Cheryl Shops

I have a go-to pants cut, and that is straight leg. I think it's the most flattering for my body shape, and while I've been known to dabble in skinny or flared from time to time, I pretty much stick to it. But fashion has been stuck in a skinny rut for over 15 years, and the industry is itching for a change. Wide-leg pants are the latest contender, and while I had resisted them for months, I finally tried on a pair after seeing nearly every chic woman in Paris in a wide-leg crop. I still think straight-leg is my go-to silhouette, but I'm happy to have another fit in my repertoire. Adapting to a new cut is always a challenge, so here's how I put it all together.



As I mentioned in my last post, I didn't shop a ton in Paris, but on the last day of vacation in Geneva, I went to town. One of my first stops was my beloved COS, and I know they have a bunch of stores in the US, but none are in San Francisco, so when I'm in a city that has one, I always try to stop in. I almost didn't try on these wide-leg cropped pants, but I grabbed them on my way into the fitting room, and I'm glad I did, because I love them. These have an elastic waistband and pockets, and the fabric is a nice, lightweight cotton poplin. (They are sadly sold out online, but I've linked a very similar style from COS below.) They fit where they need to (my bum) and skim the body where they need to (my carb-loaded thighs). Part of this may be due to the fact that I'm wearing a 34, which is two sizes too small, but to me, the fit is perfect. They don't perhaps photograph as well as a slimmer pant, but I think they're quite flattering in person. Call me a wide-leg convert!



I hadn't intended to wear an all-black look, but this was the end of my vacation, and I was running a little low on clean tops! Either way, this Athleta sweatshirt (last seen here) is one of my favorites, and I think the cutout hem and slim fit of the top were a good match to balance out the wide-leg pant—and to hide the elastic waistband. This top can totally dress up or dress down, too, which is just one of the many reasons why I love it.



I also mentioned in my last post that I finally pulled the trigger on this A.P.C. bag. I absolutely love it—the shape is so classic, and the size is perfect for nighttime or the weekend. The strap is adjustable, so I decided to wear it a little higher, so it hit at my true waist, ideally to emphasize the smaller point of my body, versus my hips, where the pants start to widen. Expect to see quite a bit more of it here!



I brought mostly flat shoes on this trip, knowing that I'd be doing a lot of walking on old cobblestone streets, but I did bring a pair of heels for nighttime (and for when we Ubered). These were a Nordstrom Anniversary Sale score, and they've quickly become one of my recent favorite pairs of shoes. They are super comfortable, but they're such a fun accent too. They just go to show that you can wear totally classic, understated clothes and let your accessories brighten things up a bit. These are sadly sold out, but I've linked a similar pair below.



We shot these photos in the Promenade des Bastions in Geneva—it's a little sliver of a park in a city filled with many green spaces, but a very photogenic one at that. And it happened to be right next to where we were having dinner, La Bottega, which was one of our best meals of the trip. I'll be including both locations in my guide to Geneva, coming soon!



OUTFIT DETAILS: Athleta criss-cross sweatshirt | COS wide-leg pants (similar here) | A.P.C. Sac Demi-Lune | Vince Camuto mules (similar here or here) | Hermes Clic-H and Rivale double tour bracelets | Stella & Dot Abundance and Dez necklaces