Oh no. not these. scroll down one more photo to see The Ugly Pants.
Above is what I wished I could have worn the entire time I was in Scotland. (P.S. Any one else a Hamish MacBeth/Robert Carlyle fan? I’m standing in front of his house in Plockton, a.k.a. Loch Dubh).
Plockton is a cheery little fishing village right off of Loch Carron. Gorgeous. Charming. Again, home to my favorite fictional Scottish man. And most importantly, Plockton has paved streets and shops. This means no need to wear hiking boots, water resistant pants, and unflattering rain jackets.
In Plockton I got to wear my new Madewell jacket and skinny Madewell jeans, a heeled boot, and my much beloved Bottega Veneta.
Hiking the hills of the highlands I had to wear.THIS:
The image on the right is the more accurate expression of my sentiments towards this Ugly Pants outfit. I have on a fleece, a rain jacket, long underwear, woolly socks and water-proof hiking boots.
(Ahhh the sartorial trappings of a hiker).
And it gets worse. Those Ugly pants. zip off. at the thigh. Just above the knee (a.k.a. the region generally known as Sprawling Thigh Land). To improve matters, I suggest pulling up your woolly socks as high as they will go, as my bf did so helpfully for me in the photo below (he thought you should know the full extent of my fall from fashion grace):
Here is my deep dark secret, readers. Although I grimace at these photos now, I didn’t actually give a hoot what I looked like stomping around peat and heather on the rugged Scottish mountains. I mean, a passing sheep might give me a disparaging glance, but that probably had more to do with the fact that I was wearing one of their departed friends as socks (much appreciated, thank you).
Not only did I not care how I looked. I felt good. Great, even. I was warm and dry and could jump in puddles up to my ankles and not get a bit wet. I could scramble up steep sloping hills on my knees and down again on my bum, and didn’t have to worry about ruining a pair of jeans. And that rain jacket (thank you, Amelia!), is miraculous! Wearing it, you don’t get wet if it rains! What an idea.
When I last lived in Scotland, I wore a newsboy cap and a smart trench when it rained (as it tends to do in Scotland). My neck and hair got wet and the trench got heavy. Who knew people made real clothes to prevent just such occurrences?
Don’t get me wrong, I will still enter every REI with trepidation (“I don’t belong here” is usually emblazoned on my face), but I will now understand people who want to. And I will even understand why they choose to wear cargo pants that make a swish-swish-swish noise when they walk (in pants language they’re saying “I’m man-made and water-resistant. So eat it, cotton.”).
For the foreseeable future, my Ugly Pants will be retired to the bottom of my drawer, but the next time I have to pull them out to see the light of day, I will do so gleefully. It will mean that I’m going somewhere so fantastic, I won’t even care that I’m wearing zip-off- swishy trousers.
You look Adorable in the Ugly pants lol ! It is Great that you had fun on your trip, that does indeed make the Ugly pans worth it. Scotland looks Beautiful.
I love your Madewell jacket and pants in the first pic. The scarf really pulls the first look together. Love it !
a few thoughts on your post:
1. See? It’s true. Travel is broadening and provides fresh perspectives.
2. Don’t worry about the disparaging sheep. They were more likely sneering at your adoption of the man-made materials than thinking about where your socks came from. Unless you were wearing mutton socks.
3. Every style maven knows it’s how you wear it, not what you wear. And you wear it beautifully.
4. I think this post opens an interesting area of discussion. Fashion vs. style. Not synonyms. Very hard to feel confidence in your style when you are wet, cold, and your feet hurt.
On the other hand, I was thinking about how (in novels) British army officers had their uniforms made by their tailors. Maybe you could buy the high tech fabrics by the bolt and bring them to your favorite dressmaker?
Looks like it was a great trip.
PC, great recommendations all! I had no idea that British soldiers had things tailored but that makes perfect sense. I wonder if they could do a fleece trench with flat lapels.
As for the mutton socks, I did realize (and hoped) that they had merely shed a coat for me- and not blood. However, I had a guilty conscience because every time I saw a sheep, and image of an Ikea sheep skin rug popped into mind ever time. and I really want one of those.
I’m sure you could get a fleece lined trench. I knew a woman who owned a mink lined raincoat. Very plain on the outside, secretly luxurious inside.
Haha LOVE how you manage to pull them off!
Oh I totally understand! Sometimes it’s great not to think about what you’re wearing because it’s practicalities that come first! Not that I am a hiker.or do anything remotely sporty but definitely understand that liberating feeling when you’re dressed down and just don’t care, bit like slumming around the house in PJs all day! 🙂 Haha love that they zip off at the thigh too!
I can’t believe you posted pics of yourself in the ugly pants! So brave!
This is what I love about AsianCajuns– there’s fashion, and yet there’s substance. It’s why I keep coming back to read! =) It’s refreshing to see that you can let loose and, oh, hike up a steep rock in Scotland! Love it!! And just FYI. you STILL look great even when you’re in so-called “ugly pants”!!
