April 13, 2023

When I saw these Gap cheeky straight jeans in silver faux leather, I could not resist. I have never owned a faux leather garment, But silver jeans?

Well, they went on sale and I ordered them. I sized up one size and am glad because, silver. And there is a seam on the front above the knee that is snug on my definitely not-skinny thighs. I see some reviewers are saying TTS and some are saying they fit small; I've always thought with metallics it's better to go loose than overly tight, but everybody's different.

I ordered the short, which is exactly ankle length on me. The fit, I think, is good. They feel surprisingly nice on. NOT like tinfoil. I disagree with the reviewer who said they make noise. They are soft, and too warm for summer, but would be good in other seasons.

I am used to a wide leg now so the shape and maybe shine seems to emphasize my short legs (to me), but if I figured out how to style them I don't think that would bother me. They are fundamentally a jean, after all, so not that difficult to work with.

The questions are:

Do I dare to wear them? Or is this a shiny object too far, LOL?
Where and when would I wear them?
How to style them?

Thanks for your thoughts!

Posted in the Shopping category

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55 Comments

Vildy replied 1 year ago

I'd order these too if I thought they might look even half as terrific on me.
Suz replied 1 year ago

Awww, Vildy, thank you. They definitely appeal to the magpie gene! They're kind of amazing for the price, especially on sale -- I would say a very high quality for the price point.
Irina replied 1 year ago

They fit really well on you. Maybe not an everyday kind thing but fun options for a festive occasion. I support! :)
gryffin replied 1 year ago

Gosh these look awesome on you!! Love it as is with white shirt and boots. Honestly I’d just treat them like any pair of jeans. They are a neutral. Pretend they are white. Navy, black, white and color, all good. They could certainly go dressy and casual. Truly unique. Love them!! Of course I’d wear with a column of black but navy would be stunning!! Hope you keep. Enjoy them!!
Runcarla replied 1 year ago

What gryffin wrote. I wonder how they would look with icy blue? I’ve had the pic below pinned to my fantasy fashion board (Ralph Lauren). I actually think your reality looks better than my photo!

1 2 3
Kate replied 1 year ago

They look terrific on you!
LaPed replied 1 year ago

Wow, do they look good! Ziggy Stardust lite? The seam over the knee would have the potential to drive my sensory issue self crazy, but YMMV. Are you ready to make peace with the fact that the metallic finish may age pretty quickly?
Suz replied 1 year ago

LaPed, that is a good question. I have little experience with this type of fabric, as in zero experience, LOL. It feels like it's less a "finish" than an integral part of the fabric, i.e. it does not feel like a foil (despite what I called the post). I don't know if it will scratch or not...or even how you wash it. I guess I had better look into that.

Thanks for all the kind compliments. Honestly, if you are inclined to try this look, I would go with these -- they come in lengths, are a classic style, the rise is high but not too high, and, as I said, they are surprisingly comfortable. If you are extremely tall (as in 6') they probably wouldn't work, even in tall, but for anyone 5'9" on down, I would think you could get a good ankle or even (for the shorter people) full length fit.

I love the styling suggestions so far. I'm going to look at them with navy, pale blue, charcoal, light grey, white (of course) and a few colours. I am not so sure about footwear styles. The boots work, I think. For a sneaker, I think a platform one would be better (on me). I don't have any delicate shoes that would work with them at the moment. Will need to consider this.

I'll try to do a little styling session tomorrow and see what I come up with.
Christina F. replied 1 year ago

Holy crap! These are amazing on you.

It’s a lot of look. I understand the concern about where to wear them. You could theoretically wear them anywhere, of course, but it’s a question of whether you will bite the bullet and do it. Maybe see if you reach for them while the return window is open?
Bijou replied 1 year ago

I love them and love your styling. Staying in a light palette keeps them from being overly dramatic. The fact they are jeans makes them wearable as long as they feel comfortable on. Wow, they look so good on you!

