Stitched Crease Pants- Finding my Work Style

I am really trying to make more work clothes, because realistically, that's what I spend 70% of the my life in. My office is pretty casual, but I am trying to put more effort into dressing up. Dress for the job you want, right? At first I was really dragging my feet on it, I felt uninspired by workwear and was bored with the prospect of looking like a J Crew catalogue (BTW, not hating on J Crew, I actually love their pieces and really appreciate their petite sizes, I just wouldn't deck myself out in it). I looked for office outfit inspiration, but I was trying to conform myself to what I thought a professional woman was supposed to wear, instead of making my own style. I absolutely love Jean Wang's work style on her blog Extra Petite. She always looks so classic and put together, and I tried imitating her style, but I still lacked motivation to get dressed in the morning. I think the lightbulb moment was when I realized that just because I admire someone else's style, it doesn't make it my style. I decided that I needed to stop trying to fit myself into other people's style and "traditional" workwear, and really make it my own.

Top: Similar, Shoes: Target, Pants: Similar H&M

I finally found some inspiration that both fits my style and is appropriate for work. I discovered Lisa Perry during this year's most recent NY Fashion Week, and it was love at first sight. Simple styles in beautiful colors and the perfect details, like pockets in almost every dress. I doubt, that I will ever be able to actually buy her designs, but they will always have a heavy presence on my Pinterest board. For these specific pants, I took inspiration from Lisa Perry's Spring 2018 collection,and a similar pair of pants from Petite Studio. I actually had the sewing pattern for awhile, but I didn't feel excited to use it, until I saw Lisa Perry's styling.


They have a real Audrey-esque vibe, especially with the styling by Lisa Perry. They are classic and versatile, but have just the right details to keep them from being boring basics. To top it all off they are absurdly comfortable. I wore them to work with a long cardigan and T-shirt, and I felt like I was wearing pajamas all day long.

I made these pants using Burda 7123 and some beautiful fabric from The Fabric Store in LA. It was my first time visiting The Fabric Store and I immediately felt at home. It was almost as if I had curated the fabrics myself. I went there only to pick up some knit fabric for a henley for my boyfriend, and came out with 5 different cuts. I made a size bigger then I usually would, and it was the right call. I had to make some major adjustments in the length. I took off about 6 inches from the shorten/lengthen line, which worked out fine. The rise is probably a little higher then the pattern intended, but I was going for a higher waist, so it worked out for me. There is a highwaist option for this pattern, but I didn't want the extra wide waistband. The rise for that view probably would have been too high anyways so for me it all worked out.  It allowed for a looser, more comfortable fit. I already have several other variations with and without the the stitched crease. I think my next pair will be a nice wool with a checkered or plaid print. I will also try to figure out had to add some pockets.

 

It was really hard to get a picture that showed the stitched crease, so here is a completely random close up to show the detail.