If you’ve been shopping for pants and jeans lately, you probably already know about this. But if like me, you haven’t been shopping in a while, this might be a surprise.
A few weeks ago, Courtney from Phyrra.net who has been posting a lot of fashion lately posted some pix of herself wearing terrific black leggings. She mentioned the brand, Wit & Wisdom, and talked about how much she liked them. It’s been quite a while since I bought anything but jeans, so I thought I’d take a look.
Wit & Wisdom is a brand that’s sold at Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack . I googled the brand, and it turned out that there was a sale on Nordstrom.com. Although the sizes, styles and colors were somewhat limited, I didn’t want to pay the full price of $68 so I managed to find a pair on sale for $24.97 in size 8, quite a difference in price from the regular price. What I love about Wit & Wisdom is that they sell petite as well as regular size pants. Since I am so short, this is a boon. Plus Wit & Wisdom has an ankle length style that for me is a full length pant even in petite.
The pants arrived about a week later. The olive shade is a grey-olive, but still a nice color. The pants have jeans styling with a front fly, patch pockets in back, and 3 pockets in the front. Yet they look different from traditional jeans because of the fabric, color and fit.
Wit & Wisdom Ab-solution pants are made from a body hugging but stretchy and supremely comfortable fabric that’s a mix of cotton, polyester, spandex, and some also have rayon. In fact, the fabric is similar to contemporary shapewear in that it stretches, lifts and molds. Because the waistline has give to it, the pants are perfect to wear out to dinner, lol.
So what about the fit? I chose size 8 because that’s my regular size in jeans these days. The Wit & Wisdom Ab-Solution Skinny Jeans that I bought were very tight around my huge calfs (from decades of jogging) more like jeggings than jeans/pants, but they were a little loose around my thighs. But at that price, I decided to keep them. They look good enough.
In fact, I searched on Nordstrom Rack and Hautelook to see if I could find a pair in brown to go with a cream and brown cardigan from Garnet Hill I recently bought. I also thought I would try a size 6 and see if the Wit & Wisdom Ab-Solution Skinny Jeans would fit better in the thigh. I found a pair of dark brown, but the size 6 was sold out. At $19 and change, I decided to go with another size 8. They fit just like the pair in olive – tight in the calf, a little loose in the thigh. Nevertheless, worth $19. And like the olive pair, the color was not the same as on my computer screen, something that others mentioned too in their reviews. They are more of a blackened brown than a true dark brown, but they’ll do.
I found myself at TJ Maxx, a couple of weeks ago, and when I wandered over to the pants racks, I discovered that Wit & Wisdom isn’t the only brand that’s in on the secret. I found a brand called Democracy that also has “Ab” technology. On their website, they describe “Ab technology” as making the most of your assets with slimming panels in the tummy, a no-gap waist and a booty lift. “Mold and hold” is how Democracy describes it! I found a true olive pair of ankle length pants in size 8 that fit me better than the Wit & Wisdom. The thighs weren’t as loose and the calfs weren’t as tight. Very comfy. The price was $29.99. I wore them out to lunch with my friend Sue the other day. Sue isn’t usually into fashion, but she even commented on my outfit. I wore the pants with a sweater that I picked up at the Open Studios in Somerville MA from a clothing designer. The sweater and jeans go well with my inexpensive plastic necklace and earrings from Sand Castles in Rockport MA and my colorful crossbody that I got in Savannah last summer.
My only complaint is that the fabric creases in the front after sitting and it doesn’t go away.
I picked up another pair in blush pink from a random brand, Artisan NY, for $16.99, and they fit well too.
I haven’t worn them yet, so I am not sure about if they will crease like the other 3 pairs. They will be perfect for spring and summer, and even for now with my black paisley Garnet Hill sweater.
So I am set with colorful and comfortable jeans/pants for a while. They pair so nicely with the super soft, lightweight cardigans that I have picked up at Garnet Hill on sale over the past couple of years. Now it’s time to go through my other jeans and pants and give them to the thrift store.