My advice in relation to trying something that is over the top, is to not over think it and just wear it. Soon it will feel like you.
rachylou replied 1 year ago

Ohmigosh. They are too much fun! They’re definitely party ready :)
Jaime replied 1 year ago

Oh wow Suz! I saw these around the internet but never imagined they looked so good on a real person :) ! Amazing for any sort of casual wear when you want to add a little zing. I could imagine them at dinners out, coffee with friends, all the way to fully blitzed out to a somewhat dressier event.
Suz replied 1 year ago

When I saw that the reviews from some women who wear size 16 or 33 were positive, I thought they were definitely worth a try. A number of people mention they'd be good for a variety of body types. I think that's possible because they are not an exaggerated style in any direction.
Jules replied 1 year ago

They look great. No notes :)
Aquamarine replied 1 year ago

Wow! I have faith you will make these work! I like Carla’s board for inspiration.
DonnaF replied 1 year ago

They look great on you! I would style them as you would a light gray.

The U.S. Gap site only has them in champagne gold and black faux leather; no silver.
Suz replied 1 year ago

Donna, I see them here....https://www.gap.com/browse/pro.....ge-content
Sal replied 1 year ago

These are superb on you! Awesome wildcard and as the cut is quite classic they have longevity!
Kari replied 1 year ago

OK, LOVE these on you.

The only caution I’d add if you’re new to the material is don’t get attached to faux leather.
Even if it feels high quality, it’s a petroleum-based product and it is not meant to last. Without fail, eventually every faux leather item I’ve had (from jackets to pants to iPad covers) rots and shreds, usually within 3 years. I personally won’t buy it at all anymore but if I did, I wouldn’t spend much on it - the price point hasn’t made much of a difference. I had an Ann Taylor cream faux leather jacket that made it about 6 years, I think, and that was by far the longest lasting, but it still just shredded and the whole thing started peeling all over, not in a way that could be repaired.
slim cat replied 1 year ago

Looks great! Special outfit just for fun ;-) .
BlueJay replied 1 year ago

oooooo! I've been waiting for this post! ;)

They look great on you! I love them with all the white! (I'm also drooling over Carla's photos!) I am seriously contemplating buying silver boots. I have fallen in love with all the silver that is trending!
replied 1 year ago

Very cool- they remind me of C3PO :) I like Runcarla's stylings too!

They would definitely work for winter holiday occasions, but that's a long ways off. Can you think of an occasion to wear them before it gets too hot for jeans in your area?

I tried on a bronze pleated skirt about a month ago, which I seriously considered, cause it would have been fun for holidays and theatre events and such. I did love it (and am not totally ruling it out), but didn't picture more than a few occasions a year that I'd use it. Yet I bought the ridiculous fun mermaid tail...go figure :)
RobinF replied 1 year ago

How fun are these! I love them on you and think both the sneakers and boots work. Would be great with all kinds of colors. I will ditto the suggestion to see if you reach for them before the return window closes to know if you will actually wear them.
Dee replied 1 year ago

Oh these are ridiculously fun, tin man vibes but much more chic and you look terrific in them,

As they are essentially jeans, I’d style them pretty much the same way as jeans, dressing them both up or down.

Only you can decided if you’re comfortable enough to wear them, but they are sure to get the neighbours talking lol.
Tanya replied 1 year ago

Love them on you, Suz! What a great statement piece, and they go so well with your hair.

Back in the days of skinnies, I had silver coated pair, and wore them quit a bit. I found them especially useful for all the winter holidays. Just throw on a simple cashmere sweater and you are done -festive but simple.

