Lifestyle
On The Hunt For The Best Fall Pants (+ Are The Viral Pants Everyone’s Talking About Worth It?)
We are approaching pant season, which I will happily embrace despite being quite the shorts enthusiast (seen here and here). The rumour of the skinny pant coming back has yet to be proven (I think there has been a universal pushback by women writ large), but finding the right non-skinny but not crazy baggy pant (which just looks so schlubby on me) can be hard. Nili Lotan nailed it years ago, but their pants are so expensive (and so awesome), and then LESET has a new one that people are splurging on (which I bought to show you). So I went on the hunt for the best fall pants and found some that I love for those of us in the market, at less splurgy price points. In general, these are more mid to lower waist since I’m short-torsoed with big breasts, so I need to create more space between waist and boobs (especially when the pants are big). But if that’s not your profile, then maybe you’ll like some of my tops, fall sweaters, and shoes:)
Top (in XL) | Necklace | Pants | Slides
Ok, these are the viral pants from LESET that everyone is talking about (and searching for dupes). They are poplin (thin), are extremely airy (so very comfortable and lightweight), and yet still have structure (the seams stay stiff, not flowy or drapey AT ALL). They have cool stitching that you can barely see in this photo. After trying them on, I can confirm that there is something pretty special about them (feels like you are wearing nothing, but indeed are a structured pair), but for $278 I wondered if they could possibly be worth it. There are a few dupes out there which I bought to test out, and I’m happy to say that the Gap’s version is pretty dang great for 1/3rd the cost. While I do really like these LESET ones, not for $278; they are too “hospital scrub” for me, and I really think you can check that box (which is so casual) in a much cheaper way. Anyway, if LESET is in your budget, go for it. But keep reading for my dupes 🙂
Necklace | Sweater | Pants | Flip-flops
These are the Gap dupes that I LOVE. Yes, they are camo (comes in a lot of colors, but I like camo), and the stitching is different, but the look and feel is similar. These are $90, so not cheap, but 1/3rd the cost of the LESET. These are true to size; I’m wearing a small (I’m between a 4 and 27), and I ordered regular, but it comes in petite and tall. These were a slam dunk for me: so lightweight, thin but structured, great length. Just awesome. The burgundy quarter zip is from Quince (I did a fall sweater review for them, so I ordered a ton). It’s super soft, very high quality, and on the longer side. Extremely cozy and actually on the lighter side.
Necklace | Sweater | Pants | Sandals
I’ll just continue my Gap love with the low-waisted cargo pants of my dreams. FANTASTIC. I put them on, and it’s like they were made to fit exactly like how I like pants to fit (I’m wearing a 4 PETITE, so they hit a bit shorter in such a good way). It’s a thicker twill (not too hot, just not thin like the poplin) and feels so easy to dress up for the office (just add a tank, blazer, and flats) or dress down with flip-flops or skinny/flat sneakers (nothing too chunky). 10/10, true to size and comes in a few different colors. THE PERFECT FALL PANT.
Necklace | Top | Culottes | Flip-flops
Now these might get a side eye from some people, but they are very in (at least in New York). They are, get this, barrel culottes. But I really liked them!! Especially when it’s still hot out but you don’t want to dress summery still, or if you aren’t someone who likes to show off legs and you miss the capri/culotte era. I don’t know if I’ll wear these enough to keep them, but I do think these are cool. The long-sleeve boxy T-shirt is also from the Gap.
Necklace | Top | Pants | Belt | Flip-flops
These pants I bought and debuted in February, and they became so popular that they kept selling out, so now they make them in many more colors. They are rad. They are barrels with a fantastic shape and length and more low-waisted for an easy tuck (they just feel way more casual than typical slacks). My only beef with these is that they are pretty fitted at the waist, which is great in the morning, but they definitely come in more than just sit on your waist, so I find them uncomfortable “post-burrito”.
Necklace | Sweater | Pants | Sandals
These are another pair of pants that people were talking about, Citizens of Humanity, and yes, they are rad. They are also slightly barrel, slight taper, big flat front pockets, ankle length. They are also super splurgy, so for me the two Gap above check my boxes, but yes, these are very very, very good. Big cozy sweater is from Free People (size WAYYYYY down, I’m wearing a small here and def am going to return for an XS or XXS).
