Isabel Marant for H&M Sequin Trousers, I Need You

13 Nov Isabel Marant for H&M Sequin Trousers, I Need You

… I think.

I may or may not have done something bad. It all started when I attended a press preview for Isabel Marant’s H&M collection last Thursday with my boss. We were the only ones in the showroom with all the time in the world to fondle the clothing–which definitely happened. Many times over. I mean, look:

And then, just as I thought I would make it through the preview and not feel the urge to spend my actual hard-earned New York money on clothing, I saw these babies. Cue angels, harps and all that.

I know myself well enough to admit that I have a problem. My Twitter and Instagram bios read “I’m short and I’m obsessed with sequins” for a reason. I couldn’t stop thinking about them. But this my dilemma with designer one-off cheaper collaborations–is this something that I really want? Or should I just save up a bit more and get the real thing?

My personal style aesthetic is not one that is for all this expensive minimalism that seems to be all the rage (I like the pretty, shiny, sparkly, duh) so I had to look up how much Isabel Marant would charge for sequin pants. Armed with prices according to Barney’s (as a brown woman I should be ashamed for giving them clicks), I decided that I would not be purchasing anything from the collection because it wasn’t too far off from her actual price points.

But last night was the VIP shopping event.

I naively pranced to the H&M flagship on 5th Avenue and 51st Street super close to 7pm when the event was slated to start, only to see a line wrapped around the building. I didn’t even try to play myself and walk up to the front to say that I was press, so were I assume, most of these people. I waited in the cold and looked over the list my friend give me to look out for. I wasn’t getting anything, though, remember?

That lasted all of 30 minutes, or however long it took for me to make it inside. To say that this was a full on sh*t show would be putting it mildly. Vogue editors who are usually very aloof and snobby (#SorryNotSorry) were literally clinging to Isabel Marant hangers for dear life. Models had helpers pulling things for them. Rebecca Minkoff and Kelly Benisimon dodged the crowd after snagging their goodies. I did a once around and couldn’t find anything on Arianna’s list. But I did see two pairs of sequin trouser pants hanging in a corner, made a bee line to them only to see that they were a 10 and a 12. I took up residence where the replenishment was being restocked.

Right after I saw one of the things on Arianna’s list, I ducked into a corner–out of harm’s way–to text her to see if she was still interested if I couldn’t get the exact size she wanted. “No, it’s probably a sign to save my monies,” she typed back. Hint, hint, Channing.

Except, out of the corner of my eye I see something shining… and well, it was the pants, but in a size 4. I texted Arianna back. “I have the sequin pants in a 4 in my hands, which are too big, but the lady said they sold out completely so I’m like to I get anyway and return?”

“I’d say don’t get them. I don’t think you should settle just because they are Isabel (my original mindset, if you recall) That’s still $ for pants that don’t fit,” she responded.

I got the pants.

Don’t judge me. 

And I tried them on, and they fit, but all that material makes me look… wide. And already three discs are laying on my floor. Guise. What should I do? Keep and wear like sweatpants? But who needs sequins sweatpants? Return? Put on eBay?

Help me!