Closet Cleanout Series: Building A Pants Wardrobe - Part 1 of 3d

I own a lot of pants.

Here we are again, talking about my recent massive closet cleanout. You can read about it again here, but essentially I took a ruthless look at my wardrobe and culled. Anything that no longer served my lifestyle - gone. In the process, I tried to keep mental notes on the reasons why I wanted to hold on to things, and how I actually think about getting dressed. For me, keeping old things or adding new things comes down to the utility/functionality of the item. I think of the purpose clothes serve, and how well they’ll serve that purpose, and whether or not I already have something that does the same job.

So today, I’m starting my deep dive into pants. This is part one of three parts on pants and what they should do. I have so many pairs of pants - they’re the bulk of what I wear. But I think about them in three different categories that have less to do with the look of them than with how they make me feel, and under what circumstances I’d wear them. This is also important to note, because I understand that pants are a tricky thing to recommend and to shop for, because everyone’s bodies are so vastly different. So I’ll try to not recommend specific pairs so much as I recommend thinking about what you have in terms of their specific functions. Like - in my closet I have (1) comfy pants, (2) novelty pants, and (3) fancy pants - and I can wear all 3 categories in any way - thus, an infinite wardrobe. If I get too heavy in one category, I cull. Too lean in another, I shop.

First up - comfortable pants, which are not sweatpants, not jeans (jeans are separate from “pants” IMO), and not workout leggings. Just pants that feel comfortable when I’m otherwise feeling yucky or bloated or crampy or I’m going to be running around a lot, bu don’t necessarily look sloppy or dressed down. Here are my comfy pants, and they can be worn anywhere, in any setting if you know how to balance them out.

And let me also say, yes, I know this whole thing reads like an endorsement for The Row sandals, but honestly, their sandals are really the best, in my opinion, and these are the treasures I’ve accumulated over years.