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Over the last two years, my fashion manifesto has evolved into a simple mission: I just want to be comfortable. But as we've reentered society and learned how to balance our lives on the go in the ever-waning days of the pandemic, doing so is a lot harder than it sounds.
To be frank, "getting dressed again" has left me constantly stressed out. Between embracing a softer version of myself post-quarantine and inheriting the hips of my ancestors once I hit 27, shopping for those simple, cool-girl basics that look effortless on Instagram (like roomy oxford button-downs as minidresses or '90s-inspired loose-legged denim) has been more of a daunting process. There's nothing worse than wanting to channel your inner Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy or Hailey Bieber, and instead seeing an unflatteringly pinched waist or fabric suffocating your thighs where it's supposed to just glide loosely. It's served as a stark reminder—that maybe I've been a bit in denial about, especially since entering the capital-F fashion world on a whim three years ago—that not all clothes are made for my body, even though all clothes should be made with everyone in mind.
To my surprise, I found a pair of pants that I thought existed only in my dreams during an impulse trip to the Atlantic Terminal Uniqlo last weekend. ("I just need to find something for summer!" I groaned to my boyfriend as we trekked in the 90-degree heat.) Uniqlo's Wide Straight Pants don't look super special hanging amid a sea of screen-printed shirts and linen caftan dresses on the rack, but I knew I was in the market for a new pair of black trousers, so I decided to give them a try.
Even under beaming fluorescent lights (there's a reason Mariah Carey is never photographed under them!), I finally felt like I saw a version of myself who until then existed only in my head. The pants are perfectly roomy, have an inconspicuous elastic waistband (no waist-pinching button fastens here!), two front pockets, and a single front folded pleat. I did go up one size to ensure a looser silhouette. They give the understated elegance of a designer brand trouser with the comfort and mobility of an athletic track pant à la Adidas. Think The Row, but for $30.
Their simple structure makes them the perfect everyday pant, ready to pair with button-downs, cropped vintage tees, oversized sweaters, and summer heels or sneakers. I've already worn them to work twice: once with a bold striped top from The Frankie Shop, and another day with a tucked-in graphic tee and chunky New Balances. Fellow buyers agree, with customers describing them as "attractive and versatile" and knighting them as a "strongly recommended" style for summer.
In essence, wearing these trousers helps me embrace my inner Olsen twin mid-coffee run, Victoria Beckham gliding through Heathrow Airport, or even Rihanna getting snapped by the paparazzi outside of Colette in early-aughts Paris. Quite simply, I feel fabulous.
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