lucy_in_disguise Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 I am struggling to find a brand I really like for (women's) work pants and jeans. I feel like I am missing something when it comes to shopping, because it shouldn't be THAT hard to find what I am looking for. I am young-ish and looking for professional/ classy, but not old lady wear. I am tall-ish and athletic, size 6-8. Money is not too much of an issue though I would prefer to spend less than $150. If the style, fit, and quality blows me away I am willing to spend more. With work pants, I am finding either the fit is off (generally, simultaneously too tight in waist and too loose in thighs, too short, or rise is off), too manly, bad quality (stretch out or lose shape over time, or bad quality control of brand), or too trendy for my personal preferences (ankle pants wtf). My favorite work pants used to come from BCBG outlet, but I haven't found any I have liked there in years. Based on their website it seems they have switched to XXS - XXL sizing for pants which is just a bad idea IMO. I have tried Banana Republic, JCrew, Calvin Klein, Tahari, Express, Kenneth Cole. Pretty meh about all those brands. With jeans, it's always a struggle finding a pair that fits right. I feel like Joie jeans fit my body type well, but the dark washes bleed like a motherfcvker even after multiple rinses. I am sick of having blue hands by the end of the day. Do you ladies have any suggestions? Link to post Share on other sites
d0nnivain Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Jones NY especially the outlets is my go to brand for work clothes. You can clean up at the sales. Jeans are tougher. When I see a pair I think I might like, I try them on. More times then not it's a no-go. Lately I have had luck with Ann Taylor and Mexx. Link to post Share on other sites
newmoon Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 is Jones NY the same as New York and Co? anyway, lots of women at my office seem to go to NY&Co and Nordstrom for their pants, suits, etc. personally I find great career pants at Kohls and they aren't over 45. i also like INC pants which I think are exclusive to Macy's. Link to post Share on other sites
d0nnivain Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Jones NY is much more high end then NY & Co. They are not related. You can find Jones in stand alone "outlet" stores or at major dept stores (Macy's, Lord & Taylor, Sax, etc) . Sometimes it trickles down in to discount stores like Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls or TXMaxx but rarely. Link to post Share on other sites
mammasita Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Love NY&Co for work clothes. Very on trend and they always have sales. I also frequent the Limited and Victoria's Secret (they have great work wear and awesome heels on line). I have to buy tall pants because I find regular cut is too short for my taste (I'm 5'7"). As for jeans, american eagle is a good brand (love love love jeggings) and if you wanna be fancy 7FAM....they cost an arm and a leg but fit oh so nice and hug the butt cheeks like their pigs in a blanket. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author lucy_in_disguise Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 Thanks. I have actually never been to ny and co, nor tried on jones ny. I will have to check those out. Link to post Share on other sites
oz-missy Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Asos. I love their clothes. Quick shipping and they are pretty darn cheap! Link to post Share on other sites
newmoon Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Love NY&Co for work clothes. Very on trend and they always have sales. I also frequent the Limited and Victoria's Secret (they have great work wear and awesome heels on line). I have to buy tall pants because I find regular cut is too short for my taste (I'm 5'7"). As for jeans, american eagle is a good brand (love love love jeggings) and if you wanna be fancy 7FAM....they cost an arm and a leg but fit oh so nice and hug the butt cheeks like their pigs in a blanket. I love(d) the Limited!!! but they are gone from my region of the US. great place for career wear Link to post Share on other sites
Els Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Is it acceptable for you to wear dresses to work instead? I don't work in a corporate environment, but my friends who do say they prefer dresses over pants. Easier to find a comfy one that fits right and looks appropriate. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
mammasita Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 I love(d) the Limited!!! but they are gone from my region of the US. great place for career wear Who goes to the store? I shop online LOL. I'm a weird woman, I hate malls and trying on clothes, I usually buy my clothes on line. Is it acceptable for you to wear dresses to work instead? I don't work in a corporate environment, but my friends who do say they prefer dresses over pants. Easier to find a comfy one that fits right and looks appropriate. Definitely acceptable. There's a ton of business type dresses out there. I wear dresses to work maybe once a week usually with stockings/nylons (which aren't my fave). I prefer pencil skirts and collared shirts and pants over dresses though. Link to post Share on other sites
d0nnivain Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 , but my friends who do say they prefer dresses over pants. Easier to find a comfy one that fits right and looks appropriate. Where do your friends shop? It's rare that I can find a decent dress anywhere anymore. Forget a suit with a skirt. All I find are pants, pants, skimpy sundress & cocktail or formalwear. Link to post Share on other sites
Els Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Where do your friends shop? It's rare that I can find a decent dress anywhere anymore. Forget a suit with a skirt. All I find are pants, pants, skimpy sundress & cocktail or formalwear. There are some brands specializing in workwear for women. I doubt the brands we have here will be similar to those that you have in the USA, so I can't help with that unfortunately. Was just offering the OP an alternative option since she has a lot of trouble finding pants that fit. If pants work for you, then that's all good. Link to post Share on other sites
FitChick Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Where do your friends shop? It's rare that I can find a decent dress anywhere anymore. Forget a suit with a skirt. All I find are pants, pants, skimpy sundress & cocktail or formalwear. Try Zara. A friend has bought some nice dresses at a good price. It's a Spanish brand so clothing is more body conscious. Link to post Share on other sites
