Back in August I wore these summer trousers (wide leg pants for my US readers!) with a matching top.
I vowed at the time that I would restyle them for autumn… I’m now restyling them for winter. Better late than never, eh?
As much I loved them as a co-ords set, I wanted to wear the trousers with things that picked out all the colours in the lush palm print: I had blue-grey, black, pale pink, caramel brown, salmon pink and royal blue to choose from, which is heaven for a colour-lover like myself. Though to be fair I need to backtrack… the whole reason that this outfit came to be was because I wanted to get a little more dressed up after wearing pretty much nothing except pyjamas and onesies for a couple of weeks following my operation two weeks ago, and these were one of the loosest (that were also smart) pairs of pants I have.
IT’S TRICKY CHOOSING OUTFITS WHEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE EXTREME COMFORT INTO CONSIDERATION
It’s tricky choosing outfits when you have to take extreme comfort into consideration. Not just “potential food baby” or “doing a lot of walking” comfortable, but “anything that even vaguely presses on my belly will hurt” comfortable. So many of you are still sending me lots of love and well wishes which is absolutely LOVELY of you, thank you. Two weeks on I’m pretty much back to normal, I just mustn’t let anything press on my battle wounds by accident – hence super-loose, super-comfy trousers!
I’ve started my daily early morning walks again and will be building up to gentle cardio gradually with the view to be back to running by the time the clocks change at the end of March (gotta build up my fitness levels again). I’ve yet to have my follow-up appointment but that should be happening soon, fingers crossed the results of tests on the cyst will be clear.
SHOP THE LOOK:
My leg isn’t completely back to normal yet which is a slight worry, but a lot of the numbness has gone so I’m thinking the nerves need time to recover after being under stress for so long. All things to chat to the doctor about – don’t worry I’ll report back!
Anyway I’ve digressed somewhat from the subject of my outfit: It started with the nice loose trousers, then I added my comfy low heel burgundy boots (I won’t be prancing about in high heels for a while yet). We had INCREDIBLY mild (13C!) temperatures at the weekend, so a blush pink cashmere sweater and a double-breasted camel blazer (similar) was more than enough to keep me warm. Two finishing touches were the studded bag and the faux fur collar to add some texture and detail.
To get the most out of your summer pants all year round, all you need is boots, knitwear and a coat or jacket – just pile on the layers as needed and it makes no difference that they were meant for hotter days in the sun.
Voilà: I felt more like myself again but thankfully no comfort was sacrificed in the making of this outfit post 😉
Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured next week!
HOW DO YOU MANAGE WHEN HAVING TO CHOOSE OUTFITS FOR EXTREME COMFORT WITHOUT SACRIFICING STYLE? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS OR TWEET ME @NOTLAMB!
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Blazer: Oasis (similar)
Sweater: Boden (similar colour from M&S)
Trousers: Mango (love these)
Boots: Asos (these are almost identical)
Fur collar: Asos (love this faux fur collar scarf)
Necklace: JD Williams c/o (I like this one, UK link)
Bag: JD Williams (UK link) c/o
OTHER WIDE LEG PATTERNED TROUSERS YOU MIGHT LIKE (UK LINKS):
OTHER WIDE LEG PATTERNED TROUSERS YOU MIGHT LIKE (US LINKS):
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Hello Catherine!
I just love these pants and your style of describing them too. These are the perfect apparel to wear weather in summer and winters too. Well thanks for the idea. Have a very good day to you!
Catherine, so glad to hear you are on the mend. You look great and I love that you are taking a summer piece and showing how to wear it in the cold weather. I did that recently with a summer skirt. You are absolutely right! Just add extra layers and off you go! Perfect. Love those pants. So cute. Keep healing! – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/
Author
Amy thank you!! I don’t do it often enough – to be honest I usually put away my summer clothes in the winter (and vice versa), but these trousers looked more autumnal than summery to me…!
I love your fun, bold and surprisingly delightful style. Those pants are too fun and why not wear them in winter!
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Chrissy that’s so nice of you to say… thank you! x
Haha I’m going to have to get used to a new vernacular all over again! Pants = trousers, what about the thong vs g-string? Confused.com 😉
Catherine, I loved these “trews” when you first wore them & now your re-styling is just as funky. As a famous fashion blogger you’re in the perfect position to show women how easily they can make a so-called summer item work for other seasons.
I’d like to see more bloggers promote this concept & wipe out the notion that there’s something wrong with the #Rewear. I mean, just because I’ve been seen in an outfit once doesn’t make it redundant right?