What a sweet comment, Sunny! Thank you so much!
Hi there-well you may not have won the fashion stakes, but for hiking gear you get first prize, lol-pleased you had such a great time too! xx
I love it! Live it up in your Ugly Pants!
Cheers – exitstenceET.blogspot.com
hihi- well its about wear after weather and occation right- i dont own pants like that- but i have snowpants- but the other day, when i was working at a preschool (work as a temp when i feel like it) i was so cold- and i had to wear fleece. i dont own fleece because i hate them but it was a lifesaver usually i bring my own warm knits to avoid fleece– it gets the hair messed up in a bad way, you know static and stuff. i dont like that. ah im so boring right now. sorry.
well this was supposed to be a support of wearing ugly clothes for adapting to weather and occations but i cant really say i follow up on it myself i wear jeans when i hike. but with wellies- or sneakers. but i dont judge people who do. you look cute in those pants darling. and btw. missed you .
xx
thanks to you both for your comments- im sorry im boring your blog with minex
Ediot, you are never boring and we love all of your comments! Even when I next go back to Scotland, I will be so tempted to wear jeans and wellies- I mean those are still pretty practical right 😉
Welcome back Lar! It sounds like you had a great time in Scotland. As for looking fashionable and stylish 24/7–meh, it’s overrated. It’s blasphemous coming from a fashion blogger, I know, but sometimes enjoying the moment trumps wearing the right clothes. 🙂
Re. your vlog comment: You two should totally do one! Your blog posts are always full of style and substance (as TZ says above) and I think your vlog debut would be the same.
Thanks for the welcome back, Lisa!
Oooo tempting to do a vlog. We would definitely be inspired by you if we did one 😉
Haha! Love this post, Lar! Welcome back!! Sounds like you had so much fun in Scotland! So jealous:P I think you look great in both pics:) I’ve worn the ugly pants, too, but like you I don’t really care since it kept me warm, dry, and comfy while hiking lol!! Sometimes, we just gotta do what we gotta do hehe;)
TheOwlsCloset.blogspot.com
It’s so true! They really did work miracles and it was kind of freeing and a relief to not have to think about my clothes 24/7 (which I do for fun most days, but can tire of quickly).
REI actually has some cute hiking gear. But the point of hiking is not to look good, but to have fun, which is what you did, so mission accomplished!
XX.
Mae Lu, thereafterish.
And yes, I do need guest posters, still! I hope you can find something to write about! Pretty please and thanks! <3
Sure, Mae! I’ll get in touch!
Looks like a great trip! I am jealous. 🙂 I am sure that was a great hike! I completely feel you on the ugly pants thing. I buy all of my outdoorsy stuff in as bright colors/patterns as I can find, but at the end of the day, they’re still hiking clothes.
xoxo
Even though you dont like your “ugly pants”.I find your humor and candid thoughts about wanting to wear function pieces refreshing and adorable.
Oh I love your Scotland postings! Hey as long as your dry and comfortable, then the clothing doesn’t matter. I’m sure the hairy coos were impressed though :o) i wish i had some of that gear on my trip to the highlands in may. i was grossly misinformed of the weather. i thought since it was spring (May=Spring no?) that the weather would be sunny and mild. i brought shorts and capris and one.pair.of.pants. guess who wore the same pair of pants the whole time? this girl. ugh. oh well it was still fun, even if i froze! 🙂 which places did you hit up?
Welcome back! I’ve always wanted to go to Scotland, so I’m a little jealous typing this.
Call me strange, but I wear my jeans everywhere-camping, hiking, etc. If they get torn up or just beaten up they tend to just look cooler. And for rain I’ve been wearing wool (Harris Tweed is pretty water resistant) or khakis that I wax on my own.
What about Barbour? Pricey, but pretty awesome. Can I ask why the bean boots wouldn’t be practical? Arc’teryx and a lot of Japanese brands do really amazing stuff with techy fabrics-like gore tex macs and trenches- but they’re really spendy.
But really, you were in Scotland! With sheep that probably go ‘baaah’ with adorable accents. And it looks like you had a great time.
u are darling! we are all going to plockton for my daughters wedding may 20th. her fiance is scottish/ been tog. 9 yrs. marriage at last.
so glad to see u both ways both are my style.tomboy!
great, great photos great great info. will look up ur favorite scottish characters except of c. hamlet. i know hm!
hear ed. castle is fab. marys crown jewels edisplayed there- ed. has old town/new town. old dates back to norman invasion (1066william the conquereri think). thats when he invaded england so i just group it all tog. hear (for all going) Edinbourough is a must! must! must! castle is fine, huge super historical, hamlet lived there (someone said he is not fiction!!!).
after 9 years we cannot wait. a little nervous abt. staying warm
tks for tipsi can really layer!!!!!!
love to u, from: toasty in Baton Rouge. my email is sweetpeawilliams@cox .net.not worried about u having it!!!!