Age doesn't matter.

From Casual Days In to Evenings Out: How to Wear Trousers in a More Relaxed Way

I’m really glad that trousers are having a moment and especially a really relaxed one! I did not get rid of my wonderful suits from before I retired. I figured they would still be useful if I just used each piece separately with other tops and bottoms. But they just didn’t seem comfortable for working from home.  I’m looking forward to learning how to wear trousers in a relaxed way. I never thought of wearing them around the house before. I love the fact that there are endless possibilities when we explore new things.

Also included in this post is how to break up a suit by taking the trousers and pairing them with other things rather than just with a matching blazer. That way, they are wearable in so many more ways from casual days in to evenings out! Age doesn’t matter.

Starting with a style tip, I have collected outfit combinations for casual, business and evening attire. And beyond that, there are lots of outfit ideas for all sorts of situations. So I hope you will find some inspiration below to help you wear your trousers in new ways!

From Casual Days In to Evenings Out:  How to Wear Trousers in a More Relaxed Way

Image number 1 showing, Quilted Leather Moto Jacket
Quilted Leather Moto Jacket from Banana Republic with charcoal trousers

Style Tip:  A black faux leather jacket such as a biker jacket + gray or black trousers = A suit!

How to Wear Trousers in the Most Relaxed Way

What’s replacing skinny jeans are loose and oversized pants of all sorts, including trousers. The ultimate way to wear trousers casually is to pair them with a t-shirt, whether graphic or solid, and sneakers. Read on for more ideas on how to wear trousers in a really relaxed way.

Break up suit NYandCo
NY&C Bootcut Pant with a denim shirt
  1. A chambray or denim shirt + any trousers…because denim blue goes with anything!
  2. Try neutral color combinations for a relaxed look. For instance, a gray cardigan + gray trousers + a navy t-shirt.
  3. A chunky gray cardigan + a white crew-neck top + black trousers. Or choose a different color combination. You might like to add cut-out booties. 

    Good Days Satin Trousers from Free People with a pullover, a blanket shawl and clogs
  4. Tailored trousers + a slouchy sweater.
  5. A longer-length sweater or cropped sweater + trousers.
  6. Trousers + a t-shirt in a coordinating color (such as a black tee with black pinstriped pants or a gray tee with gray trousers.)  You could leave it plain and laid back. Or, you might like to add lots of jewelry (i.e., matching necklace/earring/bracelet + gemstone pendant + gold chain.) 

    Knitted organic cotton trousers from Poetry with a sweater, scarf and sandals
  7. A turtleneck + trousers, including pinstriped trousers. You might like to add earrings, a necklace and/or a special ring.
  8. Try toppers in different textures, such as a faux leather or suede shirt + trousers.
  9. A faux leather jacket + pinstriped trousers.

    Wide-Leg Comfort Trousers from Garnet Hill with a striped top
  10. A striped top + trousers. You might want to add sneakers, sandals including Birkenstocks, clogs or even slippers.
  11. Brown trousers, solid or pinstriped + a brown, gray or navy blue t-shirt.
  12.  Belt over a simple t-shirt and trousers. You might like to add bangles.

Ways to Dress Up Trousers for Evening

Pinstriped Trousers from Anthropologie with a velvet jacket belted over a camisole, a hat and boots

Black trousers are easy to dress up for evening, especially when simply paired with a dressy black top. To dress up your trousers for evening even more, wear high-heel mules with them.

  1. A velvet top + trousers.
  2. For special events, wear a tuxedo blazer. For example, you might try a black tuxedo blazer + a navy silk shirt tucked into black trousers.  Add black pumps.
  3. Try metallics for evening such as silver, gold, bronze or copper. A good basic outfit formula is a metallic top + a black vest + trousers. Or, a gold blouse + black trousers.
  4. A black lacy camisole or tank top + black trousers + flats. Add a cuff and wear red lipstick.
  5. Start with a black, white or pink shirt over pinstriped trousers. Unbutton the shirt as low as you dare and roll up the sleeves. Add long gold chain necklaces, perhaps with charms + a gold cuff.

    High-Waisted Pants from Zara with a one-shoulder top and strappy sandals
  6. Pair a one-shoulder top, a sheer/semi-sheer top, a sequined top or a frilly lacy top with trousers. Then add evening shoes.
  7. A short-sleeved black shirt tucked inside black trousers. Add an armload of gold bangles and/or cuffs + large gold hoop earrings.
  8. Trousers + a matching-color lace top. Add large hoop earrings.
  9. A bright-color top + trousers.

Break Up a Suit:  Trouser Outfits for Business

Here are some ways to break up a suit by taking the trousers and styling them with other pieces to get a greater variety of outfits out of the same pair of pants. You could also mix a pair of trousers with blazers from other suits.

Travelers Cardigan
Travelers Cardigan from Chico’s with a tunic and trousers
  1. A waterfall cardigan + trousers + a shell in a matching color.
  2. Pinstriped trousers + a cardigan and shell in a color that’s in the pants.
  3. A brown cardigan + a cream blouse + brown tweed trousers.
  4. Brown cardigan + a brown camisole + brown tweed trousers. Add brown pumps.
  5. A winter white cardigan and shell belted in brown over brown pinstriped trousers. Add gold hoop earrings.

