October 16, 2011

Today's Everyday Fashion: Black Pants Era






































This is what I wore for girls night with my BFF on Friday. I've had this navy/dark blue shirt for at least six years (wowzers) but it seemed like the perfect thing to throw on in a hurry with black skinny jeans. Speaking of black jeans... this old shirt got me thinking about what we used to wear in college, and does anyone remember a time when we all wore black pants to go out? Not jeans, not skirts, but always black pants. We would be a like an army of black pants going out to a bar. Kind of hilarious now that I think about it... Tell me, do you still have clothes from college? And do you remember the "black pants" era?

Navy shirt: Boston boutique, really old
Black jeans: Gap, $35
Shoes: Steve Madden via Ross, $20
Purse: Urban Outfitters, $20
Earrings: Banana Republic, $20
Bracelets: Banana Republic, Forever 21

43 comments:

  1. Haha yes I remember when we never wore jeans to go out, never. It just did not seem dressy enough. And that was not so long ago. Now everyone wears jeans going out. I guess that makes me feel old. LOL

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  2. I went to college early 2000s and my going out outfit was black pants, a hot pink top from Charlotte Russe and black platforms.

    Now does anyone remember when it was in style to wear the white shirt/long black skirt/thick platform sandals combo? For some reason I think I wore this in both jr. high and college. Eek!

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  3. I'm in college now, everyone either wears jeans, heels, and a tank top (preferably sequins) or a mini, extremely tight skirt. haha

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  4. omg YES!! Always black pants (and almost always from express)! Hilarious!

    Michelle
    www.pinqueblog.com

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  5. Yes!  We always wore black pants or mini-skirts even when we were going to not so nice sports bars or house parties.

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  6. Definitely remember the black pants era. Heck, we wore them just about anywhere?
    I got so fed up with them I rarely wear them today.... my BFF actually calls the black pants era "the uniform" time lol. Oh man suddendly I feel so damn old....:)

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  7. Totally remember the black pants era! Then once we got jobs, we wore nothing but those black pants. And yes, I still have clothes from college...and a few from high school.

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  8. i totally remember that! it was right before the "designer" jeans got popular, and then everyone got Sevens and wanted to wear them out and show off :)

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  9. When I was in high school ('99 - '03), every Thursday we had "black pants Thursday" where instead of our normal jeans and hoodies, we would get dressed up in black pants and a dressy top!  So funny that you brought that up..I haven't thought about it in years!

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  10. Yes black pants era!  I went to school in NYC, and we'd all get terrible flashy cheap tops from places like Bang Bang.  I remember once I got a pair of gray pants and made them my "going out" pants and I thought I was sooooooo different.  Thank you for the nostalgia - perfect for a Sunday morning!

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  11. I think that this version of black pants is a great update to the "black pants era" also, you would never know that the top is old, it looks great with the skinnies and totally up to date.

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  12. I remember the black pants = going out outfit!  Matched with some kind of bright color little top and big chunky shoes. Great flashback!

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  13. Yes!! Sevens were THE thing right after black pants... too funny!

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  14. That is so funny Julia!! That was definitely the uniform - black pants and a flashy top - love that you dared to go outside the box with gray pants haha. :-)

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  15. Yep! I almost always wore a pink shirt I think and some chunky black shoes. Hilarious!!

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  16. "The uniform" = love it! I definitely think of black pants as being something you wear to work, or as a  waitress now, can't believe we used to wear them out the way we did!

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  17. You just brought back so many memories!  It was always black pants and a cute top.

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  18. When did you graduate college J?

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  19. We must be around the same age because I totally remember this too! Black boot-cut or flared pants and a cheap-ish button-up shirt of some kind of shiny material! Definitely right before the Seven jeans trend kicked in.

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  20. omg yes we totally did the black pants thing! In fact, I've been wanting to get a pair of skinny black jeans like your picture but the first time I tried them on I was too reminded of the black-pant-era and didn't buy them. But I'm going to have to give them another try because your outfit is too cute!

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  21. hilarious! black pants were a staple in my wardrobe for sure. thanks for taking me back to that time ;) i do have two pieces from college in my closet--rampage pants and a bcbg skirt. no black pants survived. i'd always manage to wear them to death and they'd get holey and i'd have to throw them out.

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  22. Totally remember this.  At my school, we had parties known as "Thursday Night Events" or TNEs.  Our black pants were known as TNE pants!

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  23. Same here, still cannot wear black pants to work! I do have black skinny jeans, but not cotton or any other shiny black material. Too funny!

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  24. I remember the black pants.  The tighter you could get them on your butt, the better.  Hahahaha.  Too funny.

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  25. I love the detailing on the top...you look hot lady!

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  26. Ah, those were the days! All of my black pants were from Express and they had elastic waistbands. What could be better! I need to dig those out of storage! ;)

    Your current version is super cute!!!

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  27. Def remember the black pants era. Bringing back your old shirt confirmed my debate of throwing out a couple old shirts I love but havent been worn in a couple years. Theyre staying put!!

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  28. I totally wore tight black pants in college when going out!

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  29. Yes and yes! Ohhh the black pants days!!!

    Really loving this outfit. I miss black pants!

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  30. Oh the black pants!  I think I bought every pair of black pants Express sold from 2000-2003.  Don't forget the chunky heels.  

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  31. OMG I completely wore black pants out ALL the time. Like pants I'd wear to work now. Why, oh why did we do that?

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  32. I definitely missed the blank pants era. ;-) College still isn't that far away for me so I do still have a few t-shirts and skirts left over but my style has already changed completely since then! I think your outfit looks classy, however. Black pants can't be all that bad!

    http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChocolateBox

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  33. Love the look! Really simple and easy to put together. I'm a new follower and I'm looking forward to learning! I didn't know navy blue and black would go good together. Thanks!

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  34. My friends and I always reminisc about the "black pants" days.

    I clearly remember getting ready to go out in college and you'd ask your friends what they were going to wear and it would be "blah blah blah shirt and black pants".

    Black pants for us also meant a fancier night out.  I went to school in central MA and when we'd venture in to Boston it was ALWAYS a black pants night.

    thanks for the smile :)

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  35. I was just talking about the black pants era with my college gf's the other day! So funny! Right before high-end denim hit!

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  36. Thank you so much Lisa! And welcome to the blog! :-)

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  37. Oh man, when I was in college I wanted a pair of those tight, flared black pants so bad! I had a hard time finding any that fit me and finally found some in H&M in Europe on vacation! I wonder what happened to them...Anyway now I wear black dress pants from the Limited to work almost everyday. Guess I'm still in love with black pants!

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  38. OMG!  Black pants era no doubt!  I must say, it was a little easier then because you always new what you were wearing on the bottom.  It was just the shirt that was the decision to be made :)

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  39. ah yes black pants!   I remember wearing tube tops with my black pants!  I think those were in then too?

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  40. ahahahaha! i forgot all about the black pants thing until i read this, but now that you mention it.... LMAO!! i thought i was so cool wearing my shiny black pants and pink halter tops. wow. thank goodness those were the days before digital cameras and those memories are collecting dust in a box.... omg, J - you kill me.

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  41. Ditto the being happy that there were no digital cameras! That era was not cute lol. :-) 

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  42. So true! Your pants and shoes were set, it was just a matter of deciding which solid color top to wear. :-)

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