My Brief Experimentation with Kick Flare Pants

and why the experiment is over

I tried on my first pair of kick flare pants in December 2018 (a different lifetime!) during an Ann Mashburn trunk show at the Palace Hotel. I didn’t buy them, but I thought about them for years. In fact, one of my first posts on my blog was how these pants had a prominent spot on my wishlist. In my imaginary wardrobe, these pants held precedence, and I ascribed them all number of virtues: the perfect pair of pants, the wardrobe item that would straddle working from home to the school run to going out with my husband or my girlfriends… in fact, I pictured myself looking remarkably like Yolanda Edwards in her Faye pants.

Then I bought a pair (I chose a lighter fabric and not the ponte I’d initially tried on). The pants were fantastic. I loved the construction, the proportions, the feel… I could go on. But I just wasn’t reaching for them. In fact, I purchased them in the fall of 2023 and I’ve worn them a grand total of four times.

One of the things I enjoy most about “What Do I Really Wear?” column is that I am forced to be thoughtful and critical with my analysis of what I really wear. My entry for October 28th shows the Faye pants “in the wild”—the first time I wore them.

Kick flare pants are, obviously, all the rage at the moment (I loved this analysis of the style). I’m generally extremely trend-averse, but there was something about this silhouette that I really, really liked. I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time thinking about them, researching options (Everlane vs. J. Crew vs. Ann Mashburn vs. High Sport), weighing the pros and cons of each option… yet I wasn’t reaching for the pair I already owned. Then I read this series from Totally Recommend—and it completely changed my thinking. (I can’t summarize it—the two-part series deserves to be read in its entirety.)

After spending enormous amounts of mental energy—and a not-insignificant amount of money—on this trend, I came to the conclusion that they just weren’t for me.

Part of my years-long journey to define my style means knowing what I like and what looks good on me, as well as what’s comfortable, and sticking with it. Every so often, a trend will come along and sway me… kick flare pants, slouchy tees, ballet flat mules… but the thing is, none of those things are flattering on me. None of them make me feel particularly comfortable. And, most importantly, they don’t fit my lifestyle.

This journey—and even this expenditure of mental energy!—is worth it as I come back to what my style is: tailored, neat, slim cuts; natural fabrics; timeless pieces.

What about you? Are you embracing the kick flare trend or marching to the beat of your own drum and style? Personally, I’m on the search for slim trousers for everyday without a flare… these might be those perfect pants (despite being made of crepe). We’ll see…