I have to kick off this post by saying – I love, love, love these pants. I have been waiting to buy them for a very long time (remember when I mentioned them wayyyy back when?). They are the Clyde Work Pant by Elizabeth Suzann. They are an investment, so I didn’t want to jump in before I was ready, financially or otherwise. But this spring I was finally ready to try them out and they have truly met my very high expectations. And I’m thrilled!
The Story: First I ordered them in my usual size 6, in the regular length, (which was suggested according to the size chart). I wanted them to be ankle length, and that’s just how they fit my 5’7″ height. I liked the size 6, but I didn’t love them. The fit was much much more generous in the thighs, and I went back and forth on my feelings about that. And after wearing them a bit, I realized there was a flaw in the construction – the elastic in the waistband didn’t have enough seam allowance to lie flat – so I contacted Elizabeth Suzann to see about an exchange. I also realized that if I were to size-down, maybe I’d like the fit better. The customer service team at ES was friendly and helpful, making the exchange very easy. For a made-to-order company, I was very impressed with the quick turn-around of about 16-17 days between order placement and delivery. My hat is off to this brand for making beautiful items, prompt shipping and excellent customer service.
The Pants: Guys, I love these pants! They are a true workhorse, which is what attracted me to them in the first place. I wanted a pant I could wear and feel stylish in that also accommodated my day-to-day life of playgrounds, bicycles and general kid-slinging. Beyond that, these pants look great dressed up for other activities too, coffee dates, happy hour, church, you name it. The color has really augmented my wardrobe options. It’s a warm olive green that goes with just about everything.
The Fit and Feel: These are very comfortable to wear all day and are great for moving around in. I got the second pair – seen in the photos – in a size 4, which gives me a silhouette I prefer (slightly slimmer in the thighs than the size 6). I definitely have to shimmy the waistband over my tush to get them on. But the snug waistband also keeps them at belly-button level, right where I want them. When I first got these they were tight on my calves, but the cotton fabric gave nicely after a full day of wear. The fabric is thick and slightly textured. In the first week of wearing I bumped into things that should have snagged the fabric but didn’t.
To test-drive these pants right away, and speed up my styling learning curve, I jumped right into 7 days in a row of wearing and styling them. (You can see my first 7 Days of Styling experiment here.)
Day 1 // (Photo above.) I think I tried on about three different sweaters, and a few different shirts, trying to get the hang of this while still staying warm. Later on in the day, I put my leather jacket on. Loved that. Paired with: husband’s ancient army t-shirt (similar, size up for loose fit!), Zady Cardigan and Bryr Clogs in Sienna (c/o).
Day 2 // Paired the pants with a rose t-shirt (similar). I picked up the pink and green combo idea from Lo, who has an amazing wardrobe. Shades that are opposites on the color wheel always work so nicely together! Topped with my Levi’s denim jacket and thrifted Cons (try these for an ethical alternative).
Day 3 // Starting to get serious in my love and styling efforts for these pants. The kids were at the grandparents and I was feeling like I had a little more time to invest in getting ready. This is one of my favorite looks from the week. Clyde pants paired with my chambray shirt (old J.Crew, try this instead), cognac booties, Reformation leather jacket and Cuyana saddle bag.
Day 4 // I probably wear this sweater at least once per week, which is amazing considering it’s about four years old and I regularly throw it in the washing machine. Super simple look for day 4 (story of my life!). Pants are paired with clogs (c/o Bryr) and a black canvas tote, a few years old from West Elm. This is why I love great pieces, they make an otherwise simple look come across as pulled-together and unique.
Day 5 // Please excuse the tired face. It was the weekend, and I just wasn’t interested in bothering with makeup. Styled the pants here with another trusted sweater, the donegal crop by Everlane, which has been sold out for a long time. They do have a few similar crop styles right now that look pretty great. Also seen here: Anorak by Everlane (last season), thrifted Cons (ethical option), little black backpack, (c/o), linen and wood tassel necklace, (c/o Kate Whitehouse). This was another of my favorite looks from the week.
