Dressing Room Diaries- Pedal Pushers and More
Happy Tuesday, ladies. I’m back today with the continuation of my DRD from last week. 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 134 lbs with broad shoulders and straight hips. I have a long torso and long arms so I often buy one size larger on top. I try on clothes in colors and shapes that may or may not flatter me so you can 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. Most Talbots garments come in misses, petite, plus, and plus petite.
For more info and to shop each item, you can click on the red text.
I forgot to mention last week, that these sandals are incredibly comfy so I wear them a lot in the summer. The white seems to be sold out but they have other colors here. These toile Chatham ankle pants are a bi-stretch cotton/rayon/spandex blend that fits like a dream. They have a side zip I always appreciate because it keeps the front as smooth as possible. I am wearing a 6 petite. The linen blazer has flap pockets which bring down its level of formality just a smidge. I wear mine with jeans all the time:) The Tape sweater is an open weave and I recommend a tank top underneath.
Because we’ve talked about cropped pants several times on the blog lately, and I wanted to show you these pedal pushers. If you’re as old as I am, you will remember them well. I think of these as the first version of cropped pants that gradually got longer.
Style tip- Pants, skirts, dresses, and shorts all look most flattering when they stop at a spot your leg narrows. They are flying out of my local store so ladies are loving them. I’m wearing a misses 4. The petite is 2 1/2″ shorter which would be more flattering on my leg. You could also roll the hem to get the exact length your leg needs.
You may enjoy-Ā How Long Should Your Pants Be?
The lace-up sweater has a fun nautical vibe for summer. It comes in 4 colors, I am wearing the Tranquil blue in small P.
When we think of the rule of thirds, we know that breaking our silhouette into 1/3 – 2/3 proportions is more flattering than cutting it into halves. You can see by tucking this tee in, that my legs look longer and I look in better balance. With the top long, I look heavier on top.
The linen demi boot pants come in 4 colors with an inseam of 25 1/2″ misses, 22 1/2″ petite, 25 1/2″ plus, and 22 1/2″ for plus petite. I am wearing a misses 4, so again, the length is not as cropped as the brand intends. I am wearing the indigo which looks like black in these photos. On the left is a zip-front striped hoodie and on the right is a simple tee with a stars and stripes motif. Both are a very casual pairing with the linen pants which you could dress up or down.
I shared this outfit in my private email on Sunday so you could take advantage of the sale. It turns out that the sale is still on so the entire look is 25% off but today is the last day. These full-leg pants come in 2 colors. They have a very high rise and an inseamĀ of 31 1/2″ for misses and 29″ in petite. I am wearing a 4 misses and standing on my tippy toes.
Yesterday, I tried on a few more pants options.
More Chatham pants, this time the crops which are intended to be below the calf. I’m wearing a misses, rather than petite so they are 3″ longer on me which I prefer. The Chatham pant is a super comfy and flattering stretchy fabric that’s machine washable. These come in 4 colors with a nice side zip that keeps the front smooth. I’m wearing an 8 which is several sizes too large on me so they have a slimmer silhouette than what you see here on me.
The cotton bateau tee is a popular pattern for Talbots this season, shown on skirt, tops and dresses. I am wearing a medium P. Several reviews complained that this was clingy and tight which I did not find to be true.
This Chatham pant is full length in 4 misses which I had to fold the hem under so the length is true to size. The print is ivory and India-ink. Same great fabric as all the Chatham pants. I’m not sure how I missed this fabulous cardigan on my first trip into the store last week. It’s an open weave with stars woven into the fabric. It comes in this indigo or white and will be so great all summer just to take the chill off a heavily air-conditioned building. I am wearing a small P.
Interestingly, I have just scratched the surface of the pants options at Talbots this summer. When jeans are too hot, cotton and cotton/blend pants are a great option for women who don’t wear skirts.
Thanks for reading ladies and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
Born and raised at Curacao, I just had to order the bureau neckline shirt.
I am enjoying your ideas and posts about dressing up and down. Wish more people would be interrested. I am sometime amazed who people dress to go to the grocery store or Dr. Office.
Thanks for all your advise.
I wish more people put a bit more effort into their outfits too. I’m glad you’ve joined us.
Hi Jennifer, as you can see from the striped top the petite length I need to have some tops hemmed, just too long. Always enjoy your posts.
I prefer tees that are higher hip length but they seem few and far between these days.
Love everything you tried on. So glad you showed the Capri jeans. I like to wear those instead of shorts.
I LOVE when you do a try on Haul!!
You always show so many great options. I really like the Chatam pants/crops. Thanks for choosing to show them.