I have been contemplating a new silver pair lately, but J need something with a more subtle finish, wouldn't be able to pull these off.
kkards replied 1 year ago

Oh …I’ve been thinking about metallic pants, and now you’ve gone and done it….statement piece but so versatile
if you kept the lavender shirt you showed a couple of weeks ago, I think that would look fab, I’d go casual with sneakers. A denim shirt would also be fab.
But I also could see this with a blazer and heels, or a tailored flat or boot.
LJP replied 1 year ago

They fit you very well and you've got the pieces (and hair ) to compliment them , but......these are a super-trendy item (at least to me they are) and will they fit in to your environmental norm ? Are they an item you'll want in your closet for years? They strike me as very " holiday" too, so there's that. To me there is a big difference between a statement item like your plaid chiffon skirt and these pants. One is trend-less, and one is super trendy. Just my thoughts.
Angie replied 1 year ago

KILLER FABULOUS!

LOVE! You got them in the right size, and they fit beautifully, Suz :)

Best fun wildcard of the year! DELICIOUSLY matching with your gorgeous silver hair and statement earrings. PERFECT with the white shirt!

I can see you wear them for these occasions:
- at home dinners
- out with friends
- date night
- parties
- the holidays
- vacation
- readings
- book events
They can work with these items:
- dressy white shoes/boots and the white shirt
- denim shirt and sneakers
- white cotton sweater and whites boots/sneakers
- navy silk shirt and silver shoes
- dressy sweater in navy or lilac
- charcoal top and snakeskin boots
- ankle strap pumps!
Even if you wear them once a year! Enjoy!
Brooklyn replied 1 year ago

I think they look fantastic on you.

I have bronze jeans and I treat them as “dressy” jeans. So I don’t wear them for everyday wear, but I would wear them to any casual occasion where I might wear, say, jeans and a blazer.

I would keep the shoes low contrast. Silver, grey and white are ideal. I love the idea of them with a pale grey (dare I say metallic) knit. Just go for it!
Helena replied 1 year ago

Agreeing with most of the above! They are a strong statement ... and that's a very personal thing as to whether you will get mileage out of them and/or find the right occasions to wear them. From a purely looks perspective, they look really cool and I love how your styled them with the crisp white shirt!

Knowing your style, which has a playful, trendy, creative and confident edge, I can see you finding ways to make these a useful item!
Janet replied 1 year ago

I love them on you! I think they’re great with a white/light complement like you’re doing here, and I agree with the approach of keeping all the other outfit components simple and understated —
If I had the build for them, I’d pair them with a white tee and white or light sneakers or boots and call it a day. A white or light wash denim jacket would be a great topper with them. Nothing fussy. In winter, they’d be fab with a chunky white cabled sweater.

Whether you are comfortable with such a shiny statement item is truly up to you and how you feel when you put them on. I just passed along a metallic jacket that always feels like “too much” when I try to wear it. I have a strong magpie eye, but when it comes to wearing these items I often get a bit shy.
Janet replied 1 year ago

Oh, and to Kari’s point, I agree that these may have quite limited longevity. I had a faux leather jacket that was infrequently worn and lasted about five years and then just suddenly started peeling in pieces. Not from wear, I think the material just breaks down over time.
DonnaF replied 1 year ago

Yup; I agree with Kari and Janet; faux leather breaks down after an average of five years. It happens all at once so can be a problem if you’re packing such an item for a long trip and you are nearing its expiration date.
Runcarla replied 1 year ago

Just an FYI about pleather - I’ve had my green pleather pants for 15 months. I’ve worn them 25 times, and washed* them twice. They look brand new and show no signs of wear. If they last another 2+ years, I’ll be happy - ‘cause happiness factor is so high whenever I wear them.

* inside out, cold water, gentle setting with a bunch of towels, hang dry inside out.

ETA: THEY COME IN GOLD! https://www.gapcanada.ca/brows.....1&
Suz replied 1 year ago

Thank you, everyone -- this is super helpful!

First -- Kari, Donna, and Janet, I appreciate the comments about pleather's longevity (or lack thereof!). I'm also conscious of its environmental impact and had decided to avoid it. . . but here it is. The pleathers I had tried on in the past were not as soft as this -- they felt much more "plasticy" for want of a better word. I don't know if that means the quality in this is better, but regardless, I would not expect it to last more than three years.