Day 6 // Look at that guys! A true outfit repeater, in the same week even! I’m not ashamed to admit it, I am an outfit repeater. If it ain’t broke…
Day 7 // These pants do tucked-in shirts so well! Even if I have to suck in my mom-tummy just a bit. And hey, there really isn’t anything wrong with a little mom-tummy. That mom-tummy brought me three kids. (Soapbox alert.) I remember years back when Kevin and I were touring art museums in Italy, whenever there were paintings of nude or semi-nude women, the portion of their bodies from hip-to-hip was never flat as a board, it was always slightly soft, rounded out a bit, the way most of our female bodies are shaped. And it was beautiful in the paintings. When I doubt how I look, I remind myself that this shape is beautiful on me now even if it’s not as flat as it once was. (End soapbox.) Here, another favorite look: ES pants paired with mules, (c/o Nisolo) and an old striped top (thrifted Ralph Lauren). Earrings by Fail Jewelry, gift from husband.
And that’s a wrap! Any questions about the fit of these pants? Do you have them, if so, how do you style them?
And I promise, this is the end of the mirror selfies. But this series has inspired some new content, and I’m excited to share that with you soon!
Oh man you really make me want to get these Clyde pants! I loved all your outfits!
Thanks so much Elaine! As always, I value your opinions!!
thanks for this! i have tried these twice without luck so far. once was an older version of the pattern (about a year ago), which fit very tightly around my hips (i’m also a size 6). i tried them again recently and suddenly they felt roomy – similar to your experience! i felt like they were drawing so much attention to my tummy with the bagginess + super duper high waist (which i usually do love). i am now considering sizing down to the 4 like you did. how did the waistbands compare across sizes?
i know they are releasing them in a new material soon, so i am wondering what the differences will be, and whether colors will change. at this point not sure if i should wait and see! i am waiting to hear back from customer service on some of these questions…
I would say the waistband is definitely snugger in the 4, but it is really only noticeable when pulling them on. They are super comfortable to wear. Going back to jeans is a real struggle, haha. I am curious to hear about their new colors of this pant too! It seems like their warm weather line is taking forever to get here!
Hello! Love this thorough review and styling. I’ve been debating sized 2 and 4 for a long while and also whether to get them now in the cotton twill or wait for the canvas. Here was the response I got from ES customer service in case it’s helpful!
“I’d love to tell you a bit more about the twill we’ve been using for the Clydes. As you read on the blog, we are switching over to cotton canvas because it is a more durable fabric than cotton twill. We’ve found that the twill can start to pill, specifically in the inner thigh, and wears down more quickly than we’d like. The rate that it will wear down depends on how often you wear and wash them as well as how much friction it’s experiencing throughout the day.
The cotton canvas is a heavier fabric, so it will be a bit stiffer and more structured than the cotton twill, but it will soften up as you wear and wash the pants.
If you’re looking for a slimmer look in that style, the 2 is probably going to be your best bet. The waistband if pretty soft, so it shouldn’t feel constricting or uncomfortable as you wear it. I’ve included the flat measurements for both the 2 and 4 below so that you can compare the two and get a better idea of what the fit will be :)
Clyde Pant – 2
Waist: 11.75″
Hip: 21.25″
Calf: 7.575″
Inseam: 26.7″
Clyde Pant – 4
Waist: 12.25″
Hip: 22″
Calf: 7.8″
Inseam: 26.8”
Also – I was told the new clydes won’t launch with the warm weather collection on April 26th, but rather on an update on signature collection in June or July.
Great info!! Thank you!!
I like the series and the mirror selfies. Very real life, which is what I like. Day 2 and 7 are my favorites. I love these pants on others, but I’m not sure how they would look on me. If I had unlimited funds, I would certainly give them a try along with the Cedros pants from Only Child, but alas I do not. Both pants are so relaxed and comfy looking….my idea of perfect spring and summer pieces. I’m on the hunt at thrift stores for a similar look, but so far I have been out of luck. :-(
Keep looking Rebecca, I bet you will be able to find something! Like at the very least some broken in tapered chinos or something. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I love how real life these posts are too! I am going to start up a regular series on the blog soon, that I hope will be just as real life!
Yayyyyyyy!!! I love the green, and they look so good on you. You look so freaking tall!
Hahahaha! It’s the angle I’m shooting at and the mirror i think!!
These Clydes are SO GOOD on you! I’m glad you finally got them and that they’re working so well for your life and style. I wish they had worked for me too, we could have been twinkies :) I recently tried a pair of secondhand ES Florence pants in navy linen, and they are working so much better for my body shape and lifestyle/climate than the Clydes. Inspired by you, I did the “7 Days of Styling” exercise last week — it not only helped me try new combinations, but it really helped me feel a sense of ownership of these new pants. Thanks for sharing your method!
(P.S. Email to you is in the works!)
I could totally see why the Clydes would be too hot for Hawaii, they are definitely a thick pant. Linen wide leg pants seem like a much better fit. YAY! I love hearing that you employed my method. I think that sense of ownership that comes is my favorite part! I’m really honored that you tried it out, and pretty pumped that it worked for you! Looking forward to your email! ;)
Loooove how you style these. It’s amazing how many different senses of style these pants can accommodate. I’m planning to buy a pair if the twill ones go on sale when the canvas ones come out.
I didn’t realize that there was a canvas style coming out – very exciting!!
These pants look incredible on you. I think you made the right decision by sizing down. They usually look baggy and large to me, but the fit seems completely right on you.
Thanks Alex, I appreciate that. It helped that I glimpsed them on another blogger/IG girl (Moriah Murrell) and her’s were fitted and they looked so good. I also noticed on ES real bodies campaign, they did not fit super loose on the legs of their models.
They look great!!! And there is nothing wrong with a mirror selfie. Really enjoying this series, Andrea!
I’m excited to try something from ES. I’m not sure what, but everything I’ve heard about them has been very positive. Thanks for such a thorough review.
Ha! Thanks for affirming the mirror selfie. It just feels so casual for a blog post, you know? Thanks, I am really enjoying doing this series, it feels great to be so fresh and authentic. It’s definitely inspired some future blog content. As for ES, I am looking forward to seeing what comes out in the warm weather collection. I’d love to see some sort of linen crop top….
I’ve been looking forward to this post since you mentioned it a while back! I recently ordered a pair of Clydes, which should be here any day now, and this is a great source of inspiration! And if mirror selfies mean you do more of these type of posts, I’m all for that :)
Yay! Excited for you to get your Clydes, I hope you love them as much as I do. Did you get them in the olive as well? And thanks for saying that. I absolutely love doing these types of posts – so look for more to come!
I love the color and how you styled the pants on day four! Totally rocked it.
Thank you Katherine! They are seriously so easy to wear! Especially after completing this series.
I love this post! The last look is my favorite…the combination of the olive color with stripes looks great. I’ve been hesitant to try out the Clyde pants even though everyone seems to love them because they always seemed way too roomy in the hips (which is a body part I try not to emphasize), but maybe now that I’ve seen how you styled them I’ll give them a shot. Also, thanks for the positive body image message at the end…that’s something I needed to hear!
Hi Kristy! Thanks for saying that, there’s not enough body positive messages in the blogging world! Good luck with trying out the Clydes, you might just surprise yourself. Have you seen how Grechen (http://grechenscloset.com) styles them?
I love this series! I had the same problem with my Clydes and ended up selling them on Poshmark. I didn’t think of trying to exchange! I had them in a 6 and they were too billowy/bulky in the butt and thighs…I have skinny legs but a 28″ waist so I will try sizing down next time!
Definitely size down if you get them again! I like them 100x better in the smaller size!
Yay! Another 7 days series! Love these!
Looks 1,2,3 and 5 (!) are my favorites!
I love that you repeat pieces! Me too! One of the reasons I continue following your blog.
Do you think they are warm enough to wear in fall/ winter (in New York), or more of a spring/ summer pant?
Have a great week! Xo!
