Dressing Room Diaries: New For Spring at Loft
Earlier this week, I stopped in to see what’s new for spring at Loft. There were fewer ruffles and frills than I expected and plenty of great casual pieces in nice colors. Loft is having a 30% off full-price sale until 5/11. I’d been wearing a sock hat for a particularly cold Bocce game prior to these images, so my hair is unusually trashed.
If youāre new here, welcome. A dressing room diary is when I go into a local store for a try-on session so you can see whatās new and how it looks on a woman over 25. For reference, I am 5ā4ā³ and weigh around 142 lbs. I have broad shoulders with straight hips, a long torso, and long arms. I often buy one size larger on top. Youāll see me try on clothes in colors and shapes that may or may not flatter me because I want you to see whatās in the stores and get some styling ideas. I tell you what sizes I am wearing to help you understand how things run.
Throughout this post, I’m wearing Dean Davidson’s new Signature Revival hoops with a denim blue stone and his amazing Statement chain. You can save 25% on his entire collection sitewide with the JENNIFER25 at checkout.
These Riviera slim pants come in nine colors, in regular (straight), curvy, petite, tall, and regular length. These have a 24″ inseam, but I prefer my pants a teeny bit longer than this, so I wear the regular length with a 27″ inseam. They’re a customer favorite pant in a mid-weight cotton/rayon/spandex blend that you can dress up for work or down for the weekend. This Dolman sleeve shirt is 100% cotton with a curved hemline to wear tucked in or out. It comes in petite or regular length.
STYLE TIP- Curved or shirt-tail type hemlines helps your hips look narrower. A straight bottom draws the eye side to side, which visually widens the hip.
These pull-on linen blend pants will be super cool in the warm weather. I love the ease of the pull-on style. They come in blue chambray or this khaki in regular, petite, and tall lengths, sizes XXS-XXL. Wide-leg pants aren’t going anywhere for the foreseeable future and the easiest way to wear them is in a light, casual fabric. The super soft top is from the Lou & Grey collection. It’s a buttery soft blend in three colors, sizes XXS-XXL. I topped this with a classic white denim jacket in petite. Wider pants look best with a shorter top, and cropped or hip-length denim jackets are perfect for it.
These belted striped pants are a super comfy cotton/linen/spandex blend with a nice stretch. The stripe is hard to see here, but it’s a narrow blue and white. They come in regular, petite, and tall. This petite is perfect for me to wear with white tennies or flat sandals. These are more fitted through the thighs than the wide-leg ones above, so might be an easier way to dip your toe in the wide leg trend.
These Monroe slim chinos are great casual pants for summer. They’re a cotton/spandex blend that comes in eight colors in regular (straight), curvy, regular, and petite length sizes 00-18. I’m styling them with a classic chambray shirt that I tied at the waist for a casual vibe. I like the chambray/soft green color combo for spring. The shirt comes in regular and petite XXS-XXL.
Here’s a bit of a mystery. These jeans I tried on have an unfinished hem, but that’s not what I’m finding on the website. I am also standing on my tip toes because these are inches too long for me. I like the fit of Loft’s wide-leg jeans and wear my denim ones often.
These high rise kick crops will be full length on lots of us with a 26 1/2″ inseam. It’s a very popular shape at Loft and comes in tons of washes. I paired them with this paisley shell with a subtle neck ruffle and tie. Here’s a long sleeve option in a paisley top in a pretty pink combo. These are a lightweight rayon that floats over your shape.
Here are the wide-leg linen blend pants in a great green for spring. The lighting got a little weird in this photo and they appear more like a soft kahki in person. I tucked the white shirt in so you can get a good look at the waistband of these pants. You could easily add a wider belt and the belt loops would accomodate it.
I wouldn’t put this combo together, but here you go. I’d likely wear a soft white blouse or tee under this blazer and white jeans or pants. The blazer is a size too large for me, so it fits true to size. It’s a narrow pale blue and white stripe in a cotton/spandex blend. The Sutton skinny pants are a customer favorite in four colors, sized regular, petite, regular (straight), tall, and curvy. They come right to the waist in a cotton/polyester/elastane. I’d love these with a large white shirt, worn over the pants and white tennies.
Here’s an interesting comparison. I obviously prefer the look on the right, but many people love the loose and relaxed option. These are the same wide pants I’ve shown in 2 other colors. This striped shirt is a pink and white striped body with orange and white striped sleeves, shoulder, collar, and pockets. It comes in regular and petite, XXS-XL.
