I want to wear jeans without appearing as though I've gained 15 lbs.
October 29, 2010 6:04 PM Subscribe
Where can I find flannel-lined jeans that are not high-waisted and baggy and are available in petite sizing? Alternatively, if you know of another pants material that keeps your bottom half warm just as well and can be found in a modern & petite fit, I'm all ears.
I recently moved to DC from sunny Los Angeles, and have never bought a pair of flannel-lined jeans before. Everywhere I look though, seems to carry the same style - classic high-waist rise, relaxed fit, etc. I prefer low-rise (slightly below natural waist) pants that are fitted through the hip and thigh. Help!
I recently moved to DC from sunny Los Angeles, and have never bought a pair of flannel-lined jeans before. Everywhere I look though, seems to carry the same style - classic high-waist rise, relaxed fit, etc. I prefer low-rise (slightly below natural waist) pants that are fitted through the hip and thigh. Help!
Yeah, I'd say tights or long underwear is the way to go. Versatile (to wear on their own, or for skiing, etc.), and you can skip them when you've finally gotten used to the weather. :)
A midweight layer from Patagonia sounds perfect.
posted by kcm at 6:12 PM on October 29, 2010
A midweight layer from Patagonia sounds perfect.
posted by kcm at 6:12 PM on October 29, 2010
Response by poster: Ah, thank you - clearly I'm going about this the wrong way. I'm interested in hearing your favorite brands of high-quality (last through multiple hand-washings) silk underwear and non-scratchy wool tights.
posted by invisible ink at 6:17 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by invisible ink at 6:17 PM on October 29, 2010
Depending upon how small you are... L.L. Bean has a girls' sized pair.
posted by grar at 6:18 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by grar at 6:18 PM on October 29, 2010
Definitely go separate. Some Craft ProZero tights would be great.
However, I've spent the past eleven years in New York and Philadelphia, without a car so I walk, bike, bus or subway everywhere, and I can count on two hands the number of days I've really needed or wished for long underwear under my pants. Really, it's not that cold.
posted by The Michael The at 6:19 PM on October 29, 2010
However, I've spent the past eleven years in New York and Philadelphia, without a car so I walk, bike, bus or subway everywhere, and I can count on two hands the number of days I've really needed or wished for long underwear under my pants. Really, it's not that cold.
posted by The Michael The at 6:19 PM on October 29, 2010
Best answer: REI sells many brands of merino wool (non-scratchy, feels like cotton) tights. I wore their less expensive polyester/spandex long underwear through Michigan winters and one trip in Siberia, and they were warm enough with jeans.
posted by mnemonic at 6:28 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by mnemonic at 6:28 PM on October 29, 2010
Best answer: Where have you already tried, what size are you -- can you wear men's pants, hemmed? *
But -- speaking as a heavy bathtub consumer of the catalogues that the sort of companies that make flannel-lined trousers -- I think you are likely SOL, unless L.L. Bean signature decides this is the sort of thing they want to get involved with.
This Canadian says you need to look into corduroy (J. Crew does petite sizes, modern cuts, lots of colours), wool pants (though it is hard to find ones that are not meant for business attire, but don't overlook vintage) and silk long underwear. On preview: Lands' End are quite decent.
Eddie Bauer is good for making non-ugly pants (well, they have ugly too, but) that are made from good, thick cotton. Not like the rest of the made-in-China mall junk -- thick. I used to have a pair in a really heavy peached cotton twill that were just the thing for cold winter days.
* See Reader Question: Can women wear men's flannel-lined khakis? from a benignly crazy blog
posted by kmennie at 6:28 PM on October 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
But -- speaking as a heavy bathtub consumer of the catalogues that the sort of companies that make flannel-lined trousers -- I think you are likely SOL, unless L.L. Bean signature decides this is the sort of thing they want to get involved with.
This Canadian says you need to look into corduroy (J. Crew does petite sizes, modern cuts, lots of colours), wool pants (though it is hard to find ones that are not meant for business attire, but don't overlook vintage) and silk long underwear. On preview: Lands' End are quite decent.
Eddie Bauer is good for making non-ugly pants (well, they have ugly too, but) that are made from good, thick cotton. Not like the rest of the made-in-China mall junk -- thick. I used to have a pair in a really heavy peached cotton twill that were just the thing for cold winter days.
* See Reader Question: Can women wear men's flannel-lined khakis? from a benignly crazy blog
posted by kmennie at 6:28 PM on October 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
I am a dude and have these merino wonders and they are amazing. AMAZING.
posted by mdonley at 6:29 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by mdonley at 6:29 PM on October 29, 2010
I am right now lining a pair of my old jeans with some flannel I picked up on sale. I've also lined a pair for hubby. This is working well because I can buy a weight of flannel that keeps us warm but isn't super bulky and the pants are to our liking already.