Biscous Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Athletic builds are hard as hell. As a male I have a tough time finding jeans. Has good luck. Link to post Share on other sites
Author lucy_in_disguise Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 Is it acceptable for you to wear dresses to work instead? I don't work in a corporate environment, but my friends who do say they prefer dresses over pants. Easier to find a comfy one that fits right and looks appropriate. Yup, and I wear skirts/ dresses a lot. I agree, it is much easier to find ones that fit well. That said, I also like having pants for backup. I feel like dresses/ skirts generally require a higher level of overall polish to complete the look. I am much more comfortable wearing pants and a plain top on the days I roll out of bed too late and show up at the office with my hair in a pony tail, no makeup, and glasses. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
FitChick Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Find a good tailor. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Author lucy_in_disguise Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 Also: has anyone else noticed all the stores have been pushing ankle pants lately? WTF is up with that? They are the most awkward length ever IMO. Too long to be comfortable in the summer. Fcvking worthless in the winter. Requiring of precise coordination with shoes. Is it so wrong to expect pants to cover my whole leg?? Link to post Share on other sites
Els Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Yup, and I wear skirts/ dresses a lot. I agree, it is much easier to find ones that fit well. That said, I also like having pants for backup. I feel like dresses/ skirts generally require a higher level of overall polish to complete the look. I am much more comfortable wearing pants and a plain top on the days I roll out of bed too late and show up at the office with my hair in a pony tail, no makeup, and glasses. Oh, yeah, I def agree with that. Does your office find leggings and tunics acceptable? Lots of women here wear those to the office and it's perfectly acceptable, but the dress code in this country is probably way less formal than the USA. But if it's an option then you could look into it, because leggings are generally comfy and look okay when paired with a nice tunic. Think something like this: http://www.umekobeautyfashion.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tunic-Tops.jpg Link to post Share on other sites
hasaquestion Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 I am struggling to find a brand I really like for (women's) work pants and jeans. I feel like I am missing something when it comes to shopping, because it shouldn't be THAT hard to find what I am looking for. I am young-ish and looking for professional/ classy, but not old lady wear. I am tall-ish and athletic, size 6-8. Money is not too much of an issue though I would prefer to spend less than $150. If the style, fit, and quality blows me away I am willing to spend more. With work pants, I am finding either the fit is off (generally, simultaneously too tight in waist and too loose in thighs, too short, or rise is off), too manly, bad quality (stretch out or lose shape over time, or bad quality control of brand), or too trendy for my personal preferences (ankle pants wtf). My favorite work pants used to come from BCBG outlet, but I haven't found any I have liked there in years. Based on their website it seems they have switched to XXS - XXL sizing for pants which is just a bad idea IMO. I have tried Banana Republic, JCrew, Calvin Klein, Tahari, Express, Kenneth Cole. Pretty meh about all those brands. With jeans, it's always a struggle finding a pair that fits right. I feel like Joie jeans fit my body type well, but the dark washes bleed like a motherfcvker even after multiple rinses. I am sick of having blue hands by the end of the day. Do you ladies have any suggestions? I'm male, but your problems sound very familiar to me. If the waistband fits the legs look like skinny jeans. If the legs fit right, they are too long, and there's too much material around my waist and butt. etc. I'll echo the poster who suggested Zara. I wear pants I've bought there to work pretty often. The cut of the clothes is for Europeans, so they fit well if you're thin but not small. And unlike Express, the other big player in the cheap European-fitted clothes market, the dress pants I've gotten at Zara strike a balance between being stylish and reserved. The dress pants at Express look more like they belong in a nightclub. Zara's problem is the quality of the clothes is lacking. But given the good fit, and that the price is more reasonable than the upscale department stores, I'm okay with it. Link to post Share on other sites
mercuryshadow Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Have you tried White House Black Market? If spending up to $100 a pair is not an issue for you, their clothing is well made and not only goes by size, but also has lengths. I shop there if I have coupons or if there is a sale, and most of the time, I am very happy with the garments. I've also recently found some nice things at Anne Taylor and the Loft. I also shop the Limited on occasion, too. Nowadays, I don't mind spending a little more on clothing, as long as it is well made and will last. Link to post Share on other sites
Ruby Slippers Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 My approach to shopping is to go to a concentrated shopping area and store hop. Brands are constantly changing their cuts and quality, so you never know. The last dressy work pants I got that were a perfect fit were from Ann Taylor, under $100 on sale. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
FitChick Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 The Express has some cute things and great sales. Get on their mailing list. Link to post Share on other sites
mea_M Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 (edited) Banana republic has some very simple and clean looks. You can get a real great deal if you shop an outlet store. I've found some adorable things for next to nothing on the sale racks. Just realized you've tired this one. How about a Anthroplogie? They have gorgeous things. You will pay a bit, but their cloths are worth it. Mea :-) Edited March 12, 2014 by mea_M Add to post Link to post Share on other sites
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