WHY BUY: Forever 21 Stretch Cargo Pants

($22.80, Forever 21)

No, don't reach for your glasses. You actually read that correctly. I bought not one but TWO pairs of stretch cargo pants from Forever 21 and I'm LOVING them. Seriously. They're cotton with a slight stretch, they pull on but not in a mom-jeans way, and they fit perfectly. Well, they fit me perfectly anyway. They're definitely more skinny cargo/ skinny jeans than leggings, so they don't come with any of that leggings-are-not-pants drama. I've been wearing them with a t-shirt, blazer, and booties. They're tapered at the bottom, so they're almost stupid easy to tuck into boots.

Oh, and I actually factually give these an A for quality though that's relative quality considering they're from Forever 21. But for fast fashion, these are really sturdy -- I've worn them for months, washed them (obviously), and they show no signs of slowing down (kind of like, say, the Tea Party, unfortunately). I actually may buy two more pairs for backup.

I bought these in both grey and olive, though the olive is basically your standard-issue khaki/ army green. I bought these in large (because Forever 21 is a store for teenagers, and I am not a teenager, at least not according to my birth certificate), and I'm about a size 8, so if you're an 8-ish or under, go crazy. Get two pairs. I did!

Victoria's Secret's Version of J Brand's Houlihan's Skinny Cargos

($59.50, Victoria's Secret)

Everyone's been jumping on that J. Brand Houlihan skinny cargo bandwagon and hanging on for dear life. Here's Victoria's Secret's version, the London Jean. I love the olive shade (one of four colors), and the cool ankle zippers and the total lack of bagginess. Admittedly, I have no experience with Victoria's Secret clothing, but for $60, I'd be willing to give these cargos a go.

Westward Ho!

In preparation (for the preparation for) a hiking trip to Yosemite this August (so excited!), today I went to EMS and enlisted the services of a soft-spoken, rugged-looking man in the style of Mark Ruffalo wearing a large straw hat. This is the least glamorous outfit I've ever purchased:


EMS cargo zip-off pants, $49. They sit at the WAIST: the horror!


Smartwool socks, $19.95.



Keen Targhee II Mid hiking boots, $124.95 at EMS. Of course, then I came home and bought 'em online for $88.99, for a savings of, oh, about two and a half more pairs of socks.

Now, anyone got any tips on hikes within an hour or two of NYC so I can try these babies out?

Chill Out, J Brand! Hudson's Doing Skinny Cargos Too, Mkay?

Remems back a few Fridays ago when Catherine posted about lots of fashiony types sharting themselves over J Brand's Houlihan skinny cargo pants and how Bloomingdale's practically exploded trying to keep them in stock? Well, everyone, please calm down and take your seats. Because Hudson Jeans is quietly doing pretty much the same thing, okay?

Observe: Hudson Jeans' Skinny Cargo Pocket Jean from their fully covet-worthy Resurrection line, which is all military inspired.

($305, Hudson, Barneys.com)

SickaThanAverage has a great round-up of all of Hudson's Spring 2010 collection, including Resurrection and DIY, which has exposed zippers like you would not believe.

AND, check out Rich & Skinny's Cargo leggings, if you're still serious about skinny cargos:

($172, Rich & Skinny, Couturecandy.com)

How great would these look with a chunky cream-colored cowl-neck sweater, or a big, boss black sweater?

And if skinny cargos bring out the "aw hell no!" in you, might I suggest some of my all-time favorite, most-comfiest jeans? Hudson's Signature Bootcut Jeans in a light wash. They're kitty-cat soft and hang purrrfectly on my hips, to further the cat symbolism.

($176, Hudson, Saksfifthavenue.com)

(* Disclosure: I was gifted the Hudson Bootcut jeans. But I really do love them.)