Don’t forget Loft is giving 30% off full priced styles until May 11/23.
My store looked like a new collection was just being put out so I’ll have to revisit and see what’s newer next week.
Someone else said that to make wide leg pants work you have to be 6ā tall. I agree! Iām built like you only an inch shorter and appreciate your dressing room dairies. It helps me see what never to waste Money on (wide leg pants!) Straight leg pants for me. However, you sold me on Banana Republicās forever sweater and a recent Talbotās sweater top. Thanks for being the demonstration!
A little off topic but I sure love your glasses – you look adorable with them on!
Thank you Jane
Loved your comment on wide pants and height I am short and over 80 I like to look respectfully modern I own both slim cut and wide pants all are either linen or cotton also own jeans but at times find it a challenge as to the right length of top to wear thanks for your advise
You have piqued my interest in getting a denim jacket. I don’t wish to get a white one, but a blue denim. What shade blue denim do you recommend? Have you found some brands that are softer and more flattering than others? Does sleeve length matter? Thank you!
A medium blue wash will be your most versatile color.They even make linen and knit jean jackets which are very soft. Sleeve length doesn’t matter to me because I always fold them back to expose some wrist.
Jennifer you look wonderful in all of todays outfits! I only have one pair of wide pale blue and white striped linen blend pants and I never knew how to wear them. A blue tee and a white jeans jacket would be perfect! I like the fit of the trimmer wide leg white jeans a lot and think I could wear them. You are thinner and two inches taller than I am but as my waist has thickened, I appear to not have much waist anymore. I think I still see myself as I was not as I am. Thank you for really helping me style now as I am.
I’m so happy this helps, Sydney
I think wide leg pants add lots of pounds on the average person. Unless youāre tall and thin, not so flattering. And not cool that loft stopped plus size. Itās very hard to find cute plus size clothing. Would like a post on that from someone!
As always, I love the looks you present. The dolman-sleeved blouse and pink pants are my favorites, for myself. Being a short, stockier woman, I appreciate your tips, above, for petites. The high waist pants, so popular right now, don’t work on me. I am long waisted (I think that’s the term) and even mid-rise pants come a bit above my waist. If you can offer any advice in this area, I’d appreciate it. BTW, I love your hair! I prefer it a bit tossled and think it looks fabulous on you. Mess it up just a little bit! š I look forward to all your posts!
If pants are always higher on your torso, your have a short rise and possibly a short torso. Iām seeing more and more mid rise pants so theyāll be your friend. Thanks about my hair. I used to always wear it tousled but the thinner it gets the harder that is to do.
I think you should be a pants model, LOL. Every single pair looks great on you.
Lol, thanks Bette!
This was a great dressing room diary but are wide leg pants going to be gone next year? I have two pairs but worry about buying too many because I wonāt be able to wear them next year.
I’m with you, Janice. I hesitate to buy two of anything after being stuck with six pair of Chico’s jeggings that I don’t want to wear any more because they fit me like “skinny” jeans that were suddenly “out”. I must have missed the flags that said skinnies were going out because they were so easy to wear. Now I’m fighting a variety of lengths and widths of both pants and tops.
They’ll be around for several more years, at least.
You look very nice in the wide leg pants, I think because you have straight/narrower hips. What tips do you have for women who are “more than blessed in the hip [and thigh] area” (thank you, Kelly H!) for styling wide leg pants? Also, you often tie your shirts/blouses at the waist. How about a tutorial for how to do that? The way you do it, it always looks nice but I can’t seem to copy it! Thanks!
Choose wide legs that donāt cup the hips. You want them to drop straight down from the widest part of your hip. My straight hips certainly help but I have to be careful they donāt make me look shapeless. I will try to make a little video tying my shirts š
Such great outfits! I like the look of the wide leg pants on you but really wondering about someone shorter? I guess I’ll have to embrace them.
I find wide leg pants unflattering unless youāre 6 feet tall and weigh 100 lbs. The slimmer leg option is much more flattering on you. Thanks for sharing your amazing style tricks !
Hi, Jennifer–
Would you advise about length of the wide length pants? In your photos above, they are grazing the top of your feet. Last year I think, they were above your ankle (maybe a hand, 4″ or so?). I have some from Talbots that I have been debating shortening because I think the proportion would be better on 5’3″ me (even though I have long legs) if my ankles show. Something about seeing slender ankles and not being overwhelmed by the fabric of the pant. And yet, I know I wore this silhouette when I was young and it was not a problem. Does the length have to do with the shoe? Or the width of the pant?