How about you? Have you tried any of the jeans and pants with Ab technology yet? Which brands do you find fit you best?
Great pictures of you in your new jeans! I have a terrible time finding pants that fit as I am only 5 feet…0 inches…tall. So far my favorites are Vera Wang Petites but hard to find in other colors. Years ago I could get Coldwater Creek in petites but no stores around me.
Sandy, I used to be 5 feet 1/2″, but I’m sure I’ve lost the half inch, lol. I hear you. It is a struggle. I always buy ankle pants and on me, they’re full length. The Wit & Wisdom petites are worth looking into. I am planning to go to either Nordstrom or the Rack and see if I can try on the smaller size and see if they fit me better through the thighs. But I’m happy with the Democracy and Artisan NY – they’re both ankle pants so the length is perfect. I haven’t tried Vera Wang Petites, but I’ll be on the lookout for them. Thanks for the recommendation!
I’ve been wearing Wit & Wisdom the last year and love them. I’m kind of between sizes, but hoping through eating right, i can drop a few sizes.
Kristi, how does Wit & Wisdom fit you through the thighs? I need to go to Nordstrom and try on a smaller size and see if they’ll work better for me.
I love that grey shade! I hate buying jeans/pants because I’m also short and you never know how petite will fit. It’s a constant struggle!
Yes, it certainly is! When I find pants/jeans that fit, I always try to buy a few! I discovered jeans at Costco that fit me, and I was shocked. I think I own 4 pairs of them now.
It’s so weird, Bailey, that the “grey shade” is advertised by Wit & Wisdom as “olive”. It definitely isn’t olive, but it a nice charcoalish shade!
You’re set with spring fashion. I don’t get much dressier than that although I like a little dressier top at times. Good fashion finds.
Love the pink pants! Have you ever tried Not Your Daughters Jeans/Pants? They have that stretch that I love too and are sometimes on sale at Nordy’s.
You look great and that olive suits you well. I love those blush pink pants.
I definitely want to look into this! I hate buying jeans and haven’t worn them in a really long time. I think they look great on you!
I’m really waffling … I love what these pants ‘claim’ to do — I could certainly use the help. I have a smaller butt and larger waist/stomach. Do you think they’d work, or not so much? Legs aren’t an issue. I’d like to be fairly sure before I order since I’m ordering from Canada, and with the exchange and shipping, well $$$. I’m considering both the Wit & Wisdom and the Democracy.
Paula, I googled both brands, and they are sold on Amazon, at least the US Amazon. I think you should check to see if they’re on the Canadian Amazon before going ahead with it. I wish I was more familiar with which retailers are in Canada. I think that Wit & Wisdom is a Nordstrom private label brand or else they have a sort of exclusive deal with Nordstrom, N. Rack and Hautelook because that is only where the brand is sold besides Amazon. Democracy, when I searched for it, primarily came up at Marshalls and TJ Maxx as well as their own website. If you can’t find them on Amazon Canada, I would go to one of your local stores and look at the pants and jeans. I have a feeling that this stretchy AB technology is something that will be in many brands. I bought a pair of dress pants a year and a half ago at a local boutique that had it too. I would hate to have you spend the money to have them shipped to Canada with the exchange rate and shipping costs and not have them fit properly. LMK if you find them on Amazon Canada 🙂
What an amazing find! Great sale price. Those jeans look fantastic on you, Allison!
Yes, you are probably right, Allison. At least with amazon.ca, I can always return if they don’t work out. Democracy has several styles there, but Wit & Wisdom has only two and they are very expensive. We have Marshalls here, so I will check that out. Thanks!!!
Both the tops pair perfectly well with those jeans. I haven’t shopped for jeans in a loooong while – the new AB technology sounds like a genius concept.
I’m also a shortie and I live life folding up my pants. I’d be down to try wit and wisdom. Off to Nordstrom online!
I’ll have to keep an eye out for pants with that ab technology in them. I can use some slimming pants these days!