Pants seemed to be the humorous style topic of the pandemic. Because, even though you showed up on Zoom with video-call-ready tops, you probably played with a range of mullet outfits (business on top, super casual on the bottom). You wore a cute sweater – with sweatpants. Or a pretty blouse – with leggings. Or a button-down shirt – with the same pants you worked out (or slept) in. And if you’re working from home at all, you’re probably still doing it.
But now that you’re going out, you’re fully into the groove of wearing ‘real pants’ again. Which for you, may mean many days in blue jeans. But sometimes blue jeans can feel monotonous, or like a default. And that’s no fun.
This is something I work on with clients a lot. Many of my clients are in a blue jeans rut. Blue jeans are their go-to for a business casual office. Blue jeans are their go-to for mom-on-the-go errands. Blue jeans are their go-to for date night. And then they wonder why they’re tired of blue jeans.
And one more thing - when all your outfits are based in blue jeans, it’s easy to get bored with your outfits. Because no matter what you’re wearing on top, you’re always seeing blue pants on the bottom. And then every outfit starts to feel the same.
So, here are 5 suggestions for pants that aren’t blue jeans. And these are the exact same options I show my clients when they ask me, “what pants can I wear that aren’t blue jeans?”
NON-BLUE JEANS
Okay, so I know this one may feel super obvious. But when I’m in a client’s closet and I see a sea of blue jeans, the easiest option to try out (that’s still in their style comfort zone) is non-blue jeans. It’s sticking with the same style and fit that you like, but just shifting the color.
The easiest shift from blue jeans is into other denim neutrals – black, grey and white. And even though this may not feel like a huge change, it makes a big difference when you start basing your everyday outfits in a new color. If wearing different color jeans sounds a bit uncomfortable, read this for 4 low commitment ways to try something new.
All jeans by Gap.
JEANS SHAPES IN OTHER FABRICS
This one may feel obvious, too. But I’m telling you – when I work with clients who wear blue jeans all the time, showing them pants that fit like jeans (but are in other fabrics) can be a revelation.
And when you look for jeans in other fabrics, you open yourself up to other colors, as well. For example, you can find twill jeans-style pants in a range of neutrals – khaki, olive, brown, navy, etc. And in warm weather, you can sometimes find linen pants that are cut like jeans, too! And suddenly the same tops and jackets start feeling completely different when you pair them with new pants.
All 5 pocket pants by Wit & Wisdom.
KHAKIS
I feel like khakis have gotten a bad rap in the past. Maybe it’s because they’re part of school uniforms or they sometimes fit like men’s pants. But they’re rarely part of my clients’ wardrobes. But here’s the deal – there are khakis in relaxed cuts and fabrics that work for any season. So, they’ll be more comfortable than your go-to skinny jeans, but definitely a step up from your Zoom joggers.
Khakis (left to right) by J Crew, Gap, Alex Mill, Frank & Eileen.
CARGO PANTS
When I have a client who is stuck in skinny jeans (and wants to try something new), I typically turn to skinny cargo pants. They fit like skinny jeans, but look totally fresh. And you also get the benefit of a range of color and various levels of detail (big pockets, little pockets, zippers and more). And you don’t have to stick with skinnies – cargo pants come in a range of fits similar to jeans, so you can find a fit that works for you.
One quick note on skinny jeans – they can be a hard habit to break. But it’s worth trying. Click here if you’re ready to break out of your skinny jeans rut.
Cargo pants (left to right) by Wit & Wisdom, Joie, Banana Republic, Spanx.
WOVEN JOGGERS
So many people jumped on the jogger bandwagon during the pandemic, with good reason. They’re a step above sweatpants and leggings, with a little more polish. And an easy way to shift joggers from lounge/workout wear into ‘regular clothes’ is by changing the fabric.
There are a bunch of jogger choices out there, but what I’m liking are joggers in woven fabrics – like twill or drapey fabrics or even faux leather. It completely elevates the jogger silhouette into real pants territory. So, you get comfort combined with a little extra style.
Woven joggers (left to right) by Banana Republic, Gap, Spanx, Hue.
Are you ready to break out of your blue jeans rut? Drop a comment and let me know which non-blue jeans pants you’ll try. And if you’re looking to get more inspiration for your everyday style, follow me on Instagram for regular style tips (and a Sunday Style Tip in my stories every week!). And sign up for Style Mail, my twice monthly style advice sent directly to your inbox.