How I Styled this Dressori Flowy Pant

I woke up last Wednesday morning with the unrelenting thought, “You must, you must, you must wear your Dressori flowy pants.” I’m sure that happens to you. One piece of clothing gets as demanding as a hungry baby, and wants what it wants right now!

I opened the closet. These pants emphatically pushed all of the other ones aside declaring it was their turn, their day to shine. Who was I to question that authoritative tone? I pulled them out.

Finding the right top for my flowy pants

When it came to deciding which top to put with them, the whole top section in my closet appeared to be drowsy. Not one single top was coming forward saying, “Me! Choose me! Choose me today!”

Since my tops were being quiet as church mice, I had to work at finding something suitable. I decided that since the pant was silk, maybe a silk top would be the right place to start.

I heard a tiny murmur coming from my Equipment silk print shirt with all the hand-stamped dates on it. Remember that top? The dates are intentional. I’ll let the tag that came with it tell you what they stand for.

I was impressed with the willingness of this shirt to come forward and say, “I’m silk. Maybe I could help.”

“Oh darling, that’s very sweet of you,” I said. “But you’re more of a tailored shirt style. I don’t really see you with my Japanese Dressori pant.”

The shirt whimpered. Oh dear. I’d hurt its feelings.

“Okay, Sweetie,” I said. “Let’s just try you on.”

I figured this would be a quick on and off, and I’d end up promising to wear it next week so it wouldn’t feel so bad.

Styling the Equipment shirt to work with my flowy pants

With the shirttails hanging out and down, it really didn’t work with the pant style. I tried tucking it in. Uff da, really not good! But then I got the idea to leave the last buttons unbuttoned so I could tie a knot in front.

Finding harmony in the top and pant

“Well, look at that!” I said. Giving the shirt a cropped look was perfect with the pant. “Oh, you’re so good,” I said to the Equipment shirt. With the new shorter proportion, it let the pant do what it does best: flow and make my legs look longer.

When I stood back and looked into the full-length mirror at this combo, something else tickled me. This shibori pattern technique looked like the kanoko shibori method, where objects like rice or beans are used to create the pattern.

With a little distance from the mirror, I appreciated how the hand-stamped dates on the Equipment shirt created its own similar, organic pattern. The stamps aren’t all neat and tidy and in perfect rows; they’re scattered about.

While the pant has the indigo background color with white designs, the top has a white background with blue, black or brown stamped dates. In a subtle way, they mirror each other. Do you see what I mean? They relate to each other and play together in a way I wouldn’t have expected.

Let’s get this outfit out the door!

To finish the outfit I added my Cotelac black platform sandals purchased many years ago on Fillmore Street in SF.

While I was getting Erin to take pictures for this post, a woman stopped me outside of Peet’s Coffee wanting to tell me how much she liked my outfit. It turns out she was a scholar on textiles and knew so much about shibori. She thought my choice of shoes was excellent with the pant as it emphasized Japanese esthetics.

I hadn’t thought about that! All I’d thought about was wearing a sandal that showed skin and didn’t grab attention away from the pants. Now I appreciate the choice even more. Thanks, Woman Outside of Peets.

Accessories to top off this flowy pant outfit

Inside the open collar, I added my delicate pearl necklace from many, many years ago. I love the pendant part. It’s pearl and moonstone and the shape reminds me of a dragonfly. I wore dangly Mother-of-pearl earrings to repeat the luster in the pearl necklace.

What could be better with the indigo blue than red sunglasses? These Woow frames are from Uber Optics where I get all my eyewear.

Jacket and handbag, let’s go

The third piece is a linen jean jacket from Eileen Fisher, years old. I like how the solid color is a nice relief from the patterned top and bottom. I carried my quilted MZ Wallace bag that I bought this spring. It’s so lightweight and unobtrusive, allowing for more attention to the pants.

There you have it: The Anatomy of a Flowy Pant Outfit.

Since this combo delighted me so, it gives me the confidence to continue experimenting with tops that I wouldn’t ordinarily think of adding to a flowy pant.

How about you? Do you wear this pant style? I’d love to hear how you style them, and I know everyone else would too! Please share!

XO