J.Crew loves to offer variations of "pants with paint" every year. What I want to know is why? Why is J.Crew still producing khakis with random paint marks on them? Who is even buying them? If someone is buying them, are they doing it ironically? Are customers purchasing the pants really styling them with high heels and an evening bag?
Remember that scene in "Mean Girls" where Rachel McAdams' character says, "stop trying to make fetch happen". (Click here to watch over at YouTube.) I feel like someone needs to do this with J.Crew's paint pants.
What are your thoughts on the Paint Splattered Army Green Khakis? Would you buy this or leave it at the store? Have you see this first hand, and if so, what are your impressions?
Quick Poll: Do you like the Paint Splattered Army Green Khakis (or "Paint Pants" in general)?
OMG. I so missed your Questionable Item of the Week posts. So happy for their return!
ReplyDeleteThese pants are AWFUL. The end.
They'll probably cost $350. You know, since they're collection and all.
There's a lt. khaki colored pair of paint splattered collection pants in the sale section, if anyone really is interested, lol. Not. Doesn't everyone have a pair of these in the garage??
ReplyDeleteWell this post is interesting and somewhat rude. I absolutely love the paint splattered khakis! They are fun and this green color is gorgeous! I bought the scout chino in paint smudge along with a lot of people since they sold out! And yes I do style them with heels and a clutch- is there a problem with that. I live in a major city and a lot of people dress like this. I don't like to dress like a boring school teacher, librarian or soccer mom. I'm pretty sure j crew is designing these because they're cute, on-trend and sell out- just like these will sell out. I guess some of us are a little more fashion forward then others and like to have fun with styling.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what is rude about this post? Offering an opinion about an item of clothing that isn't to one's taste isn't being rude.
DeleteIf you like this style then that's cool - some people can carry it off and others can't.
I too live in a big city and like to be fashion forward, but I have different taste to you. Does it mean that you are wrong? No, it's just an opinion and a matter of personal style.
Just because some people don't like the things that you like doesn't make them rude or boring, just as there is nothing wrong with dressing like a librarian or a soccer mum.
Katie I find it ironic that you start the post by telling someone they are rude for questioning your style choice then put down in a very negative manner the style choices of other women. I think you would have made a much compelling post by sticking to the positive points. This is all meant to be a fun and friendly forum to exchange our sartorial opinions and choices. Many JCAs have written negative reviews of items I like and I am sure vice versa. To me hearing diverse and honest opinions about J Crew's style offerings the main I like reading this blog:)
DeleteI put down someone in a negative manner? I never comment on anyone's personal style here! I made the librarian/ soccer mom comment in irony to prove my point, like I already explained below. Like I already said- everyone's style is different and there is a difference between not liking something and somewhat insulting the person who would wear it. Clearly you didn't understand.
DeleteThe "boring school teacher, librarian or soccer mom" comment didn't come off as ironic to me.
DeleteKatie Irony is not lost on me, believe me. My friends often joke that I minored in irony in college:) I could definitely see certain contexts where the librarian / soccer mom comment could be ironic but when you start off a statement telling someone else they are rude for not liking a style choice and then in the same statement say others are boring for their fashion choices, the irony gets lost. It makes you a rude person by your own definition. Although the pants are not for me, I actually appreciate hearing another POV about them but that kind of got lost because of the delivery of your message. That was the point I was trying to make. Clearly you didn't understand.
DeleteWell, this 'boring soccer mom' (baseball mom, currently) lives in the burbs, and bought the camo vest. I was thrilled about it, but my balloon somewhat deflated when some commenters dogged the look of the camo vest. However, it really helped me suss out my true feelings about the item. As someone who can defnitely worry too much sometimes about others' opinions, I knew if I liked the camo vest despite others' criticism of it, then I would have the confidence to wear it IRL without any qualms.
DeleteAs some have said, thank goodness we don't all have the same taste/make the same choices :)
Funny, I like them. However I guess you could call me a Soccer Mom because my children are heavily into sports and I am a SAHM. However, I too once lived and worked in a large city at a high paying corporate job. My style sense is neither boring nor frumpy and being a "Soccer Mom" has not changed that nor that of my Librarian and Teacher friends!!!
Delete312 clearly you want to pick a fight with me and continue to call me a rude person. Apparently this time the irony was lost on you because you still don't get it. I was purposely making my point with that comment- I'm sorry you're having such a hard time accepting that or are unhappy with my delivery. But thank you for analyzing my comment and telling me how I could have made a more compelling post.
DeleteI am a teacher and I did not find your comment ironic at all and I have advanced degrees in English and Reading. Sorry but your post came off in a very rude manner to me as well.
