Last week, we featured three trouser jeans at three different price points in our Splurge, Spend, Save feature. This week, let’s talk about how to wear them.
The great thing about trouser jeans is that you can wear them in so many different ways, from dressed down with sneakers to paired with your favorite heels. I’ve always appreciated their versatility and how easily they work with the striped tees, sweaters and button-downs already in your closet. A few changes to your shoes and accessories can take them from a casual Saturday to dinner or a relaxed office.
For these outfits, I combined reader-favorite best sellers with a few new finds. The goal is to help you make more of the pieces you already own while thoughtfully building out your fall wardrobe. Below, I styled one pair three ways, moving from a casual Saturday outfit to something you could easily wear to dinner or a relaxed office.
Weekend Ready
A striped tee, navy sweater and jeans will always work. Here, the trouser jeans give that familiar combination a longer, fuller silhouette.
Layer the quarter-zip over the striped tee, allowing the neckline and a little of the stripe to show. You could also drape the sweater over your shoulders for an extra layer and a little more interest. Because the jeans have so much volume through the leg, keep the top half of the outfit fairly neat rather than covering the waistband with something long and oversized.
Here’s what were wearing:
Boden makes the best quality Breton long sleeve tee. Priced at $49 (you can take 15 % off with code RNMV). For the top layere, I like the Lands End Drifter Shaker Wedge Quarter Zip Sweater in Navy, it is 100% cotton with regular and petite sizes available on promo for $45.98.
I think what really makes the outfit are the The Women’s GrandPrø Premier Sneakers from Cole Haan, a best seller last week. They are substantial and slightly chunky, which gives them enough weight to hold their own beneath the fuller leg of the jeans. The trick here is that your jean HAVE to be tailored properly. You want the hem to just graze the the top of the sneaker with a very subtle break.
Your bag will obviously depend on what is on the agenda for the day. I’m featuring this cognac suede tote is from M.Gemi. I mentioned it on Substack on Friday and could not believe how many readers scooped it up. The suede adds warmth and texture against the navy and dark denim. This is not a large as it looks, but it does hold everything you might need.
If you want the look for less, while this isn’t a dupe, this oversized slouchy shoulder bag from Target is only $35 and adds the same color and texture for only $35.
And for a little day time bling, I like these pavé hoops from Dean Davidson, a classic shape with a little twist.
This is a pulled-together outfit for the weekend or a casual weekday spent working from home, bouncing from Zoom calls to Target runs, errands and lunch. It is comfortable, practical and still looks like you got dressed on purpose.
Chic and Casual
This is my favorite of the three outfits and probably the easiest way to dress up trouser jeans.
Chocolate brown continues to be the color of the season and looks beautiful against dark denim, especially when you layer in different shades and textures. The soft shirt, suede clutch and ankle boots keep the tonal palette interesting without making everything match exactly.
Let’s break down the look:
The shirt is The Icon from The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens, which has quickly become a reader favorite. It is $135, comes in sizes XXS through XXL and is designed with hidden buttons through the bust to prevent gaping. It is certainly an investment for a button-down, but the fabric, fit and thoughtful construction set it apart from a basic shirt. In particular, the way it tapers through the body creates a tailored fit that tucks neatly into the waistband without leaving you with a lot of extra fabric.
A less expensive option is the The Everyday Shirt in Breezy-Cotton from Banana Republic, retailing for $98 but currently40% off. A note on fit, this not as tailored as the The Icon which will make a difference in how this looks tucked in but you can make it work.
Tuck it into the jeans and add the belt to define the waist. With this much fabric through the leg, showing some shape at the waist keeps the proportions balanced. The subtle animal print on the belt adds just enough pattern to break up the brown. I’m a big fan of Favorite Daughter’s belt assortment. They are almost all $98 and 100% leather, so this is where I would tell you to spend a bit more on better quality. Featured above is their The Leopard Favorite Belt, I really like the print, sometimes leopard can look a bit cheap no matter what the price point is.
There are lower priced options, like this one from J.Crew Factory but I prefer the depth of color the one from Favorite Daughter gives us.
For shoes, a pointed-toe boot works particularly well because the toe peeks out beneath the hem and continues the long line of the jeans. Featured above are the Sylvie Ankle Boots in Suede from J.Crew. I have these in black leather and black suede and the are fabulous. The heel height is perfect, they are streamline so they disappear into whatever you are wearing.
Then some accessories. This oversized suede clutch looks expensive but it is only $20 at Old Navy, an immediate add to cart. And finally, I was recently introduced to a jewelry brand called Sterling Forever and ordered their Chocolate CZ Cocktail Right, it’s big and ridiculous and I love it.
Headed to the Office
Finally, for this last look I’m playing with an unexpected color combination, and green with burgundy feels particularly good for fall.
The green sweater starts the outfit, but the burgundy coat and bag give it depth. Dark denim provides a neutral base for both colors and allows them to work together without feeling overly coordinated.
Since the color combination already makes an impact, the shapes can stay classic. The sweater is simple, the coat is tailored and the bag is structured. The necklace pulls in another shade of green and brings some interest near the face, while the pointed slingback gives the wider jeans a lighter finish than a boot.
Let’s break down our pieces:
I really like any shade of green and dark denim, so I went with this fresh Peridot green cashmere boyfriend sweater form Tuckernuck. I find Tuckernuck sweater to run on the small side so keep that in mind. This is a “boyfriend” style which just means oversized, but it’s not that oversized. I still ordered my usual medium and I feel like it fits like a normal sweater.
And no matter what price point in cashmere I feature I always get complaints, I’m either featuring one that is too expensive or priced so low it can’t possibly be good quality. So if you looking for a lower priced sweater, J.Crew has nice cashmere in a similar green but these also run small. And Boden has a very similar style in a short sleeve that would also be great for this time of year.
For our neutral, instead of basic black, brown or tan I went with Burgundy. We’ll see a lot of it this season and it’s a color that even when it isn’t trending it’s super wearable, so you’ll a lot of life out of your purchase. I have been wanting to feature these Burgundy Python Embossed Slingbacks from Margaux. These are a splurge so don’t buy them unless you know you are going to wear them. I happen to be a huge fan of Margaux, I adore their ballet flats.
If you want to try the look for less, Mango has a pair of burgundy croco slingbacks for under $80 and Sam Edelman has a pair of mules you could try for $150.
Same rules apply for your hem with all of these shoe options, you want the bottom of the pant to just kiss the top of your shoe with the slightest break at the top.
Then some pieces that round out the look. I will die on the hill that coats make your break your outfit. I found this wool blend coat for $199 at Nordstrom. It’s clean and tailored and will work with a lot of outfits you already have.
And as of this morning, Nordstrom has this Lauren Ralph Lauren Single Breasted Wool Blend Coat also on sale for $199.
Quince has a longer length in a wool and cashmere blend for $210.
And the I added this pretty beaded necklace from BaubleBar in a similar shade of green, and the Clementine bag from The Horse in burgundy pebble leather.
This works for a relaxed office, but it could just as easily take you to lunch or dinner. If wearing the full combination feels like a big leap, begin with the green sweater and burgundy bag. Then add the coat once you see how naturally the two colors work together.
The Styling Detail That Matters Most
Before putting together any of these outfits, decide which shoes you plan to wear most often with your trouser jeans. The hem should nearly reach the floor without dragging, and even a small change in heel height will affect how the jeans hang. if you think you want to wear a variety of heel heights frequently, consider picking up more than one pair and have on hemmed for flats and one for heels.
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