Strictly speaking, they are a pair of pants.

A simple, elastic waisted, wide legged pants cropped at the mid-calf made of a cool multiblend fabric.

But it’s the pattern that catches her eye, an almost passive aggressive print of green leaves boldly splashed against a white background.

They swallow her when she tries them on, they’re too loud, too dressy, too trendy and unsuitable for work.

But still, she gravitates towards the loud hues of green- jade, forest, lime, moss, hunter…

Wear them with a pair of dressy heels and a clean blazer, white preferably, her sisters advise, handing her a blindingly white blazer just in her size.

Hmm, why don’t we roll up the sleeves? they muse and she did so, and the outfit comes alive.

It is a pity her makeup wasn’t done-she always looks so tired without the eyeliner to define her eyes and foundation to hide her blemishes.

Won’t this be too dressy for a barbecue?

The sisters narrow their eyes and she almost feels self-conscious as their gazes bore into her.

Yes, they say finally, wear the navy slacks with your white drapey blouse from Nordstroms.

But she can’t bring herself to put the pants away. After all, they are very comfortable.

I’m going to get these anyway. The sisters shrug their shoulders, it’s up to you, they say.

At the end of the day, she’s managed to spend another hundred on God knows what.

Clothes, makeup and food-Chic Fil A and their magical diet lemonade-and a quiet unsettling washes over her.

But the deed is done, she is tired and just wants to go home.

She briefly thinks of the barbecue coming up in a few weeks, to be hosted at her close friend’s home, and wonders if anyone worth impressing will even be there.

I should just wear a t-shirt and shorts, she thinks.

But it’s against her nature, and eventually she surrenders to the fact that she is actually quite vain and perhaps a little obsessed with dressing nicely.

The pattern is passive aggressive. She quite likes it.