DeleteI live in a major metropolitan city AND I'm a teacher! Didn't see any irony in Katie's comment, just stereotyping and trite dismissal of the style of others.
DeleteHmmm not my style and I certainly wouldn't pay good money for them. They scream 'victim' to me.
ReplyDeleteYou're correct offering an opinion and saying you don't like something isn't rude. However saying it screams "victim" is! Thanks for making my point. Asking if people are buying them "ironically" or are they REALLY styling them with heels- personally I find that somewhat rude. I could comment on a lot of styling I see on this site, but I keep my "possibly hurtful" opinions to myself because everyone's style is different! Ironically which was my point I was making with my boring librarian or soccer mom comment;)
DeleteWhy is that rude??
DeleteI really don't understand. It is my opinion of the pants, not you :-)
I find myself wondering what is creative, artistic, individualistic about mass-produced machine-spattered pants or shirts in the first place.
ReplyDeletei guess you could make that same argument for any piece of mass-produced clothing.
DeleteI agree. There is nothing intrinsically individualistic about anything from J. Crew or any other mass-producing retailer.
DeleteI like fashion in its many forms. I don't mind when there might be something somewhat "out there" to me because I'm pretty sure I look goofy most of the time anyhow, no matter how hard I try to look cool. That said, while I would admire this look on anyone else who had an interest to try it out, I know I would look like I was trying too hard. Same thing with distressed jeans. No matter how hard I try to look cool in them, I just end up looking like a bum. Ah, such is my poor fashion lot. :)
ReplyDeleteThe question was asked. My answer is no. Just no. Yes, Suzy, I have a pair of tan, paint splattered khakis in the garage. For freeeeee...
ReplyDeleteI am with Gigi - I appear to be doing this to my clothing on a regular basis accidentally! :-)
ReplyDeleteHaha... somehow salad dressing, spaghetti sauce and wine don't look quite as cool on my pants ;)
DeleteSometimes, with items like this, I wonder if the design team is playing a joke on us. Like after a night of drinking, someone spilled something on their pants & came up with the idea to try to "Punk" the general public to see who would pay hundreds of dollars for an item everybody's dad had when they were growing up. I adore the Crew but when I saw these... PASS.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm.... I think some people woke up in the wrong side of the bed today. :/
ReplyDeletePersonally I like them but i'd make them myself if I wanted them. Also I just don't think they fit in with the collection presented at fashion week.
I hope everyone winds up having a better day... I know I'm looking forward to the new October arrivals.
Isn't this a DYI project. It is a cute look but not one I would pay for.
ReplyDeleteWho knew *this* post would be controversial?!? I did not. I just thought it be fun to do another Questionable Item of the Week post. Especially since it has been awhile.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I really am sorry if I offended anyone with my opinion on paint pants. I personally do not get them (partially because as Susan mentioned, J.Crew charges a lot of money for them). But it doesn't mean someone else couldn't rock the look.
For those of you who saw (and even commented) this as a fun post, thank you! :)
For those of you who thought I was being rude, again I am sorry. It wasn't my intention.
I wasn't terribly offended- it's just a pair of pants! however I think people need to be careful when commenting on something they don't like. There is a difference between hating an item and insulting the person who wears it. I didn't mean for this to blow up like this so now I'm apologizing to you! I understand people are going to think these are stupid or ugly and I'm absolutely fine with that- thank god we all don't like the exact same things! Life would be boring. No need to apologize, but that was very kind of you.
DeleteDon't worry about it, Alexis. It's only one person and I think this is a fun post!
DeleteThanks Alexis for this "questionable item of the week" - great fun.
DeleteI love the color of these pants and I can imagine someone in my circle wearing them (not me). But anyone I know rocking this look would have a better story about the pants than "I bought them at the mall".
I would wear these, but I wouldn't buy them.
ReplyDeleteDitto, but I'd only wear them to Home Depot.
DeleteNow it just depends on whether it's produced. If everyone hates it, then my guess is a NO!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to reply to the posts regarding ruining your clothes on your own, but Blogger won't let me.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, in the past three months, I spilled a gigantic glass of red wine on my beloved light pink Jackie. Alas, I could not save it despite 50 efforts. AND, last week, my lovely 2-year-old boy got a horrific bloody nose as we were leaving Barnes and Noble. I was carrying him because he was not pleased about leaving, and well, my entire left side of my bright pink Tippi sweater was COVERED in blood. This one I saved with a combo of Oxyclean, Shout and Tide.
Between my clumsiness and my 2-year-old's 2-year-oldness, my family has ruined so many clothes this summer. Eep! Don't even get me started about my husband. LOL.
