SMART BLACK TROUSERS

The thing we love about black trousers is that they are so versatile.  Wear them with a sweater for a smart casual look, with a jacket and shirt for work, or with a glitzy top for an evening out.

As we have always emphasised, we have very different styles and body shapes, so our individual take on smart black trousers is quite different.  Below we have styled our black trousers to suit our lifestyles, pockets and wardrobes.Anne C is wearing her favourite colour pink with this short boiled wool jacket which was a lucky find in a local charity shop and cost just £3.99, and still had the original tags on.  She has teamed it with one of her favourite tops in cream lace from Kaleidoscope which she has probably had for around 15 years, also owning its sister in black. It has washed and been worn more times than she can remember but is a great fit because it has a stretchy back and beautiful quality lace front. They even still have a very similar one in stock in a number of colours here.

The black crepe trousers are Marks and Spencer from a previous season, but similar wool ones are available here.  We both struggle with M&S's fashion choices sometimes, but you can always get a perfect pair of black trousers, since they sell different lengths, which is perfect for Anne's short legs.

The black mock-crock ankle boots are from Faith from a previous season, and she has accessorised with black earrings from H&M which were a gift from her daughter (no longer available in black, but they do have them in red, pink, yellow or green here).

Anne H is wearing beautifully cut MaxMara wool crepe trousers that she has had for years. When she was working she would always invest in a pair of these trousers and often a jacket purchased in their sale as she finds the cut and length are perfect for her frame. Looking on their site they have a very similar pair of wool crepe trousers available now at £178 reduced from £255.  Given the number of years she has had these they are a very good investment.

She has teamed with a sale purchase from this year from Jigsaw - a beautiful silk front top in fuschia. Now in the sale at £49, down from £98.  It has a lovely relaxed fit with long sleeves and soft V to the neckline and a lightweight jersey back.  It will be perfect paired with jeans or dressed up with heels and a feature necklace as shown here for an evening look. She has completed her outfit with a pair of black suede court shoes purchased from Hobbs a number of years ago, fortunately of a height she can still walk in!

Anne C's second outfit includes the same trousers as previously shown, but this time she has teamed it with a black lace top, created a neutral backdrop for the splash of colour - the pink jacket would just as easily have been appropriate for this shot.  Instead, she has made the outfit a little more casual with a wool cardigan-style jacket which has more of a relaxed fit.

Bought recently in TKMaxx - you sometimes have to sort through oodles of  racks before finding something suitable, which is not for everyone.  She has personalised the look with a brooch pin bought in Iceland in January, while the  H&M earrings are the same as in her previous shots, but in a deep red shade rather than black.