Paint Your Pants Red

As my neighbor and good friend (and blogging inspiration - Sorry! I couldn't resist a shameless plug.  http://www.thrillofthepurchase.com/) Randi can tell you, I've been on the hunt for a nice pair of red pants long before the red pants craze started last year.

This seems to be the way of the world for me.  I get an idea about something I want to wear, but have the most difficult time finding it in stores because it's not yet in vogue until, low and behold! it is in vogue.  Then it's not just me wearing the "new" trends, but every other stylish fashionista, corporate mogul and plain-jane soccer mom.  This most famously happened to me during the pointy-toe boot phenomenon that most of you will recall from about 2003-2007.  For years, the only boot one could find was pointy-toe and I began to have pointy-toe backlash and longed for an adorable round-toe boot, preferably in brown leather, please, with about a 3 1/2 inch heel, but to no avail.  For two and half years I searched for round-toe boots, until about 2008 when all of a sudden round-toe boots started coming back into style, but by then everyone wanted and was wearing the round-toe boot and my chance to get in front of the trend was gone.  *sniffsniff*

But I digress. Back to what will hereto forth be known as The Red Pant Trend.  Not nearly as pervasive as round-toe shoes...yet.  We'll wait and see where this one goes, but my guess is the red pant trend will not stick around nearly as long nor be as prevalent as the round-toe boot trend.  So, back about two years ago I decided that the range of colors in my pant collection ran the gamut of white to grey to black with a navy thrown in there.  As you'll discover about me, I love color and I wanted more color in my pants.  I decided red was a good place to start.  First of all, I love red!  I have no problem standing out in a crowd and what better way than in red.  Red connotes confidence and if you don't have it, what better way to fake it than in red.  Plus, red is a great staple color one can wear year round (granted it's the right material) and red goes with so much from white to black to navy - just about anything really especially if you're color blocking.

I started my hunt for red pants, but found nothing.  I even enlisted my friend, Randi, an avid shopper, in the quest with me.  I caught a break in the beginning on last year when red jeans started popping up in a few places, but really I've had to wait until this past fall/winter season to really start seeing red pants in a lot of places.  The following are a few I've seen and I'm watching.

The first pair I spotted were at South Moon Under at The Shops at Kenilworth.  These pair retailed at the time for $98, a little much for me mostly because they are made from a somewhat cheapy, polyester fabric, the kind that feels too hot in the summer and not warm enough in the winter.  Plus, I really have a hard time paying a lot of money for something that is not quality.  Oh, who am I kidding - I won't pay a lot of money for something that is not good quality, which is my main beef with South Moon Under.  Great for those trendy pieces that come and go and are difficult to find, especially here in good ol' Charm City, but unless you have virtually unlimited resources to spend on clothes that will go in and out  of style in one season and not last that long anyway, I especially try to only purchase things on sale there.  These pants were also cropped, which might be another drawback for anyone else, but I'm short so this almost works in my favor.
According to SMU's website, the pants are currently on sale for $69.95.

I also spotted these White House/Black Market (and apparently, red now, too) pants in the window at the Harbor East location.  At $98, still expensive but a little better of an investment considering they are fully lined, a classic cut that will be in style now and 20 years from now, and they are made from crepe material, although still polyester.

Finally, I settled on these almost orangey/red pants from Ann Taylor Loft, mostly because, not only were they on sale, but I also had a coupon.  Originally $79.50, they were marked down to $64.99 and I bought them on a day that Loft was offering an additional 30% off sale items (don't you just love when they do that?), so I paid a total of $45.49 for them.  Not too shabby if I do say so myself.  I'll update when and how I wear them.