RealTalk: Could I pull off these drop crotch pants?

June 5, 2015 12:16 AM

I can't believe I'm wasting a question on pants, but what's the opinion on pulling off drop crotch pants (link within). What should I pair them with?

I somehow fell in love with these pants featured in the start of this choreography video (cursing in video). This isn't really my normal style at all, and I usually hate drop crotch pants, but somehow I find these adorable.

Relevant details: 25 yrs old, lots of tattoos, short undercut hair that's dyed red, eclectic style. (I'll wear a bright pink dress one day and a black shirt with skulls the next. My love ranges from frilly to sharp business wear to punk/steampunk to pin-up/vintage.)

I have a small waist and a larger hip ratio/butt so I like the idea of these having more room versus doing a similar patterned legging. (I don't like my butt to not be covered by a longer shirt when in leggings...) So these seem like a weird compromise.

Here's an example of me in a legging.

I've never worn pants like this so...
1) Should I just go for it? (they're cheap enough).
2) What do I pair with them? I've got simple tanks and tees to looser basic blouses. I'm also okay with (in summer) doing a more sheer or flowy look with a bralette under it.
3) Accessories and shoes???
4) Any other cheap/similar recommendations for comfy pants that might be nice for summer?

Style me!

posted by Crystalinne to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (20 answers total)

Best answer: Why not try it and see how it works? I'm much older than you (40 something) and have very different style, but I buy a lot of business casual from Japanese and Danish brands, and have somehow accumulated a number of dropped crotch trousers. I was seriously suspicious, but it looks better than ever thought. I tend to buy dropped crotch trousers which are wrapped in front or with a very tailored tapered leg, and I wear them with very plain tailored tops.

For a more casual equivalent, I would pair with a simple tank top. I find dropped crotch looks *terrible* if you end up overly droopy or saggy, but if it's your single unusual visual element then it can look very nice.
posted by frumiousb at 12:34 AM on June 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

The only person I've seen wear drop crotch pants is Justin Bieber. They look ridiculous on him. But he looks ridiculous period.

Those look cute and you're not Bieber, so you'll be able to pull them off. I'd go with a crop top or tank, ballet flats, or strappy heels.
posted by discopolo at 12:38 AM on June 5, 2015

I don't really understand the mechanics or inner workings of the drop crotch pant. Is it a normal pant/legging with a normal crotch and then another piece of fabric that does the dropped crotch effect, or is the crotch literally lower? If it's the latter, as a hippy girl with larger thighs, I'd be worried about chafing. (Style-wise, I think you can totally pull them off! And I usually hate them!)
posted by Weeping_angel at 12:40 AM on June 5, 2015

Best answer: I'm not normally a fan of the drop crotch either, but I agree with you--I think these look cute because the patterned bit makes it look kind of like a skirt over leggings.

Just like with a skirt over leggings I'd go with a more fitted top. Nothing loose.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:45 AM on June 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

I shouldn't judge, as I had my hammer pants phase once upon a time, but I would pass on these. No amount of styling will eliminate my "what is hiding in that ridiculous crotch, a giant diaper?" thoughts. Even though you look like you could probably look good in anything.
posted by ktkt at 1:34 AM on June 5, 2015 [2 favorites]

Best answer: From the description of your style I think you could pull them off. Why not just keep it really simple? Black tank or t-shirt (possibly cropped). For shoes, Vans or low cut Chuck Taylors.

I'm not usually into dropped crotches but these pants are an exception. Also, it's super hot and sticky where I am and these sound like a much better option that the jeans I am currently wearing.

If you put an outfit together and you're unsure about it, wear it out to run errands. No one is going to judge you at the supermarket. If you end up hating the pants, relegate them to loungewear/pyjamas.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 1:41 AM on June 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

style it the same way as the advertising photo.

i think it would look fine on you, and you can keep cans of emergency rations and a can opener in there in case disaster strikes.

(No but seriously, in England during war time women used to wear knickers/panties down to knee level and they would routinely store stuff like money and supplies up the leg of their knickers and this had an unfortunate synergy with the wartime elastic shortage such that not only was the knicker elastic not necessarily strong enough to retain stored items but a routine social mishap was that the knickers would fall down entirely. it was a mark of savoir-faire to be able to step out of them, kick them up, and catch them to put in your pocket without missing a beat.)