Even so, these were not an expensive item at the sale price. If I wear them 10 times a year at minimum, I will have got 30 wears by the end of that period...and, to Carla's point, and Angie's, if the happiness factor is high, who really cares?

Carla, you are exactly right on the washing instructions. I checked the label inside that that's what it says. Sounds pretty easy.

Lisa, I hear you -- they are a trendy item. I think that's ok with me, for a few reasons. Here's my thinking, for those who are interested:

First, because as Helena points out, I have a trendy element to my style and I embrace that. I can easily veer very classic and (dare I say) on the dull side if I don't fight my natural impulse to buy nothing but simple essentials in navy and denim and white. The odd trendy piece injects a bit of needed zip to my closet.

Second, these are a classic cut -- and when I did a search for styling metallic jeans, I found this so-called "trend" has surfaced and resurfaced frequently as far back as 2008 or so. In other words, if the pleather did happen to outlive its probable expiration date as a fabric, I might still be wearing them at least five years from now! Not so "trendy," maybe, after all.

Third, silver is signature to my style. Much as bronze is to Brooklyn's. When something is signature to the wearer, trends don't matter. It will still work on me and with my wardrobe long after any trend is gone. (I mean, assuming I want to wear it.)

Having said that, it's true they don't fit easily into my suburban going-for-hikes daily lifestyle. I am not going to be wearing these when I am out with the volunteer crew that chops down the rampant and invasive blackberries in our region, LOL.

But for all the kinds of events Angie mentions -- they would work. I especially see myself wearing them for entertaining at home, parties on holidays, presentations that take place in pubs or similar, and drinks/ dinner with friends.

The sticking point for spring is footwear (apart from sneakers). I think I have a bunch of options for fall and winter -- white boots, navy (if contrast works), snakeprint, even silver (need to try these). I'm going to do. bit of a try on session later today if I get time. Next year I want to look for a dressier white boot anyway, since the casual ones have worked so well for me. But I have no dressy white shoes for spring/ summer -- just super casual.

Thanks, everyone, for feedback and styling suggestions!
ophelia replied 1 year ago

I haven’t worn leather in decades so can speak to this. It seems the recent synthetic leather has quality issues. But I have items from 10-20 years old that don’t peel or flake. They are indestructible. I don’t have synthetic leather clothing though, just bags& shoes/boots.
About 5 years ago, I bought a bag from Target that barely made it a year before peeling. It’s the only item I have that has done this. No more bags from Target for me.
So long-lasting can be done, but manufacturers want us to keep buying.
Roberta replied 1 year ago

These look so amazing on you. The white shirt is perfection. I would also drag out my Stiff Records tee or a black hoodie. For me, faux leather is too warm most of the time. I have black faux leather pants, but they don't get out too often.

I coveted the J Crew silver coated jeans last year, but didn't pull the trigger in time. I keep an eye out on eBay and Poshmark.
Suz replied 1 year ago

Ophelia, that's interesting -- the one pleather item I owned for a while was actually a Zara bag -- and it really was indestructible. I used it as a gym bag for years....it got into all kinds of messes. Eventually I donated it but not because it was worn out. It had gold hardware and -- you guessed it -- I favoured silver. :)
pil replied 1 year ago

Nothing to add that hasn’t already been said - but those are pretty awesome!
Star replied 1 year ago

I think they are totally fab and I would wear them as Angie suggested, just about anywhere, probably not on my morning walk though :)
ophelia replied 1 year ago

Suz that’s awesome! I’ll be sure to check Zara for my next bag! The gold hardware would bug me too. Loved it when I dyed my hair; don’t love it w/ my cooler shades of white & dark brown.
Given some posters’ good experience w/ pleather pants, your love of silver, & your climate, I’d be inclined to keep. They are definitely flattering.
Gap has a short return window, but if problems happen down the road due to quality, they may compromise.
Angie replied 1 year ago

FWIW, I've had lots of pleather over the decades - and it's all been excellent quality. Maybe I got lucky! :)

My first pair of orange pleather pants ripped because I jammed them into something sharp somehow. My pleather jackets are indestructible!

