After completing a series of 10×10 Challenges back in the day, I decided the rigidity of the challenge was a bit too much to keep up with for ten straight days. But that doesn’t mean I’ve sworn off remixing garments in my wardrobe and finding new ways to wear the same pieces – in fact, I’ve spent a lot of time during the pandemic focusing on playing with my wardrobe to bring some much-needed fun and creativity into the mix.
This post is sponsored and contains affiliate links; I may be compensated by the brand if you make a purchase after clicking on my links - at no additional cost to you. American Giant generously provided several products seen here for today's post, but as always, any products shared are ones I have or would purchase, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Last week I spent some time styling American Giant’s Ponte Slim Pant (formerly known as simply “The Pant” or “No-BS High-Rise Pant”), a double-knit ponte pant designed to be completely opaque while allowing for freedom of movement with four-way stretch. A slim, comfortable black pant is a wardrobe essential; it seamlessly carries its wearer through the workday, on the endless list of errands, and out to dinner or drinks with friends.
But of course, my favorite use for a pant like this is travel. A ponte pant is perfect for the long ride on a transcontinental flight; it’s as comfortable as flying in leggings or pajamas, as I often see people doing these days, but substantially more stylish. Over the years I’ve tried and returned several pairs of stretchy black pants, but finally, I think I’ve found my match.
The Ponte Slim Pant holds me in comfortably and doesn’t magically “grow” as some pants with a high stretch content can. They live up to their opacity claim, too – I put them to the test using a flashlight, and I can confirm my undergarments are not visible through the fabric (although I’ll spare you the photographic proof!).
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It’s not often that we’re presented with singular numerical sizes for stretch pants – I feel like I usually only see them in dual sizing – so I was a bit torn about which size to order. I recently measured myself for the first time in a long time (current measurements: 28″ waist and 42″ at the widest part of my hips, which due to my anatomy is a little lower than where most hip measurements are taken), and according to the size chart, I should take a size 6 for my waist and a size 14 for my hips. What a big difference, right? I waffled for a bit, and ultimately decided to try both the size 10 and size 12, figuring I could always have the waist altered down the line if needed.
The size 12 pant was a bit too large in both the hips and waist and actually started sliding down my frame when I walked, but the size 10 skimmed my curves comfortably. There’s a teeny bit of wiggle room in the waist which makes me want to try a size 8 sometime, but I also fear that going down another size would be too tight in the hips and rear. In the size 10, there’s no tugging across my hips (or dreaded camel toe!), which is a win for me. The other styles in the Ponte Collection come in different inseam options, but the High-Rise version of the Slim Ponte Pant has just one length: 27″.
At 5’4″ on a good day, the pant is a bit too long on me, but I like having the option of rolling it under or cuffing the hem as you’ll see throughout this post (update: I eventually had the pants altered to hit at the ankle and the length is perfection – and now this style is available in three lengths).
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As a high percentage of the fabric is stretch material (the pant is comprised of 54% modal, 40% nylon, and 6% spandex to be precise), I prefer to machine wash cold and hang dry. If you have your heart set on using the dryer, American Giant recommends a cold dryer cycle. As the fabric was tested over a five-hour cycle to ensure it holds up and remains a true black, you should be golden!
Since I’m not traveling much as of late, I thought I’d share seven fun ways to style the High-Rise Ponte Slim Pant for a variety of activities and personal style philosophies. I’m not sure if it’s because Halloween has just passed, but I’ve been in the mood to dress up more than usual. I greatly enjoyed shooting this series and stepping into someone else’s shoes and daytime activities – and I know that I’ll be repeating a few of these looks in the months to come.
DARK ACADEMIA
Though the full Dark Academia aesthetic isn’t without warranted criticism, there’s something about this time of year that has me dressing in dark colors and grabbing wool or tweed garments (I’ll stick to just one cup of coffee a day, and getting enough sleep each night, though, thank you very much). Here I’ve leaned into layers and mixed fabrics to keep it interesting and steer clear of a costumey-feeling, and I’ve added a tough pair of boots to take away a bit of sweetness from the scalloped collar and bow. You’ll see in this post that I really like layering a skirt or dress over these pants as they provide a “hidden pocket” option for traveling – since the pocket is concealed underneath, it makes it a perfect place to stash an ID or extra cash to thwart would-be pickpockets.
