The Look for Less: J Brand Houlihan Skinny Cargo Pants

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August 11, 2010

J Brand's 'Houlihan' skinny cargo pants sell for $230 at Singer22.com. The list of celebrity fans is too long to mention, but here's Rachel Bilson sporting hers in olive green for a casual daytime look.

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And here's the lovely Eva Longoria Parker rocking her J Brand Skinny Cargos in Vintage Navy with heels for a sexy nighttime look. These pants are so versatile.

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Thanks to a tip that reader MEP left on this post, we have found what is quite possibly the best look for less option available to date! These Mossimo Junior's skinny cargo pants are just $21.99 at Target.com. "[T]he fit is fantastic, and they wash up perfectly!" says MEP. Thanks for the tip!!

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Comments (17)

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Comments

I got a pair of these over the weekend at my local Target. They are great for the price and fit well and pretty true to size for juniors. I went to 2 Targets and the olive green was almost sold out at both stores They come in black and khaki. I will probably go back and get the black ones!

#1 Marci on 2010-08-11 17:55 (Reply)

I've got another suggestion for those looking for skinny cargos. I found these military jeggings on sale at American Eagle for $29.99 (in store; they seem to be more online). I love them -- they are so cute and comfortable. They're made out of stretch material, but seem to run pretty small and I also wanted to wear them slightly looser than the picture shows, so I bought a pair two sizes larger than my usual size.

http://www.ae.com/web/browse/product.jsp?catId=cat90034&productId=prod290258

#2 Sweettooth on 2010-08-11 20:06 (Reply)

This option is a bit more money but still far less than what it would cost to buy the j brand cargos. These Urban Behaviors pants are as spot on as you can get. That I've seen thus far.
http://www.metroparkusa.com/fashion/women/urban-behavior/item/12112/Stretch-Cargo-Skinny/pants

#3 Jackie on 2010-08-11 21:09 (Reply)

Oh gosh, I need to get back to Target. Honestly, though, skinny jeans don't always work on my short but bootylicious figure. Ugh.

#4 K (Homepage) on 2010-08-11 22:45 (Reply)

Thanks for the shout-out! I saw them in the store before I saw them online, and they were already sold out of my size in the khaki, or else I would have gotten both colors (my store did not have black). Once you wash them, the fabric fades a little more than the Target picture shows, so they look even more like them. But the Houlihans have ankle zippers, and the Target pants do not.

There are some Calvin Klein pants at my local Marshall's that look very similar to the J Brand pants, and they have the ankle zippers, but the fabric is very thin and lighweight, so they're not very flattering, and not what I wanted for fall.

#5 MEP on 2010-08-12 08:11 (Reply)

i saw your comment the other day and scooted right out to my target - bought them in all 3 colors. school supplies for the kids, check. skinny cargos for me, check!

i don't know if i'll keep them all, but they were selling fast and i wanted time to decide. the fit on these is identical to a premium pair i purchased at the nordstrom anny sale (sanctuary). think i'll be returning those!!

thanks!

#6 jill (Homepage) on 2010-08-12 08:22 (Reply)

good to know! personally i don't like ankle zippers anyways because they can be very uncomfortable if you want to tuck your pants into boots. yay target

#7 The Budget Babe on 2010-08-12 08:41 (Reply)

another awesome find, thanks for sharing!

#8 The Budget Babe on 2010-08-12 08:44 (Reply)

Oh cute, I saw those and wondered if they'd work as pants (I can't pull off the whole leggings-as-pants look) -- thanks for the tip about sizing up!

#9 The Budget Babe on 2010-08-12 08:46 (Reply)

I love them! KMART is going to have some soon also.
I just don't know how it would look on me. I love skinnies, though. On Rachel, the large pockets on the thighs add volume, so she looks like she has big thighs like me. If I do get a pair, I would want smaller pockets.

#10 Elizabeth on 2010-08-12 11:07 (Reply)

Yes! I can't wait to see the Kmart ones, just saw a preview on their Facebook page, hope to post lookbook images soon.

#11 The Budget Babe on 2010-08-12 11:35 (Reply)

I just have to comment that I tried the J brand ones on awhile ago, and if you are under 6 feet tall and larger than a size 4, this style does no one any favors.

I dare say even the always darling super stylin' RaeBils and the very fit Eva both look a bit off in these--they add weight around the hips and thighs and create an odd proportion. In the above photo, RB's thighs look about 10x larger than her calves! JUST SAY NO TO THIS LOOK!

I think people are much better off getting skinny cargos sans hid-enhancing side pockets!

(That said, the ones from Target look like a better option if one must hop on this style wagon, as the side pockets don't stick out as much.)

#12 arden on 2010-08-12 12:13 (Reply)

Couldn't agree more! My first thought when I saw these was "awkward"... especially when paired with the heels on Eva. I'm not on board with the idea that just adding high heels can elevate any casual attire to a "sexy, nighttime look". People try to do the same thing with cutoff jean shorts and I think it looks equally ridiculous.

#13 Caroline on 2010-08-12 12:45 (Reply)

I mean honestly I don't think the color of the Jbrand's olive is pretty at all (also the target one). I prefer a darker and much richer olive. I personally find the skinny cargo from free people better in quality and color.

#14 Jenn on 2010-08-12 17:32 (Reply)

Express has some Cargo skinnies too, they're a bit more shiny, and come in khaki green and black too, $60. I bought the khaki ones from target, they fit very well, but I wish the rise in the back was a little higher. I'm also contemplating on returning them and getting a better quality pair from express. Their shinier pair might be a little too dressy for my usual activity though.. and price, lol.

#15 Hannah on 2010-08-12 20:57 (Reply)

Hi, I bought two pairs from Target--the light green and black. They both fit nice--the pockets aren't too large either. They are the right size--don't make the thighs big or anything.

I love the black the best, but the green is nice too--although I would like a more darker green color. They are super comfy though, so I will keep both. Some of Target's pants can fit funny, but these fit true to size. They are both soo cute. I'm short (5'2), and these look pretty darn good for $21.99. If you need to decide between the two, then I would get the black pair. I'm looking forward to K-Mart's cargo's--especially at that price.

Thanks again for the head-up!

I'm definitely happy.

#16 Sue on 2010-08-14 00:38 (Reply)

The skinny cargos are in this week's Target Weekly Ad for $15!

#17 MEP on 2010-08-16 09:42 (Reply)

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