To each their own on what they consider stylish - that's the fun of fashion, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI'm personally not a fan of the look, but for those who like it but don't want to pay $$$ for it, those pants may be a nice inspiration for some creative DIY.
I wouldn't mind having these loose fitting khakis sans the splatters. Why don't they offer both styles?? It might be interesting to see which style would sell better. ;o)
ReplyDeleteThey might do it, since they offered the Scout chinos in solid colors before they offered the paint-splattered version.
DeleteI like the cut of the pants - they look like the Foundry pant from a few years ago. (Ivanka, I hope they offer them for sale without the paint, too!) Maybe JC should consider a Women's/Crewcuts collab where the child models are let loose with some paint around a rack of khakis.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I totally relate - my husband has about 10 tees that look like those pants that he wears out of the house all the time - and he's not a painter! Add a toddler into this mix and let's just say there's a moratorium on most JC pieces coming into the house for a while. ;)
OMG. I know!!! I so want the silk heart blouse, but that would be destroyed in a day. GUARANTEED.
DeleteI guess I need to stick to wearing black, navy and red. Ha ha.
I like the cut of the pants, too. I tried the toothpicks, the andies and the skinny utilities, and they all look AWFUL on moi. It's amazing that J. Crew shorts and skirts are always a perfect fit on me, but the pants are often a fail. Except for matchsticks. I love me my matchsticks.
Alexis, your post is not rude at all. Some people feel the need to get defensive and then attack others to make themselves feel better. (I'm not saying that's what went on here, but it sure feels like it did.)
ReplyDeleteI think the pants are fugly and would not wear them if you paid me, and I feel the same way about pre-destructed jeans. Touching on WFFs comment above, it seems like one would wear destructed jeans or painted khakis because they look like *you* made them that way after years of wear, and/or that they are unique. But they aren't, if you buy them that way. To respond to those that said nothing from J.Crew is unique or individual, that's true, but that's not why we buy Tippi sweaters or wool pencil skirts. I buy them because I *can't* make them myself, and need to buy items like them somewhere. It's a big distinction. When I see someone wearing pre-destructed denim or painted pants, I do think "fashion victim." To each their own, though.
Like others, I have plenty of paint covered items that I do wear - for painting. Can't say the same about my SO (I hear ya, silver_lining) who wears tees with paint on them out of the house, and sees nothing wrong with doing so. Sigh. I'm working on it.
I was one who said J. Crew and other mass retailers aren't making individualistic clothes, but I didn't mean it as a negative. You know I like J. Crew's clothes well enough ! :) I just think J. Crew shouldn't market themselves as selling individualistic clothes (and maybe they don't, I'm not sure). If they were smart (and maybe they are), they would market to us the concept of wearing their clothes in our own individual ways. I personally don't like wearing J. Crew head to toe, but sometimes I don't think their pieces mix well with clothes from other retailers and I find it hard to put a personal spin on their clothing. It seems to lend itself to wearing with other J. Crew things. Maybe Mickey is a genius!
Deletecate, yes. I agree with you... 100%, actually! You are really good at explaining things and and clarifying nuances :) I do often find myself wearing either all (or almost all) J.crew, or nothing J.Crew except my shoes. Interesting point that I hadn't thought about before!
DeleteHi cate - they used to do this quite a bit in the catalogs (one piece/two ways, 'regular' people wearing JC, multiple staff in the JC offices wearing the same item different ways, etc.). Didn't they just have an Instagram thing where pics will be in the next catalog? Should be interesting. I love to see how JCA's style different pieces (Polyvore is gret for this) and only wish it were easier for us to insert our own pics in a blog so we could see more of them! :)
DeleteJcrewjd- I'm glad you didn't find the post rude. I did because I was offended. I actually didn't get defensive, but tried to explain why it was offensive to me. I also didn't "attack" anyone "to make myself feel better". I tried to make a point by ironically making a rude comment about boring soccer moms. Clearly no one understood the point I was trying to make about making a hurtful opinion on someone else's style. I obviously wasn't clear enough! I never comment on this site about an item based on style alone because I know even if I hate it- someone will love it!
DeleteJ.CrewJD, I thought my post was rambly and kind of a hot mess, it is good to be understood though! :) We're going to have to figure out why it is that J. Crew tends to be all or nothing for us with outfits.
Deletesilver_lining, I don't remember that but it seems like a great idea and I wish J. Crew still did this feature. I didn't see the Instagram thing, and apparently I don't have the attention span for Polyvore because I keep forgetting about it and when I go there I am immediately overwhelmed. I'll keep an eye out.