    Model wearing J.McLaughlin Rosalind cardigan in heather oatmeal/egret white made with cotton/modal.
    Rosalind Cardigan in Jacquard from J.McLaughlin with a toned turtleneck and trousers
  6. A white turtleneck sweater + a cardigan in another shade of white + white or black trousers, solid or pinstriped.
  7. Match or tone a cardigan and a tank or camisole to go with any trousers, including tweed. Add a crocodile belt + flats + bronze or golden dangle earrings.
  8. A blue cardigan + a red or yellow top + white or black trousers.
  9. Try the classic red, white and blue color combo with a red cardigan + a white shirt + navy trousers, pinstriped or solid.
  10. A red or rust sweater + solid brown or brown pinstriped trousers. Add pumps.

    LORO PIANA Silk and cotton-blend wide-leg trousers
    White Silk and Cotton-Blend Wide-Leg Trousers by Loro Piana at Net-a-Porter with a polo sweater
  11. A cashmere sweater + tweed trousers.
  12. Perk up your day by wearing a sparkly top with tailored trousers.
  13. A faux leather blazer + tweed trousers + a cotton turtleneck or sweater. Add a watch.
  14. Leave a shirt open as a jacket over a matching-color top + trousers, solid or pinstriped. You might like to add wide gold hoop earrings + mixed gold and silver bracelets.
  15. A cream blouse tucked inside pinstriped trousers. Add a chunky chain necklace + gold button earrings + a bracelet or watch. If your work situation allows it, you might want to wear sandals.
  16. Summer in the City:  A short-sleeve black silk blouse worn open as a jacket over a black shell tucked into brown trousers. Add dangle earrings + booties. You might like to wear your hair up.

More Ways to Wear Trousers in a Relaxed Way

To get the most wears from your trousers, start by looking through your closets for all the tops you have that are the same or similar color. As a result, you will likely find some pairings that you never thought of before!

Glorious Gauze Trousers from Soft Surroundings with a matching tunic
  1. City Day/Travel:  A brown cardigan + brown trousers + a beige sweater. Add tan accessories, wood & gold jewelry, a peach silky scarf and a brown shoulder bag. If cool, top with a tweed coat, raincoat or beige shawl/scarf.
  2. A wrap top in a shade of white +trousers in a shade of white (the whites only need to tone, not match.)  Add gold jewelry.
  3. Pinstriped trousers + a wrap sweater, mesh sweater or any special weave. Add pumps.
  4. A red sweater + navy pinstriped trousers. If cool, add a red shawl or cardigan.
  5. Any white shirt + trousers.  Klein Drapey Pants in Black from Who What Wear Collection
  6. A boxy, drapey and/or silky top + full, draped or flowing trousers in the same color. You might like to add booties.
  7. Choose a printed blouse + trousers of one of the colors in the print.
  8. A silky ivory blouse + trousers.
  9. Trousers + a sweater in a color that matches the trousers (such as black sweater + black trousers.) You can then add anything over it (a topper such as a cardigan, jacket, etc.) You might like to try layering pendants and beads.
  10. Pinstriped trousers + a matching-color sweater. Add a long chain pendant.

    Cotton Sateen Straight Pant from Ralph Lauren with a safari jacket and sweater
  11. Button a cardigan to wear it as a top with your trousers.  You might like to try red with beige, red with navy, blue with gray or blue with navy (whether pinstriped or solid.)  You might like to add loafers + a delicate necklace.
  12. A brown cardigan + a brown lace top + brown tweed trousers. Add a fine gold chain necklace + a brooch, perhaps in turquoise & gold. Or, if your tweed trousers are another color, match a cardigan and lace top to that color instead.
  13. A winter white cardigan and sweater (or tank top or camisole) + tweed pants. Add earrings in a favorite color (my favorite would be teal and gold) + peep-toe pumps.
  14. Button up a winter white boyfriend cardigan and wear as a tunic over black pinstriped trousers. Add pearls and a brooch.

Let’s Connect!

Was this helpful to you? Did you get ideas for new outfits? What inspired you? Please leave a reply below!

Like this post? You might also like to read:

Do you have a friend who would like this?  Please use the Share buttons below.

Never miss a post! Click “Subscribe” in the drop-down at top or fill in the blanks for the “Newsletter” at right. That would be a great help in supporting my blog. I would appreciate it very much!

Visit my Shop for Style Guides HERE. Or go to the top of this page and select the Shop tab.

Please follow Your True Self Blog on FacebookInstagramPinterestTwitter and Bloglovin.

This post is linked up with:  Top of the World Style linkup party at High Latitude Style and Thursday Fashion Files Weekly Linkup at Doused in Pink.

Thank you for visiting Your True Self Blog!

Angie

Previous

Next

6 Comments

  • As a teacher I didn’t need to wear suits but I did wear trousers. I loved finding the right top for them. Now the teachers I see all wear jeans. There are several pictures here that would be wonderful for my style.

    • Great, Marcia! I’m guessing you still have those trousers. So I’m glad you’ll be able to wear them more. XO, Angie

  • As long as they aren’t oversized (I’m 5 ft tall), I love trousers. I wouldn’t wear them around the house, but it will be nice to be able to wear them out again! And I am definitely a fan of breaking up a suit – why the heck not since it doubles the times you can wear the pieces if you treat them as separates

    • Yes, and comfy is not the usual term applied to trousers, is it? Lol! It’s a new concept, it seems…unless you count lounge pants and palazzos as examples from the past.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.