Necklace | Sweater | Pants | Shoes
Now these pants are staples for me, by Emerson Made. I love that brand (small, made in America, and very classic but cool). These are what a lot of brands try to knock off (they are over $100, so not cheap but not $278). The stripe is perfect – busy, but they still read as “light” without being bright white. These are roomy, but tapered a bit and slouchy in the best of ways. The cardigan is my perfect cardigan, chunky but not long (hits at my waist) and easy to layer over things. Not too heavy, so I wore it a ton at night during the summer. I dressed it up by wearing it as a top (no tank underneath) with my navy blue silk lace skirt to go to a musical with my kids this summer in SF.
I popped into J.Crew to see what barrel slacks they had, and I found these, which are very thick and structured and a great color. They are a bit too high-waisted for me, so I’m returning them, but if you like a mid to high-rise clean barrel that looks high-end (great for work), these are great (and I feel like J.Crew always has sales). Sandals are Beek that I got on clearance and for some reason (kinda uncomfortable), but Quince has a great dupe that gets great reviews.
Necklace | Top | Pants | Slides
This one also checked boxes for the more casual vibes – low-waisted, lots of cargo pockets, barrel utility but on the baggier side. The fit is really great and easy to wear. It’s a little bit of a younger vibe, but I’m pretty into it:)
Necklace | Sweater | Pants | Shoes
Ok, these are the last dupes of the LESET that I bought in a small corduroy material. I actually think they are fantastic dupes (comes in navy, green, and cream). They are obviously comfortable, more affordable than the LESET, and the corduroy definitely helps them not to look like hospital pants. Size down on these; I’m wearing an XS, and they are still roomy.
The Gap pants (camo and cargo) and Free People (barrel trouser and green cargo) are the clear winners here (wait, along with Emerson Fry). I actually bought a few from Anthropologie to try, but the sizing was so off. I really wish all these brands could just stick to one size across the board. My fall capsule wardrobe is coming together, folks. xx
*Photos by Kaitlin Green
Great article but all of your necklace links go to the same Dick’s Sporting Goods tee. I’d love to see the real links.
It’s the Semiprecious Coral Beaded Choker Necklace in Antique Gold by Madewell. Available at Nordstrom and other shops.
All fixed and it’s on sale!
Am I just old? Barrel jeans make everyone look bow-legged. I think this is a joke that the fashion industry is playing on women. (Are they selling these to men?)
Same thoughts! Has anyone done a poll of men- girls perhaps don’t look as cute (or sexy) drowning in all that fabric. I know it’s the pendulum swing, from skinny pants. Hope the oversized pant trend doesn’t last long..
PS i bought one summer pair, so drapey and flowy it looks good, especially when I move
I guess if your goal is to look cute or sexy to men, then yeah, don’t wear barrel pants. I just object to the assumption that looking cute or sexy is or even ought to be the goal of “girls.”
Sorry, was not talking about being sexy to men. My intended point was that they don’t market this kind of weirdness to men – only women are supposed to spend their money to look bow-legged.
Agreed, sorry, I was responding to Deb’s suggestion of polling men. The fashion industry is definitely punking us so that we feel pressured to constantly replace perfectly good outdated pants with new pants in a different style.
We don’t poll men on anything anymore.
I’m sorry, why do we need to poll men? Who cares if men find my pants sexy. This is such an outdated thought.
love saturday fashion posts. the EHD team is knocking it out of the park with content. i have been following this site for 13 years and i can’t express how much joy it brings. thank you!
I miss when this was a design blog.
The “design” posts are fewer and fewer. They’re just shopping post link fests, that are clearly just for blog revenue, pretending to be design posts. If I wanted a roundup of wayfair storage options, I’d look myself.
When was the last time there was anything that provided real inspiration or involved actual design that was relatable?? I never see any new to me designers or sources anymore.
Most days, it feels like a fashion blog, for one particular body type and style. If I wanted that, I’d follow an influencer with better style!
Pivot to that, but at least be honest abo
It’s not worth reading anymore.
Whoa chill there. You can not like the blog anymore but you sure don’t need to tear anyone down.
It’s called feedback and any brand or company should be open to it. After all EHD is a brand that “influences” people to buy stuff. If the customers aren’t happy they have a right to comment and share their feelings.
It is too bad that the comments are now censored. Constructive criticism doesn’t have to be received as being negative. As a blogger, wouldn’t you like to know from your readers what works and what doesn’t?
It seems that since the direction of the blog changed from heavy design to heavy affiliation the readers voice/input as been removed – which is a shame.
This critical comment was not taken down and also was not constructive criticism. It was rude to be rude on purpose.
It was constructive, regular readers are tired of the link/shopping fest over design dilemmas and solutions. That is constructive criticism. It might sound judgmental, but so did your comment.
Of course, I agree with you. I was replying to the part about following an influencer with ‘better style.’
