Disclosure: Thank you to JCPenney and ShopStyle for sponsoring today’s post!
Are they jeans? No. Are they slacks? No. Are they leggings? No. Can they be dressy or casual? YES and YES! Welcome to the wonderful world of utility pants. A type of pant that doesn’t seem to fit into a category, except for a category of its own! When you hear the word “utility” in reference to clothes, you may think of the ever-popular utility jacket, or maybe even your dad’s overalls that he wears while working on the car. I can assure you that utility pants are much more fun than your dad’s overalls. Plus, you can dress them up or down, so I’m calling them a win in my book!
Today I’m showing you how easy it is to style utility pants- a casual look, and a dressier look, and I bought the full head to toe looks from JCPenney. JCPenney has been a staple in the fashion and home world for as long as I can remember. Actually, I’m pretty sure that’s where a lot of my back-to-school shopping happened. And now, 20 some years later, you can still find me shopping there! I know that when I shop there, I can find tons of on-trend looks at fantastic prices. They have so many great brands, like A.N.A, Worthington, Levi’s, and Liz Claiborne, and right now, their site is starting to showcase all things Spring!
Now that you know where you can get everything included in this post, let’s get to the pants! Utility pants are trending for Spring, so it’s time to take a look at your closet and see if you’ve been holding onto any from your college days, or if a quick trip to JCPenney is in order!
Lee Tie Front Utility Ankle Womens Mid Rise Ankle Pant [size up- wearing size 6] // a.n.a Womens V Neck Short Sleeve T-Shirt
// DENIZEN from Levi’s Denim Jacket-Juniors [TTS, wearing size small] // LIZ CLAIBORNE Liz Claiborne Womens Hardie Wedge Sandals
When the girlfriends come calling for a quick Sunday brunch, you want to look put together without looking like you tried too hard [and also don’t want to look like you just rolled out of bed]. Utility pants, a denim jacket, and a simple white tee will do the trick! The utility pants have some structure to them, so I wanted to add on a less-structured t-shirt. The t-shirt keeps the look casual, but adding a pair of wedges and a denim jacket elevates it a bit for a more pulled-together casual look!
Lee Tie Front Utility Ankle Womens Mid Rise Ankle Pant [size up- wearing size 6] //Liz Claiborne Secret Garden Womens Round Neck 3/4 Sleeve Blouse [TTS, wearing size petite small] // Nicole By Nicole Miller Womens Carty Pumps Zip Pointed Toe Stiletto Heel
Utility pants can sometimes have a bit of a rougher look to them, so to dress them up, I like to balance that out with more feminine and delicate pieces! In this instance I chose a bell sleeve top with embellishments around the arms and neck, and did a little front-tuck of the shirt! Add in a pair of black heels, and I’m ready business-casual ready!
What are your thoughts on the utility pant trend? Now that I’m seeing all of the styles and colors that are out there, I’m excited to keep trying them!
Founder and creator of LIY, Erin turned her dream of a hobby blog into a full-time career which she now runs alongside the LIY team! When not in front of her computer screen [with a La Croix or wine in hand] or in front of a mirror taking mirror selfies, you can find Erin spending time on the water, cuddled up with her two pups and husband most likely watching the latest Shark Tank episode, or getting lost in an easy beach read.
