goldenpig

WIW 2/2 Pajama jeans at work, more argyle cardigan looks and another barrel jean

February 3, 2026

I posted some argyle looks here including a burgundy La Ligne sweater which seemed to be the favorite, along with the casual sweater: https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....l-polished

But I was on the fence about the last look. It didn't feel quite as "me" as the other two. I think I figured out why--the grey La Ligne Hamish cardigan and trouser combination is more masculine looking and my style is more ladylike. I mean, I didn't really even own any trousers, just jeans and skirts! I just bought a couple pairs of trousers in black (14-15) and oxblood (16-17), but it's not like I'm planning outfits around black trousers, so do I need trousers? It feels like something I maybe "should have" for work though...even though I just wore jeans to work today!

Angie suggested I try some other pairings. These aren't fully styled but I'm just experimenting. I realized I definitely like it better open, like a patterned jacket, than buttoned up as a sweater. Also if I put a better color for me next to my face like mustard or burgundy, I think it looks better. And I think the casual jeans and dress combos look fresher and less stuffy to me. Some of these are a bit maximal (even for me!) with all the pattern mixing. The mustard and teal colors go with all my new La Ligne stuff. I don't mind having multiples of a pattern, but it has to work with at least a couple outfits to earn its place in my (admittedly maximal) wardrobe. Anyways, what do you think? Buttoned or unbuttoned? Is it worth keeping?

La Ligne Hamish cardigan
1. With AllSaints oxblood trousers
2-3. With La Ligne mustard stripe tee and Rag and Bone burgundy stripe jeans
4. With La Ligne striped tee and floral palazzo pants (too much?)
5. Cardigan over dress--maybe my favorite combo
6. With La Ligne blue striped tee and Next striped/two tone barrel jeans (I found this for $34 today when I went to go return stuff to Nordstrom!)
7. With La Ligne navy and tan striped tee and J crew toffee wide leg jeans
8-9. Over column of burgundy (Favorite daughter burgundy turtleneck and Levi burgundy flare corduroys
10-11. With a striped Favorite daughter turtleneck and corduroy flares (maybe too much?) Really leaning into the 70's colors with avocado green, harvest gold, mustard yellow, burnt orange and burgundy.
12-13. With yellow pencil skirt I rescued off the store/donate pile and and white J Crew shirt I just found when I was cleaning out the closet.
Trousers
14-15. Nordstrom black trousers (sorry it's so hard to see!)
16-17. Allsaints oxblood trousers (both of these would have to be hemmed, but I don't know what length to hem it to, for flats or my Doc Martens? I don't really wear heels.
WIW
18. WIW 2/2 to work. Can't believe I got away with wearing pajama jeans to work today! I used the top from this Allsaints dress which I originally bought at Nordstrom, but found cheaper on Amazon. Everything I buy I keep checking and if I find it cheaper I price match it at Nordstrom, or rebuy if it's a different retailer. I've saved hundreds this way! I returned and rebought a sweater at Nordstrom today and the SA had the tip of putting everything you buy on your wishlist, that way if the price drops you automatically get an email and you can ask for a price match. Genius!
Barrel Jeans
19-24. And while I was there returning stuff, I tried on a few more pairs of barrel jeans. I realized that only ankle length works for me, because I'm 5'4" and it turns into a regular length on me. Otherwise if the inseam is more than 28 or 30 inches, it's too long. And I don't really want the hassle of hemming jeans. I'll spare you the Mother jeans that made me look like I have a butt in front as well as the back because the waist was the right size, but it was too tight underneath (ugh!). But this pair was loose enough (I sized up), and I found it on the sale rack and it was $34! Sold! (I'm still keeping the $65 Daze ones too and will compare those to the other ones I ordered, but you can't beat that price for trendy jeans!). Other pair here: https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....-barrel-le

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Posted in the Shopping category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

13 Comments

  • Star (Lise) replied 5 days ago

    I prefer the cardigan open but I am still not sold on it. It is okay, even nice but it is not fabulous. The yellow skirt is so fab and the cardi almost makes it dowdy, terrible word, sorry. I was going to comment that it seemed off, or a departure from your style in the last post but that seemed too presumptuous but now that you have questioned it I tend to agree. I don't think everyone needs trousers, I don't. I really like the toffee jeans and burgundy cords. I have burgundy cords too.

  • kellygirl replied 5 days ago

    OOh, I love it in 5,6,7,8 and 12. It's so fun with the print dress and mustard skirt especially. I like it both opened and closed. All of these seem to suit your descriptors too. Such a fun remix!

  • RobinF replied 5 days ago

    It does seem like a difficult sweater to make work. I like it best worn casually like in #6 with the fun jeans. Agree that it looks better open than buttoned up.

  • Lisa replied 5 days ago

    A fun outfit lab post! What a versatile cardigan sweater. I like it worn both ways, 2, 3, 7, 12, and 13 are my favorite. I really like how well this looks with yellow! Congrats on finding new jeans too! 

  • Angie replied 5 days ago

    You are going like a Boeing, Natalie! Fab outfit lab, and thanks for following through.

    I like the cardigan worn more as a jacket. Like you. 

    #5 - what a stand out!!! LOVE and KILLER. That looks like Natalie-style. I knew you had a dress that would work with the argyle! 

    #3 and #6 are my next faves. Love the new barrel pieced jeans :) 

    #7 is fun to look at too!

  • Kate replied 5 days ago

    I'm really impressed by how you're workshopping your new items.

    Okay, still not sold on the cardigan, especially when it's buttoned up. It just doesn't look like your style.

    However, #5 and #7, I did really like. #5 especially read Natalie to me, and the pants and tee in #7 are great. 

  • Kate replied 4 days ago

    I just realized I can duplicate your look in #7—well,  minus the argyle cardigan since the few I have are neutral & cropped. Thanks for the inspiration!

  • Jonesy replied 4 days ago

    I love it with the dress (#5) and also really like it with the all-burgundy outfit (#8-9). My two cents on feeling too masculine in the cardigan and pants looks: Do you have any more streamlined, even pointy-toed booties you could wear with the trousers and cardigan? I have similar Docs and they are fab, but they are a heavy-looking, pretty androgynous boot, especially when worn with a long pant (vs. showing off the lace-up shaft), so maybe switching up the footwear to something a little lighter might make you feel less masculine? Just a thought!

  • Star (Lise) replied 4 days ago

    Good call about the boots JONESY! My combat boots do make my straight legs pants outfits extra masculine. In deep winter I live with it but not a look I'm really going ft.

  • Helena replied 3 days ago

    Fun Cardi! I think it looks great open although I love it buttoned up over the white shirt. And my absolute fave is how you have it styled over the print dress, that looks so cool!

  • lyn67 replied 3 days ago

    I now love the grey argyle sweater much better, esp. in 2,3,5,7,8,9,13-this was a great try-on! 

  • AJ replied 3 days ago

    I like 2, 5, 7, & 18.  

  • Liz replied 1 day ago

    Is the argyle sweater a keep/return question? If so, I feel like you're having to work too hard here to make an (expensive) item work. This sweater doesn't seem to be building wardrobe ease and confidence for you. 

    ( l also have a particular beef about loose/floppy sweater sleeves and cuffs, but you may not be bothered by them.) 

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I'm a doctor and mom of three on the go go go who likes to have fun with fashion!