You need dressy whites shoes to go with the pants!

Suz, I can match you in a gold pair from Zara......
Suz replied 1 year ago

Gap has them too, Angie! Though they might be a slightly different style. They look the same...but mine are called "cheeky straight" not slim.
UmmLila (Lisa) replied 1 year ago

I love the idea of these, but would prefer them in a size down to avoid a tinfoil crinkle effect.
Karie replied 1 year ago

I like them! Very trendy, yet a classic style. White tee shirt or sweater, white shoes, and you’re done!
Olive Green replied 1 year ago

Very luminous Garconne. So fun. I like them loose, as they don’t look to club kid that way.
Kyle replied 1 year ago

Please wear them! Please. Love them with the white. Could also see them with all silver at the holidays. And of course with your signature blues.

it turns out I was looking at these online yesterday. I do have a poison eye for the horizontal seam across the leg, but it doesn’t bother me on you, Suz. I think you are going to have a lot of fun with these.
DonnaF replied 1 year ago

Another note: Pleather is great for potlucks and other eating/drinking events where you might spill or get spilled on. I call my pleather skirts my oilcloth picnic tablecloth substitutes.
Suz replied 1 year ago

Donna, that is HILARIOUS. I wonder if it is as true with light pleather? We'll see.. .

That horizontal seam -- at first I thought it was cost cutting on their part. But now, I think not. It is only on the front. I think it is a kind of reinforcement to prevent bagging at the knee area. It does not go all the way around. It is only on the front of the pant. I think it also adds weight so the pleather falls a bit more straight (as per the name of the jeans.)

I think I'd be uncomfortable in these if they were tighter, Lisa. They'd fit, but they would cling in a way that would make me feel self-conscious. (Just talking about myself here - not commenting on others' preferences). I have a little self-consciousness about my thighs and shorter legs, so while I don't mind calling attention to them by wearing a metallic (which I know would already be WAY over the top for many!) I want to keep an "easier" look to the pant. Especially since I'll wear them casually.
rebekahphoto replied 1 year ago

Im glad to see you tried them! They look fab, very great rock star, David Bowie vibe. Ive been looking at those silver jeans for a few weeks now......loving the not so subtle energy! I'm losing some weight at the moment, so Im waiting a bit to purchase so I can get the right size. I mentioned to the MR that I think I need some silver jeans in my wardrobe and he didn't disagree.....

We went to a show the other night and a guy was wearing these silver disco-ball type pants--very eye catching!
Firecracker (Sharan) replied 1 year ago

It sounds like you're inclined to keep them, and I hope you do. They look super fab on you. Very cheeky and fun. I love them with the all-white support act! I wouldn't sweat the spring footwear. Sneakers will be great with them, and you may not need more. I imagine they'll be too warm when temps start to rise. I see them as a solid three-season option for any urban outings, especially those where you want to straddle casual and dressy lines--which encompasses a lot of life, right? Hoorah for silver hair. These pants look soooo good with yours.
Jonesy replied 1 year ago

I love these! They are such a statement but they suit you beautifully! And I can actually see that they would be versatile for your style and with your existing wardrobe (paired beautifully with whites, light blues, navy in F/W, deep berries, etc. etc.). Rock on, Suz!
Cardiff girl replied 1 year ago

I can feel my inner ABBA calling!These are FABULOUS ,keep them and sashay away!
Suz replied 1 year ago

I love that, Cardiff Girl. My inner Abba. YES!!

I'm keeping them for sure. Haven't worn them yet, but hey, tomorrow is a new day!
CarolS replied 1 year ago

I can’t wait to see photos of the first wearing, Suz. These are just too fab!

Pix-Elated

Tinfoil jeans?

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