What a time it is. We’re finally talking about how the emperor has no clothes. Some stuff from The Row is nice. Some is fine. The faux under-the-radar, better-than-you bit is old. And I did pay $600+ for rubber flip flops.
Meanwhile, back in getting-dressed-and-living-life world, I know everybody thinks The Row Galas are the second coming of pants. Including people whose style and taste I deeply trust.
But I have The Row Galas and … eh! They’re nice. They’re expensive (upwards of $1000 if you’re lucky to find a pair in your size). They won’t go “out of style” - I’ve had mine since around 2018.
But also - I’ve only worn them a handful of times.
Why? They don’t look good, at least on me, with anything but a flip flop. The bottom is just … floppy. The length on the bottom has to be really exact. Also, they are inherently kinda … matronly. And since I’m kinda a matron - it’s a little too on the nose. I need something to f them up. Sneakers looks like I’m commuting to work and planning to change later.
You’re not going to tuck into them, I think, with that unresolved looking elastic waist. So you have to really think about which top, too. Something that lands in just the right place.
Also, I imagine I gained some weight, but you’d think that wouldn’t matter with an elastic waist pant. But the elastic is thin and started to pinch. So I had to have that replaced.
For an “easy” pair of pants, they’re not exactly easy. They’re finicky.
Anyway, a reader wrote me saying the Galas were too cost prohibitive and asking what else she should get. She didn’t want anything where the width would swallow her. She mentioned St. John - but that seemed risky. (See matron note above.) So I did some research.