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Stretchy Pants That You Can Wear In Public (And Still Feel Chic)

And other good finds. Plus, some thoughts on unplugging, a great sparkling red, and answering some reader shopping Q&A's (like "What are jean shorts that will cover the cheeks?").

Alisha Ramos

Jun 12

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4 Good Things

1 - The best stretchy pants you can wear in public.

I should, at this point, become the official spokesperson for these ribbed kick-flare pants. I own them in four colors, collected over the course of a few months, and they’ve become a workhorse in my wardrobe.

Why they’re great:

They work well for petites (they still show a bit of ankle). If you’re taller than 5’4”, even better—they’ll be a true crop length on you.
They feel like pajamas, but the ribbed construction makes them feel more “presentable” in public. I wear these pants when I feel like wearing leggings but I know I’ll just feel a little blah that day if I do. These pants say, “I tried! At least a little!”
They come in fun colors. I’m particular about color, and these specific shades are just so good. The red is a tomato red that leans warm and vibrant; the cloud blue is that happy French blue that sends a jolly jolt into the system. If you’re a neutrals person, they also have navy, black, cream, and so on.
Costs under $200, which for an item designed and manufactured in LA by a small business feels good to me.

What could be better:

Sizing can be tricky. I’m between an XS and an S. I went with the S, and even so, I find the waistband to be quite thick and compressive. If you’re less comfortable being “held in” by pants or have more curves, I’d experiment with sizing up. Every body is different.
Butt coverage. Because of the aforementioned sizing issue, I prefer to wear my kick flares with either tees + a layer on top, an oversized cotton sweater, or a button-down shirt. I’ve also tied a button-down or sweater around my waist. I lean a little more modest on this front (or is it back?)—you do you!
Garment care: I wash with cold water and air dry these. The sizing means I can’t afford them to shrink. Sizing up would likely afford you this extra step.

Please tell me what you think if you get them!

2 - Sharing two unplugging practices…...

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