Chico’s is a mid-priced US-based retailer with plenty of stores and a good website for online sales, too.
They stock a full range of sizes including standard, tall and petit ranges in most of their women’s clothes.
If you follow this blog you’ll know that I live between England and France. So my taste is European. This means a mainstream US retailer such as Chico’s stocks styles I love and some that I just don’t find at all flattering – at least not for the average older women.
What is European – especially French – style?
For the typical European woman, clothes are less about showing personality and more about elegance. What does this mean in practice?
We tend to select lots of neutral colors as the basis of our wardrobe. Then we add a few more colorful items. But often we just wear neutrals.
This means that the shape of the outfit is important, as our eye is not drawn by a splendid color so much. And the shape or cut of the clothes depends on two things – our own body shape and current trends. The very latest in fashion ceases to be of much interest after 50 or so, thus we’re looking for more classic styles that give a gentle nod to current fashion but are likely to look right for several seasons at least.
Chico’s pants I love – full length
One of Chico’s best lines is their easy-to-wear pull-on pants.
I love the ease of movement that an elasticated waist allows. But I like a smooth line down from the waist. Both the styles I have picked out have a flat front. No belt hoops to add extra thickness under a summer top and no puckered elastication at the front which so easily makes one’s tummy the focus of attention with its frou-frou gathers.
The full-length Wide Leg Soft Pants are ideal for year round. They are fine and silky enough for hot days. They’ve received good reviews stating they are great for Florida! The lightweight man-made material, cut to a wider leg, means they are airy.
The smooth front means elegance. With discreet side-seam pockets, this style will look as good for an evening date in any season as it does for a summer lunch party. It all depends what top we decide to wear. And how we choose our shoes and accessories.
A simple white tee shirt with flat sandals makes an easy holiday look. Or a silky or floaty, patterned top with pretty earrings works well for lunch with friends. Add heels if you can wear them – low block heels, kitten heels or mules – and you have a sophisticated look that can take you to any evening event.
On holiday or out with friends choose a more decorative shoe – I’ve suggested ones I like below. If you’re out with the grandkids a simple look is right. But always make comfort central to your choice.
They come in three good neutral colors: navy, a greyish sand color and black.
I like these cropped pants for warm days
The second pants I like are also wide but are cropped: Chico’s Wide-Legged Cropped Pants.
They come is a beautiful array of seashore colors with shades of sand and rock plus a good deep navy. If I lived in the States, I’d be tempted to buy two pairs – navy and a pale sand tone!! They ship to the UK and Europe but of course there’s an added cost. (Note to self – thank goodness for that, as it puts them beyond temptation for me!)
They have tummy control to help make you look slimmer. And the fabric includes cotton. So not so floaty as the long pants but still cool and comfortable.
And the small front pockets add a casual touch which cropped pants should have.
Chico pants I would steer clear of.
As I have said, I like European styling. There are some shapes of pants I feel do not work for most women, especially older women and those with heavy hips. You may very possibly disagree with me!!
Firstly I’d never buy pants with lace or crochet edging. The delicacy jars with our heavier lower half.
The narrower cropped styles have long been out of fashion here in Europe. As they shorten the leg at the same time as highlighting the size of the hips and thighs, I, for one, am pleased to see this look disappear.
The kick flare looks awkward to me. It accentuates the curviness of our lower body which looks good on a young, slim girl but much less so on an older, heavier woman.
The best shirt from Chico’s.
I love that Chico’s understands so well that we travel more these days and clothes need to look good on arrival at our hotel, even if we’ve sat for hours on a flight. And they need to require little or no ironing so we can change almost immediately to go out to a restaurant or wander through the city.
The No-Iron Autumn Print Shirt immediately attracts me. The colors are fresh enough for summer and will look great through Fall.
The white – or is it ivory? – background draws attention to our face whatever our skin tone. And the modest sprigs of leaves and flowers makes a pretty design without the colors shouting at us.
Worn loose over a simple vest (tank) this shirt will work well for holidays and weekends. Wear it over shorts or wide leg pants. If the vest echoes one of the colors in the shirt you will immediately look smart however casual your outfit.
For a less casual day, tuck in the shirt to a skirt or pants. Jeans are a perfect look paired with a button down shirt. Add a belt, if the weather is not too warm, and white sneakers or flats, and you have the perfect classic look. Add a blazer or a longer edge-to-edge cardigan and you can take this style all the way through the year.
I love these Chico blouses
New for late summer into autumn, Chico’s has a lightweight georgette blouse that comes in deep reds or various blues.
This is almost transparent so you must wear a tank (vest) under it unless you still boast the figure of a twenty-year-old!
This top has the loose cut and blouson sleeves that make your top half appear larger than your bottom half. Perfect if you have heavy hips. And divine if you have slim hips!
The sleeve detailing, long cuff and reserved color palette makes the pin-tuck sleeve top a sophisticated outfit piece. Pair with the long wide pants I mention above to take you from day to evening in style.
As the neckline is simple you can add several chains or indulge in some eye-catching earrings to complete your evening outfit.
Tops I wouldn’t wear from Chico’s
This retailer is still offering lots of over-the-hip tops. They look simple and smart in the photos but the models are all slim. As these tunic tops are waisted they would not suit people like me with a big middle.
Zenergy collection of athleisure
Come autumn then winter, we will all be wanting relaxed casual warm clothes that take us from walking the dog to pottering around at home. That’s where athleisure is so useful. Based on sporty designs and stretchy knitted fabrics these outfits have become staples of every wardrobe since Covid kept us at home.
Chico’s Zenergy range are definitely in my sights. For several seasons now the wider leg has been in fashion even for sportswear. But I noticed these athleisure pants in what is now a ‘vintage’ cut, with narrow legs and a zip at the ankle.
The Zenergy caviar bead scuba joggers are neat and modest. They have 4-way stretch so no worries picking up those grandkids’ toys off the living room floor or going for a brisk walk. Easy to wash and dry, I love the look of these pants. Ideal for days when you don’t need to dress up.
There is a matching Zenergy sweatshirt in the same fabric which looks fun. It’s quite close-fitting so I might order the size up.
The sleeve detail makes the outfit just that bit more refined. I’m in love.
Ponchos – Chico’s strongest suit
If you ever want to buy a poncho then Chico’s must be your first thought.
Given that we are still in late summer I decided to scroll through to find a fine-knit poncho that would be perfect as the evenings get cooler and we approach Fall.
The Chico’s short sleeve knit poncho ticks so many boxes. It can be worn over a shirt left loose. The colorways echo the colors in the shirt I like (see above), and, in a cotton-mix knit, it is not too thick to wear over the thinnest of pants or skirts.
A note about Chico’s new colors
As we edge into Fall, retailers are starting to introduce their new color palettes. Chico’s is tempting us with golden yellow and olive green.
I have pale skin and this year saw very little sun as I was in the UK. So, for me, yellow and olive are impossible colors, especially if worn next to my face. But if you have naturally olive-toned skin, darker skin or even a good suntan, these colors could really suit you.
Take a quick look at the models Chico’s are using and you’ll see what I mean. They do use one paler model with blonde hair but the yellow tops do absolutely nothing to enhance her lovely looks.
By contrast, the models with stronger skin tone look fabulous.
My picks from Chico’s
Here are the clothes I’ve talked about in this post plus a couple of other items that would go well with them. Let me know in the Comments below if you have any favorites from Chicos – and remember to add your shape. I know readers would love to hear your views.
If you enjoyed this review here are a couple of ideas of what to read next: