IMAGE: @MODEDAMOUR
During winter, my go-to outfit is a jumper, jeans and a pair of loafers. Denim creates a casual, laidback feel, knitwear is elegant and practical and loafers always elevate any outfit — it’s an easy go-to look that always works.
Having said that, I’m trying to branch out and explore more options this winter, one of which being cashmere pants. I love how they’re super cosy and casual but somehow don’t feel it; they feel elevated in a luxuriously comfortable way. For me, I like outfits to have a balance of both casual and refined elements, but when it comes to cashmere pants it’s difficult to put them in a single category. At first, they might seem casual by default given that they’re technically sweatpants yet cashmere is one of the most luxurious and expensive types of knitwear out there, with a lot of cashmere pants going for upwards of £1000. Safe to say, trying to style cashmere pants was a bit of a challenge.
So, naturally, I took to experimenting using five pairs of cashmere pants. Since I wasn’t sure which category they fell into exactly, I focused on making sure the rest of the look contained a mixture of casual and refined elements.
One tip I learnt was that when it comes to footwear, it really doesn’t matter if you go preppy with loafers or casual with sneakers, as long as you have a tailored coat and a structured bag, everything instantly appears more put-together.
Something I do try to stay away from when styling cashmere pants is pairing them with a matching knitted top, (cashmere pants are often sold as a co-ord) simply because it can lean towards pyjamas. Instead of feeling cohesive, it can feel a little uninspired and plus, it’s a lot more fun to create dynamic looks when you mix and match pieces.
Below you’ll find five pairs of cashmere pants and how I would style them, balancing both casualness and refinement.
1. Cardigan + Black Pants + Loafers
Black cashmere pants are probably the most put-together looking of all cashmere pants, simply because they’re the most understated. They can almost masquerade as regular trousers while still offering all the comfort and softness of cashmere. A rich camel coat adds warmth to the look while a bright red cardigan adds both vibrancy and preppy appeal.
2. Cardigan + Green Pants + Boots
Cardigan / Track Pants / Coat / Boots / Bag / Sunglasses
Loro Piano certainly knows how to do knitwear well and these pants are a testament to that. The dark khaki shade feels elevated but still cosy and pairs perfectly with The Row’s cool-toned beige cardigan. Throw on Max Mara’s padded coat in navy for a complimentary colour scheme and finish the look with matching black boots and a bag, both from The Row.
3. Turtleneck Jumper + Beige Pants + Boots
Another casual and comfy offering from The Row is these cashmere Emely pants. The charcoal grey sweater and dark brown coat create an overall muted look that suits the tone of the soft beige pants. For a weekend away, opt for a large duffle bag like this one from The Row and add some edge with the brand’s iconic Zipped Boot 1 — a chunky platform style that contrasts the softness of the fabrics with the leather.
4. Cardigan + Camel Pants + Loafers
Cardigan / Track Pants / Coat / Loafers / Bag / Sunglasses
Keeping things simple and neutral but also elevated. Pairing a cardigan with track pants helps add a little preppiness to the overall look and looks great with a white tee underneath. Add a pair of comfortable yet polished loafers from Khaite and a tailored Toteme coat for sophistication. Finish the look by bringing in some dimension through a croc-embossed bag in a deep espresso shade.
5. Sweatshirt + Navy Pants + Loafers
Sweatshirt / Track Pants / Coat / Loafers / Bag / Sunglasses
A deep jewel tone like navy is one of the best shades to opt for when elevating more casual items. Here, it’s paired with a sweatshirt, proving you don’t always have to opt for a shirt or cardigan when elevating sweatpants. It’s all about colour and texture, here, for example, navy is already an elevated colour and brown suede loafers feel instantly preppy, as does the elegant camel coat. Overall, the look feels put-together and smart even though its casual at the core.