The blazer is really attractive for the summer. However, I am 5’10” and I notice Talbot’s sizing guide only goes to 5’8″. I wonder if it will end up being rather short for me? I guess I will just need to head to the store to try it on!
Let us know how it works so the other tall ladies have an idea too.
We need to request why they donāt have Tall or Plus. Clothing lines should be all inclusive.
I agree Joanna. Brands need our feedback.
Short waisted with Looong legsā¦..
Best on me are Bermudas a little above the new and long pants to the ankle, capris are trickyā¦
The pedal pushers with the striped top is such a great look on you! So fun and stylish for summer.
The linen pants and blazer outfit is so sharp — it’s what I’d wear on my dressier days in the office.
Pedal pushers and clamdiggers — those were the days!
They were!
The Chatham pants are very flattering. I like all the outfits where you were wearing them. The long sweater was really cute too. I think you had a successful visit showing some styles from Talbots. I don’t think I’d wear the peddlepushers, but I thought they were cute. I give myself permission to wear comfortable, heat relieving clothing in the summer. Sometimes the pant may not hit at the most flattering spot. Too bad. It also is unflattering to be sweaty, cranky and uncomfortable lol. Best to you and your many readers.
Youāre so right, Lynne. Thank you for reminding us that cranky, sweaty, and uncomfortable is worse than pants at an unflattering length š
Did like your blog. I too am old enough to remember peddle pushers and I am still a fan.
If my crops are too long, I roll them into a cuff or tuck them under. Little trick I learned over the years. Never take a the scissors to them because that will mess up other choices you have for length.
My favorite is the ankle pant. Always classic. š
Rolling is such a great option. Itās more casual than I usually like but it does expand my options.
I prefer the cropped pants to the pedal pushers. I wore them until cropped came into style. I feel the cropped hits at the right spot and make my legs look thinner. Also, the cropped is more current. I do wear dresses around the house and yard as they are cooler but for walking or running errands, I op for cropped pants. After knee replacements my knees are too ugly for shorts.
I’m in the anti pedalpushers camp. In fact, pedalpushers remind me being in camp at age 10 – LOL. I’d never wear them as an adult. The same goes for the heart-stripe top — too cutsy for a classic style. Talbots has moved a long, long way from its roots. Thankfully, they carried business clothes in petites during my working years, and I will be forever grateful as it was really tough to find petite business suits back in the day …
Iām pretty sure I wore them at summer camp too:) Iām grateful to the stores that continue to carry extended sizes for all women.
Agree with you.
No thanks to the pedal pushers for me. I like long shorts that hit just above the knee better. Iāve never worn capris either so pedal pusher look like tight(er) capris. It cuts me in half at the wrong place. Maybe pedal pushers would look good on a tall person.
Love the pedal pushers as well as wide leg pants . Much more flattering than mid-calf crops in my opinion.
I agree with you Carolina. Mid-calf crops and capris can be very unflattering.
I am on the fence about jean pedal pushers. I did wear them decades ago but today I seem to have sourced better options for hot, steamy weather. I have a pair of crop length, light weight denim pants that I wear over and over. I apparently have formed an objection to jeans cut into shorts or pedal pushers. For me, there can be a fine line between what works and what doesnāt work.
Thank you for doing all these dressing room episodes!
These wouldnāt be a great option for hot steamy weather for me either. Thatās when loose and flowy works best for me. Glad you like DRD š
I think the white jacket looks sharp. I still like the crop pants the best. I am not a fan of the pedal pushers.
I love everything, pedal pushers and the ankle slacks. I need to go to Talbots. I donāt think I would look good with the horizontal stripe, but the others would work for me. You look terrific! They are classic, but there are so many fresh looks for a summer look.
Oh no!! Not pedal pushers! Even the name sounds frumpy. : )
Jennifer you are WAY too attractive to be styling those āGranny Pantsā!
Thanks for your terrific posts and allowing us to grow old together in very fashionable ways-just not those PPs!! š„°
Lol, Peggy! I see pedal pushers as a retro look that can be flattering for women who want something cooler than jeans but longer than shorts. Capris are much more unflattering to my eye. Itās all about personal expression and we should wear what makes us feel confident. PS- Iām a proud granny and would happily wear these š
Jennifer, I love all your looks! I totally agree that the striped tee is more flattering when tucked, but for some reason I prefer the untucked look. But it looks nice both ways!
Untucked is definitely more casual. You need to wear what you loveš
Oh Jennifer I really like these pedal pushers! Iām built like you mostly, and these make your legs look long and trim (which they are anyway I think). Love them on you!
I think theyāre really fun too!