Thank you Jodie! This is a favorite series of mine as well! I am working on some new + and similar content. I love how earnest these posts are, and I think you guys do too. Thank you for weighing in – as always, I value your opinion!! xo
And yes, definitely warm enough to wear in NY. The twill is nice and thick. I plan to wear my pants year round. It sounds like they’re coming out with a canvas option too, which will be even sturdier (see comments above).
I love the 7-day styling too! I also love that you have normal outfits that aren’t too precious or too difficult to wear for pretty much everything. Loving looks 1,2,7. I am also worried about the Clyde pants not fitting me right, so I am thinking of ordering the Clyde skirt in raw silk. I think it might drape better, and it’s more appropriate for my southern climate. I have been surprised by how sturdy and awesome raw silk is. I have absolutely no problems wearing it around my kids, to work, wherever!
Yes! I LOVE raw silk, I wish I had more of it in my closet. It’s such a great fabric. I love the idea of precious tops and clothing, but it’s just not a practical investment of my $$. If I spent time in an office or in the corporate world, maybe, but for now, I definitely need practical clothing. And not yoga pants. ;) Keep me posted on if you get the Clyde skirt!
I’ve been thinking about that reformation leather jacket for a while. It looks great. What size do you have?
Hi Suzie! Thank you, I am liking the jacket more and more each time I wear it! It’s a great piece. My friends keep petting me because it’s so soft HAHA. I tried the Medium, but the shoulders were too wide, and sleeves were too long, so I sized down to a Small.
Hey, those look great on you! What are your hip and waist measurements? I’m torn between the 4 and the 6, but according to the size chart on ES I should go with the 6… but you did the same thing and ended up sizing down. Really love this blog!
Hi Kristi! The ES size chart put me at a 6 as well. I am about 29″ at the smallest part of my waist, and about 39″ in the hips (when measuring at crotch level). Hope that helps – keep me posted. And super glad to have you!! :)
Seriously! You make a strong case for these pants! Haha! :) And that leather jacket? *insert all the heart eyes*
I’ve been wanting to add a pair of olive pants to the mix for about two years now. I’ve seen the moto pant style over and over again in this color, although I actually kind of like them, I’m not sure they would stand the test of time. ;) THESE babies are what I’m talking about.
Thank you Laura!! I had been wanting olive pants for quite some time too. I kept seeing cheaper versions of olive colored joggers. But I’m so glad I held out for these! It was a long time coming, and so worth the wait! :) And thank you, I really like the jacket! It’s nice to have a similar shaped jacket to my jean jacket that I can just toss on. Now I am practicing learning to wear it on the regular instead of saving it for ‘fancy times’ (that rarely happen!)
Thank you so much for reviewing these pants, Andrea! I’ve had my eye on them and when I read a while back that you were going to review them, I decided to wait and see how they looked on you. I’m about the same size and was thinking of getting the 6, but now I’m probably going to consider the 4. Also, I never even blinked an eye at the olive green color (I had been eyeing the beige/khaki color). I may be rethinking that now as I can see how versatile the green is! Thanks again – love your blog!
April, I’m so glad my review has helped! Excited for you to order some. I hope you get a pair that works really well for you!! I am about 29″ in the smallest part of my waist and 39″ at my hips (crotch level) in case that helps!
Also! I’ve always been a fan of the rose pink/olive green combo. :) I can remember wearing it as far back as junior high and recognizing them at two colors that just WORK.
Girl, I am impressed! In junior high I was definitely not that on top of my wardrobe. I think I was busy wearing flannels and birkenstocks with socks HAHA.
I’ve never commented before, but I just had to tell you how much I love this! The pants look amazing on you and I love every single look! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Hi Kerry! Thanks for de-lurking. ;) I am so glad you like this post. I love sharing in this format, it’s really fun!!
I love this series, Andrea! I’ve been lusting after the Clydes for forever too…maybe this summer I’ll make them mine 😊
These look SO GOOD on you! Alas, I just tried them in 4S, and they just didn’t work on my body type. They were wearing me, and not the other way around. So sad, because I was excited about them! Happy to see how cute they are on you and others though! :)