Showing an ankle is always slenderizing. They didnāt have petites of these in my store or I would have tried them on.
You want a shoe that shows some foot with wide leg pants. Theyāre most flattering in a length that stops at a narrowest place above or below your ankle bone or just before your calf widens.
Unless the pant covers the shoe, Iād wear one that shows some skin like a spare ballet flat or sandal.
“STYLE TIP- Curved or shirt-tail type hemlines helps your hips look narrower. A straight bottom draws the eye side to side, which visually widens the hip.”
Well, I was today years old when I learned THAT amazing tip, which I plan on incorporating in my outfits going forward (I’m more than blessed in the hip area)!
Great post; as always, today’s was a master class in styling as well as a glimpse into what is new in stores. Thank you.
Iām so glad it resonated! Thanks for such a nice comment.
I didnāt know Loft had Curvy fit in their pants. Thank you for alerting me to that! The Loft in my area closed, so Iāll have to order some to try.
These outfits are so cute and the individual pieces so versatile that I am seeing a few different possibilities here. I love your look wearing wide pants with white jean jacket.
A great store when it’s stocked.
I agree. Thatās why I prefer shopping online.
Great inspiration! I just got a pair of the wide leg linen pants and was unsure what to wear on top.
I love them!!
I have never been in a Loft store but a recent store visit by you made me send them my email and phone number so I now get alerts often. Interestingly I have bought several items from Loft during a recent good sale including the Dolman sleeve top youāre wearing here. I wear petite sizes at 5ā2ā so Iām pleased to realize almost every item is available in petite. Thank you for making me aware of this retailer .
Iām so glad you discovered Loft. I was sorry to see them stop carrying plus but happy theyāve kept the petites.
With so few options available to shop locally for womenās clothing, Loft can help fill a few of my needs. I have several of their āshirtsā and wear them nonstop. This spring I added a gorgeous green to my mix. Most often, I wear them open, layered over a tank. I prefer a top that has the set in sleeves. And like you mentioned, a curved hem is much more attractive than a straight hem. Itās these little details that make a huge difference in my overall style.
You look fantastic in the wide leg pants!
Thank Jan. I think I need these ones because the price is so great!
Havenāt been in Loft for awhileā¦ours always looks empty compared to the glory years of the aughts when I lived there! I really love the white jean jacket outfit with the wide pants (though Iād like to see a different top in one of your summer hues). This outfit is a lesson in proportion and how to style wide pants, even if youāre shorter! Our very petite sisters might prefer their wide pants to have less fullness, but we can see from your silhouette how they can work for everyone. Most of us have many long cardigans that donāt work with the wider pants, but we all have a jean jacket! Masterclass. It helps me so much to see the proportions on someone else. Then I can visualize how to create it myself.
Jennifer would you weigh in on this observation? Do you think a wide leg pant swallows you up if you are petite and they are fitted at waist and hip line?
I think scale is critical when youāre short. A petite women should opt for wide leg pants that are on the narrower end of the spectrum and a softer fabric which allows them to drape closer to the legs. Showing your waist is very helpful and a slight wedge or platform slips under the leg nicely, adding height.
Being fitted through the hip is very helpful.
Thanks, Jennifer. I am 5′ 2.5″ with a petite frame. The wide, wide legs have way too much fabric for me. Your advice to stay on the narrower side is spot on for me. I think it helps to walk in wide-legs before buying them. Just posing in front of a mirror doesn’t give you a good sense of how you’ll really look – especially from the back. I’ve got some pull-on pants but generally prefer fitted waists with zippers (jeans, chinos). I’m not seeing young women wearing blazers: are you?
The blazers I’m seeing them wear are quite oversized which swallow me alive so I am abstaining from them currently.
No wide leg pants for me when you are 5ā2ā š¤£š¤£. Even in petites, they swallow you up. I love the look of the pink Riviera Slim Pants. I am definitely going to check them out.
I really like these outfits from Loft. Youāve put together some nice unfussy options!
Can you share where the gold hoops & neckless are from? They look great with
All the outfits!
Sorry, I just added them. The earrings are here and the necklace is here. You can save 25% off with the code JENNIFER25 at checkout.
Good morning Jennifer, your outfits today look super comfy and very casual for warm days/nights. The wide leg looks great on you. You mentioned one pair was particularly long, thatās what I find every time I try on a pair of wide leg pants and Iām 5ā6ā!
Have a good day
Theyāre making them longer these days to be worn with the popular platform shoes.