I think the pants are fun but no way could I pull them off, I'd prefer the same look without the splatter. I'm also not a trend person and this seems like a very trendy piece to me. I think the key to pulling off this look is overdressing it with a clutch and heels, if you go even a little bit casual it easily transgresses from trendy to looking like you are a contractor heading out on your lunch break.
ReplyDeleteI oil paint and have plenty of paint covered items so this could definitely be a DIY without even trying!
Crewcuts routinely has pain spattered items, including some Macalister boots that have lingered in the sale section for a year or so. I'm not sure to whom JC is marketing. My kids think these boots are bizarre (and yes Katie, we live in a big city).
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for living in a big city.
DeleteI think the pants are just "meh", but I can't imagine paying extra money for a pair of paint-splattered pants. Why not just buy a pair of cheap khakis and splash them with paint?
ReplyDelete**blows whistle**
ReplyDeleteHelloooooo...can we just agree to disagree? The cut of the pants is great. For some. The color of the pants is great. For some. The paint splatter is great. For some.
Please, let it go. Trying to continue to clarify a viewpoint isn't really working in this thread. All this talk about the pants/clutch/heels. Is no one wearing a shirt w/these pants? That's the real problem at this point. And if the humor in that mini knee slapper is lost, well...at least I tried.
I love you Gigi.
DeleteI wonder I they will make a vertical stripe black and white sweater this season for our new referee Gigi! We could all chip in and send you one! Love ya Gigi!
DeleteTHANK YOU GIGI!!!!!! I love you too!!!
DeleteI love the sweater, thank you! I can't wear it if someone's going to be twerking on me, though. Unless it's Simon Baker. Then can do!
DeleteWe should wear a shirt with these??? LOL :D
DeleteLOL! Will anyone think of the shirts? ;) Thanks Gigi for the much needed laugh.
DeleteGigi- I just want to thank you for playing referee! You're right, trying to clarify my point was not working here! It's funny the person who felt offended by the original post was the one who ended up being attacked. The ONLY point I was trying to make is that there is a difference between hating an item and offending the person who wears it. I understand people hating these pants- that's fine! I was offended by comments like, you're a sucker if you buy these, are you buying them ironically, they scream fashion victim, do you REALLY wear heels with them....... I would Never make these comments about someone! Which is why I purposely made the rude boring soccer mom/librarian comment! Clearly no one got that I purposely made that comment to prove my point about hurtful opinions on style. I did not get that across clearly and that's my fault, but it worked! It's funny how many people were offended when there style was judged or criticized, but no one cared when mine was! There are a lot of things j crew sells that I think are horribly ugly, but I would never tell anyone it screams fashion victim. There's no point to making an ugly opinion like that other than to offend the people who like it. Personally, I don't like the camo. I also know some people will look adorable in it and think of great ways to style it. It's fine to not like it, but i would never call someone a fashion victim or a sucker for buying it! I hope I've clarified my point better.
DeleteNow that I look at it again, the shirt paired with the pants looks kind of interesting. Want to see the whole shirt!
DeleteI love this look! I hate spending a lot of money on them though. But yes, I would totally wear this whole outfit.
ReplyDeleteI personally love J. Crew's paint-splattered pants and I think they look great if styled well, like they were on Liya Kebede in the June catalog (on location in Tanzania).
ReplyDeleteThis trend has been around for several years actually. The Fall 2010 runway shows of Tory Burch and Proenza Schouler featured paint-splattered pants. Most likely the look originated on the street, with some artist wearing them stylishly. (Similar to Julian Schnabel and his pajamas-as-outerwear habit -- I think he started the pajama-dressing trend.)
I would totally wear these. And I'm a librarian. :)
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ReplyDeleteBack in good old 1987 I took two t-shirts and splatter painted them myself with fabric paint. They turned out great and I wore them proudly. My mom saved them and just gave them to my daughter. Now, I would NEVER pay JCrew for a pair of these paints. NO WAY. Not even for $10. The whole point to me is to make them yourselves if you want a pair and be original.
ReplyDelete*PANTS not paints
DeleteYeah, I'm of the school of thought that says that, since I wore the trend 30 years ago, I should probably pass this time around. Even if I was in elementary school then.
ReplyDeleteI do not ever ever ever EVER need to be reminded of ripping/paint splattering/otherwise destroying my Jordaches that were so tight it literally hurt to zip them up so I could look cool like Martika from Kids Incorporated.
/old person rant
Hahahahaha Martika....love it!!
DeleteI don't see myself ever buying paint splattered pants, but like some others noted, I really like the shape of those pants and would buy them plain, in khaki or gray.
ReplyDelete