Stepping Out

Susan B. of une femme d'un certain age wears a casual date night look with black pants, metallic boots, French Kande aquamarine jewelry and a Givenchy Pandora bag.

While prepping yesterday’s post on Little Black Pants, I realized I’d never posted an outfit with the coated trousers I mentioned. So here’s a date night look I’d wear out for an evening with le Monsieur. (And as he gave an enthusiastic two thumbs up to this one, I know what I’ll be wearing out this weekend. 😉)

Sweater-Coat | Sweater | Necklace (c/o)| Bracelet (c/o) | Bag | Pants | Boots (similar)

Plus options: Sweater-Coat | Sweater | Pants

After so many years of wearing mostly skinny pants, it took my eye a while to adjust to a slightly fuller leg. But now I really like these trousers, and find them “flattering enough.” I’ve been working on letting go of the belief that everything I wear has to make me look thinner. My body is what it is, and that’s OK.

I’m wearing a size 28. I’d say these pants run true-to-size, with a relaxed fit. If you prefer a more snug fit, you can try sizing down.

Style blogger Susan B. wears French Kande aquamarine necklace and bracelet, and a Givenchy bag. Details at une femme d'un certain age.

When French Kande launched the Spring “Mabillon” collection, I was thrilled to see some Aquamarine pieces. It’s my birthstone! The necklace and bracelet were both gifted.

Every time I post an outfit with this Givenchy bag (now several years old), I receive requests for something similar that’s more budget-friendly. The thing is, it’s a pretty unique design, and I haven’t yet found a “look alike” style at a lower price.

But I did spot this bag with comparable dimensions and shape, and it’s currently 40% off. I’ll be on the lookout for more options and will share when I find them.

Have you recently “adjusted your eye” to any new styles you’d previously avoided?

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48 Comments

  1. I love this look on you! Alas, I’m still struggling with adjusting my eye to jeans/pants that aren’t skinnies. Struggling to accept my body which isn’t skinny and never has been. As a strong-minded woman who is not easily manipulated, I keep asking myself how I ever got to this place.

    1. Val, thanks! I know, right? For me, the messaging started early from family, and was reinforced by friends and culture. I’ll be writing more about this soon…

  2. I love that idea “flattering enough” and that’s what I’m doing too. It’s more important if I like the look and not how thin (or not) it makes me look. Love the outfit you’re wearing.

  3. Love, love, love that outfit! Because I’m virtually the same size as you … I always wonder what size you take in non-petite items like the sweater, which I’d like to order???

          1. Hi Carol, I did think you were referring to the sweater-coat, but I’m also wearing an XS in the Madewell sweater. 🙂

  4. I agree with your husband. You look so pretty and your hair looks great. The ivory sweater makes you glow. And those boots are just that something extra.

  5. I really like this dressier look. The black pants are great and of course that J.Crew Juliette sweater jacket is a winner. You must have every color! They’re all great in my opinion. Talking about dressier, I’d love to see a column on what to wear to a spring or summer wedding or cocktail party.

    1. Thanks, Elizabeth! I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I now have 4 of them but they work so well in my wardrobe that I don’t regret any of the purchases.

  6. Ooh-la-la! This outfit is gorgeous. I enjoy your blog, but rarely comment. But this made me come out of my shell
    You look so elegant (as usual).

  7. Yes, I have “adjusted my eye”, to sweater coats. I always felt I looked better in short cardigans. On one particularly cold day I tried a longer sweater on. And I bought it! Like you have commented, it’s all in the proportions. Hence, I wear it with a bootie, never flats. Of course, like a lot of my wardrobe it was thrifted, $7.99. I have also “adjusted my eye” to the color orange. Is it my best color? Maybe not. But it is bright and cheery. Never say “I can’t wear_” Try it on!

  8. I like more trouser shaped pants myself.
    The Duchess of Cambridge was recently photographed in a pair of wide legged pants and I thought they were good looking. Yes, they’re a bit skirt-like, but I think the elegance factor overcomes all.

    1. I had to look up her wide leg trousers. Her style is mostly very classic (probably as required by her position) and I thought she wore them very well with the more tailored jacket.

  9. I am still struggling with pant/boot hemlines. I’m in the Northeast so baring my ankles isn’t going to happen for a couple more months. Nylons are definitely out. My feet are always cold so socks are necessary (and the little footies don’t do anything to protect my ankles from the cold). I’m seeing a wide assortment of hemlines (pant/boot) here but we are definitely not the fashion mecca of the country (PA). I would love to see an article on different profile pants and how they get along with different footwear, what’s hot, what’s not, etc. I’m also letting my pixie grow out but yours looks much better than mine!