Again, you can not like the blog or the direction that it’s going, and of course give feedback on that, but there is no reason to put Emily down for her personal style. That’s not feedback or constructive criticism. It’s just rude.
I agree that it’s rude.
I also come for the design content, which is likely the most time consuming to produce. While I will never buy these particular pants I will come back day after today to see if it’s a design content day. 🙂
“Style by Emily Henderson” is the name of the blog/site/company… not just house style…
You’re not wrong
Now EHD feels like a fashion blog, for one particular body type and style. If I wanted that, I’d follow an influencer with better style!
I know real design won’t come back. It’s sad.
Yikes! “Better style”??? That kind of talk is what is sad to me.
Her body is one type of body, yes, doesn’t mean other types of bodies can’t buy this stuff. You sound like the kind of person that follows “snark” on reddit.
See, that is the type of problem we come up with. Someone mentioned that they didn’t like the fashion part of the blog (each to their own), but then you go on to insult someone by saying that they’re likely snark Reddit readers. Why the person insults – shouldn’t we be above that. And insulting one person because they insulted someone puts you in the same group.
I get what you are saying, but mean people should be called out when they are being mean. Normalizing meanness as “constructive criticism” is way more of a problem than someone else calling out the meanness.
When you put viral pant in the title, I thought for sure one of them would be the Lodge pant by Aritzia. Casual but sophisticated enough for workplace and holiday dressing.
Thanks, Karen – that Lodge Pant is gorgeous, and the crepette fabric sounds so nice. Emily probably left them out because they’re high-waisted (which I need).
I much prefer fashion posts when it involves different body shapes. This is just a post about what looks good on Emily – it’s not relatable.
It’s relatable to me. And there are many clothing posts where she has the entire team share their buys. Those aren’t “relatable” to me so I patiently wait for Emily’s clothing posts. Do we really need to be griping about this?????? Geesh people.
You don’t need to be the convincer and gatekeeper here, you know.
And? A rude comment can be replied to. Go back to your snark page.
I wasn’t t responding to you. I was responding to another commenter. No one here needs to put on a defense or argue about a pov. Let people comment and let the EH blog bot filter or the reader votes do their job.
So, you “snark” people decided to bomb her post up. It’s so obvious. And rude especially for women to do this to other women, no matter their body type.
Again, with the ‘snark’ insults. Please stop. We’re allowed respectful opinions. I said I preferred blogs that were more relatable to different body types. There was no disrespect intended. The personal insults that you’re throwing around to different commenters is not OK.
Love the Saturday fashion posts! So great to break up the weekend. I own the quince dupes for the Beek sandals. They are just okay. Not overly comfortable and kind of squeaky. I did recently buy Beatrice Valanzuela sandals. And they are amazing. Expensive but amazing. I wish I had of just started with them instead.
Ruti has been marketing me HARD CORE with their barrel pants and they look great but they are $$$. I’d love for you to check them out and let us know, in case anyone else is getting targeted and their resistance is wearing down!!
Elysha, I was at the Ruti store in Berkeley & tried on several of their pants. They are beautifully cut without the excess leg fabric that so many barrel style pants have. I did find the elastic waists somewhat constricting however.
Have you seen the barrel pants from Ruti? I have been getting targeted with those ads and they look good but are expensive. Would love your take!
Can’t you just try them out for yourself and return if they don’t work?
You only have 14 days to return items for refund and there’s an $8 restocking fee and most sale items are final sale. It’s a ridiculous return policy, exploitive even.
I love your fashion posts! Keep ‘em coming.
This was great! Can you do this with the viral Ruti pants + dupes?? I would love to see!
When did Emily’s hair get so thick again?? Would love to know her secrets as I’ve had terrible thinning over the last few years.
I actually love these fashion posts! But I’m the same age as Emily and I am digging her laid-back style so I. I hadn’t really dipped into the barrel leg trend yet, but my teenage daughter has some that are so adorable on her.
I read this blog post earlier today and then lo and behold I ended up at Costco where my girls influenced me towards some Gap slim barrel leg drawstring pants for $18. I bought two pairs (army green + burgundy) and when I tried them on at home, they were sooo cute and comfy. They actually strongly resemble some of the pairs here! Such a good buy if anyone is wanting to try out this trend without spending too much so I thought I’d share.
I honestly thought those green pants were army surplus. We used to wear those in the ’90s, same design, much lower price point.
Super cute and I love getting clothes recs from this blog, but fyi a bunch of these links aren’t working or aren’t directing to the right product. I was mostly clicking on sweaters but couldn’t get to a single one!