Author
OMG of course MT, you’ve got to start saying pants and vests instead of trousers and waistcoats… vest and pants have a COMPLETELY different meaning here!! Just don’t ask someone to borrow their rubber like my brother did when he first got to school in Canada, and then my dad told his colleagues in a meeting that he’d knocked up his neighbour that morning – people were still using that expression (in the old-fashioned sense) in the 70s, LOL!
I’ve never understood the need some bloggers have to wear something new every time – how can they sustain that?!! A lot of readers LIKE to see things worn in different ways, in fact I’d take a guess and say that MOST do! x
Happy to hear that you are recovering well. I knew all would be fine cause you are a machine, you will kick ass and prevail no matter what.
The panties are beautiful, I can’t stress enough how important is comfort for me when styling outfits. I come here often to check for inspiration, you are a doll!
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Hehe I don’t know about being a machine, Keit(!!) but it feels good to feel normal again. Ready to kick some sartorial ass, that’s for sure! xoxo
Woohoo!! Look who’s back…and better than ever!! I LOVE that you got out your wide-leg summer trousers for January, dearest Catherine; with our typically mild Vancouver winters, I really don’t subscribe to the idea of seasonal wardrobes, and will style most of my pieces year-round. It must be such a great feeling to be wearing “real” clothes again rather than just your pj’s…you look equal parts sophisticated (care of that smart, double-breasted jacket), comfy (flowy pants and moderately-heeled boots), and edgy (hello star-studded bag)!! P.S. Keep up the good work with your recovery, okay?!
http://www.StyleIsMyPudding.com
Author
Yep, I’m back, and in my glad rags again Monika!! hehe 😉 It IS nice to be wearing something other than PJs… I think I’d got through my entire collection of nightwear whilst recuperating!! Thank you hon, lots of love x
Those trousers are rather splendid! I love how you’ve styled them for colder weather with the berry-coloured boots. Great to see you getting back into the swing of it!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
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Thanks Emma – isn’t the pattern superb? I’m still surprised it was a SS17 and not an AW17 item though! x
I’m totally going to start calling wide-leg pants “summer trousers” instead—that’s a much better name! And glad to hear you’re on the mend. You look fab as always!
Cheryl Shops | http://www.cherylshops.net
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I’m now thinking they’re really culottes Cheryl (just to confuse matters) as they look just like a skirt…!! 😉 thank you sweetie x
Really fashion forward Catherine. Well done. Looking fabulous in those colors. And glad you are feeling better… it is one of those moments when you wish you were not self-employed, right? But you are doing a fabulous job my dear. xo Sabina
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Ugh yes to being self-employed at this time – I was told to take two weeks off work… I nearly laughed!! But luckily I could sit quietly with my laptop by the end of the first week, I was a very good girl up to that point and totally rested till then. Thank you xx
I hear you loud and clear about the challenges of dressing for comfort post-op! After an emergency appendectomy (fortunately also keyhole) about three years ago, I actually made a (slightly elevated) pair of sweatpants the night before going back to work! It was easier and less exhausting than going shopping, I literally had nothing to wear that didn’t press on me too much. Leggings and tights were out of the question! Graduating to tunic dresses with my oldest (most stretched out!) leggings was a style victory. It took me a couple of months to feel ok with my “normal” clothes again, but that’s when I discovered the wonder item that is the midi length tube skirt. So, out of a rough time came a new wardrobe fave. And I’m still wearing the sweatpants, just not to work ever again! Glad to hear you are one the mend.
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Ia gree about the leggings and tights, Chloe – there was NO way I could with those (far too tight), and it was cold for dresses without them so I was kinda left with very few options as you know all too well! I’m still wearing my giraffe onesie, though, lol 😉
Thank you hon, pretty much back to normal now x
So glad you are continuing to improve!
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I am, thank you lovely Pam! x
Great to see you getting back to normal, Catherine you are blooming! Lovely outfit, the trousers look like a longer length skirt when standing still.
Author
Thank you Carole – yes lots of people mistake these trousers for a skirt, so I guess for that reason I really should have called them culottes…!!