    1. Hi Connie, what I’ve noticed when we travel to Europe during the cooler months is that women there don’t have the same aversion to visible hosiery that we seem to have here. So you’ll see patterned, metallic, textured socks between shoes and hemlines. Usually well coordinated with the rest of the outfit too. I picked up some fun metallic socks recently and have been letting them show when the temperatures drop.

      1. If it is natural fibre, such as cotton or wool, you can overdye it. I dislike orange, but if I overdye it with red, I get a most luminous colour. Dylon dyes are especially good.

        As for socks, subtly “fun” socks are in fashion here, and I have three pair of cat socks.

        My trousers are all pretty-much jeans shaped. Don’t quite get the difference. I hate pleated trousers.

  10. I love French Kande jewellery as I have said many times before. This outfit looks so good on you. I like the way you turned the legs up to show those lovely metal boots.
    And I like your new hair style a lot.
    Greetje

  11. Stunning outfit! You look wonderful.

    I’m afraid that shorter, fuller pants will make my already shortish legs look even shorter and cause more problems with proportions. And there is that cold ankle problem. In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend date!

  12. Love those boots. Why are we so fixated on flat tummies? Even though very slender and healthy, I fixate on this one area and try to disguise it. I am attempting to accept what i believe is my true feminine shape and body. After all, it produced and fed my children with no problems and efficiently supports my 70 year old intelligent and active self. Its just a tummy silly woman. Help please

    1. Thanks, Lynne! I think a lot of it boils down to (not so) good old misogyny. I think we women need to reclaim the power to say “enough” and treat our bodies and selves with respect.

  13. I love everything about this outfit! The colours, the shape, the simplicity, the elegance.

    I’m going to have to rethink my own personal aversion to v neck and scooped necklines in cooler weather. For some reason I felt the need to go for higher necklines as I became older, but the examples you have worn recently all look great.

  14. This outfit is a winner, Susan! What really works well on you, I think, is the length of the sweater – perfect on you and not too long. The white/cream colour close to the face is very flattering for you. I mentioned that I love wearing icy blues in winter in a post last week, close to my face, because they light up my complexion. Creamy whites have the same effect.

  15. Incorporating lighter and brighter colors is really working for you. The white sweater jacket balances your lovely hair and is an effective foil to the black column of color. The sunglasses complete the look very well.

    I covet your silver boots, though. This last year I have been on the hunt for comfortable yet stylish silver footwear in my budget. No luck yet but I did find a silver bag I like which has been a wonderful accessory.

    I would like to eliminate black from my wardrobe entirely but I’m finding it very challenging. It’s a color that most women have but really few should wear. Looking at Instagram, I’ve come to believe that the average American woman would be naked if she couldn’t wear blue denim or black clothing . My quest will continue out necessity, wish me luck.

    1. Thanks BeeeBeee. I agree that it can be tough to find non-black basics, but if you’re into navy this is a good year for it. I’ve decided to worry less about what colors I “should” wear and just wear what I like. 😉 I still like wearing black, but add lighter pieces/accessories to “lift” the overall look.

  16. I already commented on your Instagram but this look is just great on you. Maybe it is the timeless elegance, but at the same time modern look of black/white(or cream) combo. The jewelery completes the outfit! Beautiful.
    Since I started to follow you only few months ago I really don’t make haphazard clothing purchases anymore. I think about it a lot more. I’ll be going to Europe at the end of March and I started to read all your travel posts. My biggest problem is to find a versatile coat for the capricious weather I might encounter in Germany.

    1. Thanks very much, Renata! I’m working on some updated Spring travel wardrobe ideas, so hope to have some suggestions for you soon.

  17. Glad to be back after a break — I do enjoy your blog! (I had a big writing project this winter, so I had to refrain from following blogs 🙂 First, I see you’ve got a new haircut — and it looks great on you. Secondly, I love the sweater coat, and it remind me a bit of a new piece that Eileen Fisher just produced for spring — got the new brochure with it on the cover today.

    Most of all, I love what you said about adjusting to the baggier pants. I’ve been sticking with the skinny pants, along the same lines you have … So I like what you said about accepting how you look in the fuller pant style. As we age, it’s so important to embrace the word “acceptance.”