Please excuse the terrible hair from a non-glam lazy blogger lol
After I got my cotton canvas Clyde Work pants from Elizabeth Suzann (which I reviewed here), I knew that I needed to try out the linen Clydes next because as much as I loved the canvas ones, they just weren't the 'unicorn' pants I was expecting them to be. And would I consider these linen ones my unicorn pants? Well they come pretty darn close.
So first a note on sizing: I got both these and the canvas Clydes (both Generation 4 versions) in size 4 short (I'm 5'4" with the legs of someone closer to 5'2"). And even though I got the same pants in the same size, the canvas Clydes felt a lot tighter at the waistband than the linen Clydes. And it amazes me that there's such a difference in identical pants but in different materials. To get the canvas Clydes on I really have to shimmy the band over my butt, but I have no such issue with the linen ones (which already makes me like the linen ones way more). {Update: I stand corrected, they are actually two different sizes even though both Cyldes are a size 4. Thanks to Kathryn below who let me know that ES makes the cotton canvas Cyldes smaller on purpose to better hold up the heavier fabric. The waist and hips are about .25 inches smaller in the canvas Clydes compared to the linen ones, and oh boy those .25 inches make a big difference!}
{Pic above taken for my Spring 10x10; wearing: Jamie+the Jones Blank Canvas Top (review coming soon), ES Linen Clyde pants, Rothy's pointed flat (review coming soon), Celine small cabas phantom (similar here, reviewed here)}
As for differences in how it looks, I think the canvas ones in general look and feel more fitted around the leg and around the hips. The pockets on the linen ones tend to flare out more while for the canvas ones, they lay closer to the body.
linen clydes
canvas clydes
Here are some side by side comparisons. I'm wearing the linen Georgia tee (reviewed here) and the linen Clydes on the pictures on the left (or the first pics if you're looking on phone) while I'm wearing the silk Georgia tee (reviewed here) and the cotton canvas Clydes in the other photo.
As you can see, the linen Clydes show a lot more wrinkles so if you're looking for a more refined look, then the cotton canvas Clydes are probably a better bet. But I love that the linen Clydes are just way more comfortable. The material is softer and breathes so well. There have been a smattering of hot days this past spring and these linen Clydes worked perfectly. It covered my legs but I could feel the wind blow through the material to cool me down.
So why don't I say that these are the unicorn pants with a resounding yes? Well I actually really like the look of the canvas Clydes but the fit and feel of the linen ones. But the combo of that is technically impossible (a true unicorn). So I guess I was looking for a mythical pair of pants after all. But in the meantime I found a truly awesome pair of pants for work (the linen ones) and a great one for going out (the canvas ones). With these two pants, I pretty much have my bases covered!
P.S. Henny asked about how these compare with the Tilda pants (I reviewed the linen Tilda pants here) and I have to say I love the Clyde pants waaay more. I like the silhouette of the Clydes better and I love that there are big pockets (the Tilda has no pockets).