I’m always late, it would appear, I had no idea you went for surgery, Catherine. I’m really glad it went smoothly and you are on the mend, albeit still in the dark re the cyst. I suspect the muscles in your leg have shut down because of the trauma, they simply need to be reminded how to work again. Rather like my rotator cuff, even almost four months post surgery. When it comes to really needing comfort in my style, I almost always choose dresses because they do not pinch anywhere. And are adaptable to which area of me hurts. For instance, post rotator cuff surgery, it was vest-like, button-down dresses, and after the sling was removed, paired with capes or shawls. Post knee surgery, it was basic pop-over shifts with my funky crutches (I had purple ones).
Take it easy, rest and heal xo
Author
Thank you Sheela! Actually my leg is much better than it was before surgery – I don’t know if you realised that the cyst was only discovered a couple of months ago, it’s severe leg pain and numbness I’ve had for two years! The cyst is what’s been causing the leg pain – hence me saying my leg’s not fully recovered yet. But maybe you knew that and I misunderstood what you were saying… anyway it’s all good!
I tried dresses but I was too cold without tights or leggings – and they hurt my belly!! You just can’t win…! x
Great to see you up and about after the op and also doing stylish too !!!! Love your boots also (think they have their own little fan club lol ! )…..I didn’t treat myself to those M&Co boots or the Mint Velvet bag in the end…but have bought a dark red /raspberry leather hobo from East – huge sale bargain so money left aside for any Spring purchases !!! Go easy on yourself and tempting though it is to dive back into exercise, listen to your body and pamper yourself ( pampering sounds nice ) x
Author
Oh Karen that’s a shame about the boots and bag… I thought you had your heart set on them! Anyway the leather hobo sounds delicious, and a sale bargain too!! Good work 😀
Thanks for the kind words – don’t worry I’m taking it verrrrrry easy, just doing enough to stop me being sedentary at the moment. It’ll be a very gradual build up – I’m too unfit to launch into anything too quickly! 😉
Stellar summery look but also winter appropriate. So happy to hear you are wearing non-PJs and onesies again, and enjoying getting dressed. Thanks for the linkup.
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Melanie it’s a relief to wear something else… I was afraid I’d be wearing them permanently and forget how to dress, lol!!
I love the way your repurposed this and styled the pants for winter! I wish I did more of that! Have a great week!
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Thank you Julie – you too! x
I’m glad to hear you’re on the mend. I like seeing you style those culottes for winter, most inspired! X
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Thanks P – I can see you wearing these, actually…!! x
I love the complete outfit Catherine and I’m so impressed you are up and about.
http://www.muttonstyle.com
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thanks so much Anna! I did hope to be back to normal by now considering what the doc said so I’m pleased 😀 x
I do that sometimes with dresses, but my but freezes of then!
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hehe yes when it’s super cold I’ll layer with tights and even leggings as well, Nancy…!!
Good to see that you are out and about and looking good as ever! Although your outfit is not one for me (being really petite) I can still see how lovely it is and having some summer vibes in January is always a good idea. Hope you soon recover completely. Love, Lieske
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Funnily enough I bought these trousers back in May but always thought they looked more autumnal because of the colours, Lieske…!! Thank you my lovely – it’s good to be out and about again 🙂 x
I really like how you’ve taken a summery piece and made it work with a cool weather outfit. Those boots…
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The boots are getting a lot of love, Susan..! thank you hon x
I LOVE your boots, Catherine! And thank you so much for the feature!!!
xo,
Janise
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My pleasure, Janise – and thank you! x
First outfit shoot and you look fabulous! xx
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Aww Laurie thank you – it was certainly a challenge but I’m pleased I ended up looking okay in the end! x
LOVE the color of your boots. So pretty <3
Green Fashionista
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Thanks Kate – this colour goes with almost everything! x
It’s amazing what you have to think about after surgery, Catherine. But you do look just like you and I’m so glad to see you up and about!!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Author
Honestly Jodie it’s been SO challenging finding anything to wear, my choices are very limited! I have a ton of discarded clothes scattered about the bedroom because I was trying them on and they rubbed in the wrong place or were too tight…! Thank you sweetie, it’s good to be almost back to normal x
You look fabulous, Catherine! I’d be worried that the trousers wouldn’t keep me warm enough. Even though the weather is slightly warmer here in the Algarve, the houses aren’t built for the cold so it’s often really chilly indoors so I need to be well wrapped up!
Glad to hear you’re recovering well!
Hugs
Suzy xx
http://www.suzyturner.com
Author
Thanks lovely Suzy! I was at my parents’ for Sunday lunch – their house is so warm we had to open all the windows and then three of took of us took our sweaters off… I was sat most of the day in a vest top fanning myself, lol!!