So, if you are crafty like that, you may want to consider lining your own.
posted by hilaryjade at 6:32 PM on October 29, 2010
So, if you are crafty like that, you may want to consider lining your own.
posted by hilaryjade at 6:32 PM on October 29, 2010
I live in Toronto. In the dead of winter I just wear knee socks or leotards (opaque tights) under my jeans if I'm going to be outdoors for any length of time. Or in a hockey area. I do own silk long underwear which also works very well.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:36 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:36 PM on October 29, 2010
Sierra Trading Post is a good place to find discounted Terramar thermal underwear. I have a pair of the Terramar ThermaTX silk-merino blend long underpants and they're great. For winter sports (weather around freezing but not too far below), I wear them under a pair of light hiking pants and they keep me warm. They never get damp or clammy feeling if I get warm and a little sweaty from exercise or going indoors.
posted by Orinda at 7:25 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by Orinda at 7:25 PM on October 29, 2010
I once had a coworker who had moved to California from Wisconsin. She recommended REI Capilene, which I believe has been mentioned in other LU threads.
posted by rhizome at 8:16 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by rhizome at 8:16 PM on October 29, 2010
Best answer: Can't speak to The Michael The and the need for a base layer under ordinary pants during mundane winter days, but I will say that I absolutely swear by sweater tights for layering with skirts during the colder months.
And while I don't usually want a base layer under jeans, if you have to wear those ubiquitous poly rayon blend trousers to work, a pair of tights underneath can really help when it's cold out. Also, in my opinion DC is a damper cold, so you feel it more. I'd try it out for a few weeks and see how you feel, but if you're cold, you're cold.
posted by Sara C. at 9:53 PM on October 29, 2010
And while I don't usually want a base layer under jeans, if you have to wear those ubiquitous poly rayon blend trousers to work, a pair of tights underneath can really help when it's cold out. Also, in my opinion DC is a damper cold, so you feel it more. I'd try it out for a few weeks and see how you feel, but if you're cold, you're cold.
posted by Sara C. at 9:53 PM on October 29, 2010
Best answer: I am a huge fan of WinterSilks. Their lightweight stuff is great for an extra layer when it's chilly (camping and sailing in Northern CA) and the heavier stuff helps for serious cold (winter in Toronto). It's not cheap, but I have two longsleeve shirts that I've worn nearly every winter for 15+ years.
posted by annaramma at 9:59 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by annaramma at 9:59 PM on October 29, 2010
Try Athleta.com: they make great winter weight pants and everything comes in petite and tall! I live in their pants in the winter.
posted by fshgrl at 10:36 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by fshgrl at 10:36 PM on October 29, 2010
Wintersilks sells a low-rise version of their silk long underwear, too.
posted by travertina at 6:29 AM on October 30, 2010
posted by travertina at 6:29 AM on October 30, 2010
I wear knee socks under my pants in the winter. They won't add any bulk to the hip/thigh area and can be slouched down to your ankles if you're indoors and need to do a little temperature regulation. They're not as warm as long underwear, but I really don't like to wear two pairs of pants (and tights under pants are even worse).
posted by defreckled at 7:46 AM on October 30, 2010
posted by defreckled at 7:46 AM on October 30, 2010
This (former*) New England girl swears by the knee socks. Like defreckled, I hate the feeling of wearing two pairs of pants, or wearing tights under pants. I find it uncomfortable, and even when it's cold enough outside to justify it, I then get far too warm once I'm indoors again. Thick, wool knee socks keep me pretty warm from the ankle to the knee. My winter coat hits a few inches above the knee, keeping most of my upper legs pretty warm. Between the socks and the coat, I've always been fine. But I have a decent cold tolerance, so YMMV.
*Now I'm in New York. Which is not New England. But it's cold here too.
posted by pemberkins at 8:37 AM on October 30, 2010
*Now I'm in New York. Which is not New England. But it's cold here too.
posted by pemberkins at 8:37 AM on October 30, 2010
I had a girlfriend who moved to NYC from the south and she had a tailor put silk lining in her dress pants for winter. I have a few pair of flannel dress pants which I have had a silk lining put in and they are much more toasty.
posted by shothotbot at 9:40 AM on October 30, 2010
posted by shothotbot at 9:40 AM on October 30, 2010
Sweater Tights. I wear tights a size up when possible, so I think the smaller size should be fine on someone who's petite.
posted by anaelith at 11:57 AM on October 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by anaelith at 11:57 AM on October 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
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posted by cabingirl at 6:10 PM on October 29, 2010 [8 favorites]