TRAIL TO TAPROOM
Since North Carolina is known for its hiking trails, and Charlotte is known for its breweries, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll end a day on the trails with a pint from a local spot. And with what I consider to be some of the most gorgeous weather in the country, it’s likely to be cool in the morning yet warm by the afternoon. I grew up in the 90s, and never quite got over the trend of tying your jacket around your waist, and I continue to do so to this day with my long sleeve tops, too. While I might not consider wearing the Ponte Slim Pant on a multi-day mountain adventure, it’s perfectly suited for walks along my city’s greenway systems. The pocket is perfectly designed for that, too – there’s just enough space for a key and a credit card.
CHIC + SLEEK IN ALL BLACK
When I’m not feeling confident or when I’m in a bit of a style rut, I reach for garments in just one color: black. There’s something about dressing purely in this color that makes me feel put-together and, well, like I know exactly what I’m doing. Dressing in all-black is empowering for me, and finding a way to do so in garments that aren’t uncomfortable makes it even better. This commanding look relies on sharp accessories to dress up a simple sweatshirt and ponte pants, for a no-fuss and no-discomfort outfit.
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
I feel like a tunic/dress and slim pant combo give off artsy vibes, so I fully embraced that feeling here with my most artful earrings. I love how shifting the long-sleeve shirt to my shoulders elevates the look a bit, adding a pop of color near my face. The ponte pant takes a step back here, letting other garments and accessories shine – it’s nice when that happens, sometimes.
SATURDAY MORNING MARKET
Here’s an easy out-the-door outfit for beating the crowd to the best produce at the Saturday morning farmer’s market. Others may be decked out in their finest logoed workout leggings, but I prefer to leave activewear to the gym. The Premium Slub V-Neck T Long Sleeve stands out in a sea of cropped tees currently available on the market. Worn untucked, it’s long enough to cover the rear (since you’ll be first in line, you won’t have to worry about others staring), and thin enough to withstand any heat built up while hustling from vendor to vendor.
FRIDAY AT 5:30
Wearing long-sleeve tees under dresses has been a favorite way to remix items in my wardrobe, and it also helps take more revealing items from the weekend to the workday. Here I’ve paired a classic sheath dress with the Premium Slub V-Neck T Long Sleeve, which I’ve double-rolled to better keep an eye on the time. All of this is layered over the Ponte Slim Pant which acts as a great stand-in for tights here, helping to keep the legs warm even in the chilliest of offices (the pant could also be layered over tights, if the mercury really dips). Since I’m on the shorter side, there is a little extra width in the calf; wearing my socks over the hem of the pants keeps them in place within the boots. This outfit feels at home both at a desk and out for drinks at a hip new bar in town – or in this case, at one of our city’s breweries.
FOREVER A CLASSIC
This is a beautiful combo of things that never go out of style, and an outfit formula I repeatedly reach for when traveling and exploring my hometown. Here I’ve done a French tuck on the tee, but a full tuck would look great as well. A bold red lip ties the look together, just like a bright red bow. I feel like all I’m missing is a chic city travel itinerary!
*some items in my wardrobe are no longer available and I've linked a similar product
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Readers of wayward can take 20% off your first order at American Giant with code WAYWARD, whether it’s the Ponte Slim Pant or something entirely different!
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Which look is your favorite? Do you tend to stick to one personal style, or do you play with other aesthetics?
Do you think these pants are too thick to wear on a 75 degree-ish day? I would love to find skinny black pants that I could wear on a day in CDMX, ok in 75 degrees with sandals, and then just fine with chelsea boots at night when it’s 50ish degrees. But they seem thick!
I tend to wear a lot of pants in Mexico City because the temperatures only hit the day’s forecasted high for only an hour or two before dipping back down. I definitely think you could get away with the No-BS Pant with sandals and a tank/tee for the day before covering up again in the evening. I hope you enjoy your trip – it’s one of my favorite cities ever!