(It would still be a crime to waste that extra EDC space, given the current state of consumer elastic.)
posted by tel3path at 2:29 AM on June 5, 2015 [5 favorites]

Best answer: I think you can totally pull them off. But I also think this is one of those things where you'd ultimately regret not trying them far more than you would regret trying them unsuccessfully.
posted by Segundus at 4:21 AM on June 5, 2015 [2 favorites]

They're cheap enough to give them a shot, so why not! You look like you could pull them off (whereas if it was me & my thunder-thighs, I'd be chafed from crotch to knees --- yikes!); wear them with a simple top, probably cropped, and flats.

I think kinddieserzeit has a good idea with trying them out on errands at first: less judging than at something like work, and if they do feel uncomfortable you wouldn't be stuck in them for a whole day.
posted by easily confused at 4:29 AM on June 5, 2015

They don't look flattering to me, but for that price I'd say give them a try. I've only seen a couple of guys in dropped crotch pants, and they definitely gave a saggy-diaper impression, but the woman in the video pulls it off much better.
posted by Dip Flash at 4:48 AM on June 5, 2015

You mention you have wide hips--the white designs around the top half of these pants will definitely emphasize that.
posted by milk white peacock at 5:03 AM on June 5, 2015

Best answer: As someone with fewer tattoos but otherwise a somewhat similar aesthetic, I say: you sure as shit can pull those off. My rule for fashion is, you wear whatever ridiculous thing you want, and you wear it with such confidence that three strangers tell you, "Oh, I wish I could pull that off!" Drop-crotch pants aren't my bag because I'm petite (so the crotch would be, like, at my knees or lower) and they wouldn't prevent chub rub the way regular leggings do - but if those aren't concerns for you, go for it!
1. YES YES YES and post a picture so we can see how fierce they are.
2. I love the idea of the flowy/sheer top (white?) with a bralette (made me think of Ilana from Broad City, if that helps). I also would love these with a mullet-hem black tank.
3. Minimal accessories, maybe black gladiator sandals? Chucks/Vans also a great option.
4. Nope, but I'll be watching for other people's ideas.
posted by SeedStitch at 5:52 AM on June 5, 2015 [3 favorites]

Best answer: You would look fantastic in them. Don't give any fucks, just wear them. In the IG photo you're wearing two things with pattern on them (and it looks amazing), so you're probably not opposed to wearing the pants with some kind of fitted t with a pattern, illio, or words on it. Don't wear really' blend in the background' stuff with the pants to put all of the focus on them. In other words, don't wear a plain black t and plain black shoes, for example. Then you're all LOOK AT THESE PANTZZZ. Which I think is uncool. I love how the girl in the video is wearing them, with a crop striped shirt. And in the product photo, with a shirt with words on them. Exactly what you did in your IG photo - you wore two things that are focus-pulling and you combined them to a great overall effect.
posted by the webmistress at 7:14 AM on June 5, 2015

Best answer: I'm 55 so this is your mother's advice coming from me: GO FOR IT. Buy them immediately so that you're on top of the trend and get full use out of them before they jump the shark.

Also, after you buy them, try them on with all the possible pairings. You'll know what works. Gladiator sandals sound fun. Post a follow up picture!
posted by janey47 at 9:31 AM on June 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Update: I ordered them and a basic sort of heathered black tank. I have other shirts to try then with too. They should get here next week. Until then I'm all for styling ideas! (Also I'm not totally opposed to slight crop tops but I am a bit self conscious of some tiny surgery scars that anyone else would roll their eyes at.) I'll definitely take pics though!
posted by Crystalinne at 10:37 AM on June 5, 2015 [2 favorites]

Styling idea: memorize a bunch of Shakespeare soliloquies and go around declaiming them.
posted by tel3path at 11:28 AM on June 5, 2015 [2 favorites]

I think these would be fine because it's like a full leg skort.
posted by WeekendJen at 1:03 PM on June 5, 2015

Response by poster: PANTS ARE HERE! Holy shit I love them. (Also they are the most comfortable things ever.)

As a side note, my husband was unsure of these. He came home and I yelled "Pants!" and he said "Okay, they're really cute."
posted by Crystalinne at 4:55 PM on June 8, 2015 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Wow, they look very good on you! I like that whole outfit. Thumbs up and good for you for going for it.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 5:18 PM on June 8, 2015 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Holy shit you look FANTASTIC in them! Wear them constantly until they wear out or until everyone in your vicinity is copying you (which they will, it's the sincerest form of flattery), whichever comes first. Great call on this so remember this experience and trust your eye for what would be fun to wear!
posted by janey47 at 3:51 PM on June 18, 2015