The Nili Lotan Shon Pant: A Coco Goose Uniform

Some pants announce themselves with a big cuff or elongated silhouette. The Shon prefers to be discovered...and then never let go of. The Shon settles at a mid-rise and expands softly through the thigh before curving back toward the ankle, a shape that reads as relaxed until you notice how carefully it was crafted.

At Coco Goose, the Nili Lotan Shon pant is the closest thing we have to a uniform (it sits perfectly in all of our closets next to a Frank and Eileen buttondown). Our team wears it on the floor and off it, and our clients return for a second color before the first has had time to soften. It is laid back luxe at its absolute best: a pant that asks very little of you and still makes the whole outfit look highly considered.

What is the Nili Lotan Shon Pant? 

The Shon is a signature Nili Lotan silhouette, and once you see it you'll spot it everywhere. Literally, we do this constantly. It sits at a mid-rise, falls into a relaxed barrel leg, then curves back in toward the ankle thanks to darting placed in just the right spot at the knee. That seam is the whole trick. It gives the pant its shape without any extra fabric or fuss, so the leg looks intentional instead of oversized. 

The details lean towards a workwear vibe. Think topstitched patch pockets front and back, belt loops, and a zip fly with a hidden hook-and-bar closure so the front lies flat. There's also an inseam gusset, which is a small diamond of fabric between the legs that lets you sit cross-legged on the floor without a single seam complaining. Hallelujah. The inseam lands at about 26 inches across the size run, so on most of us it's a cropped pant that kisses the ankle bone.  

Most Shon styles are made or washed in the USA, which tracks for a designer who has always played the long game. Nili Lotan launched her label in 2003 and, as Fast Company reported, grew it without outside investors by focusing on pieces that aren't built around trends. The Shon is the poster child for that approach. It looked right years ago and it looks right now. A real genius design.

Why does everyone at Coco Goose own the Shon Pant?

Because it's the best. irreplaceable. Timeless. Effortless. There are other barrels out there, and we honestly love them all, but the Shon has a certain je ne sais quoi.

Part of it is the shape. A lot of curved-leg pants read as costume after about an hour, but the Shon is subtle. It has enough volume to feel current and enough structure to look polished with a blazer. Part of it is the fit across bodies. Our stylists put it on petite clients, tall clients, curvy clients and straight-up-and-down clients, and the knee seam does its job on all of them. 

The real reason, though, is that it removes a decision. Getting dressed at 7AM with a coffee in one hand is not the moment for creative wardrobe problem solving. Shon pant, a good sweater, a decent shoe, done. You look like you planned it. But, you did not plan it.

How does the Shon pant fit?

The Shon runs true to size and is designed to fit with ease, so expect room through the hip and thigh rather than a body-skimming fit. For reference, Nili's models are typically 5'10" and wear a size 2. 

A few fit notes from the Coco Goose fitting rooms:

• Sizing: The Shon comes in 00 through 12, and the Travertine denim also comes in a 00P for petites.
• Rise: It's a true mid-rise, landing roughly between 10.5 and 13 inches depending on size. Tuck-friendly, crop-top-friendly, sit-down-at-dinner-friendly.
• Length: At about 26 inches of inseam, it's cropped on most heights. If you're under 5'4", expect it closer to full length, which honestly looks great too.
• Fabric matters: The stretch corduroy has a little more give than the 100% cotton denim, so if you're between sizes, the fabric can help you decide.

Still not sure? Our personal styling team has fit more Shon pants than anyone should admit, and we're happy to talk you through it.

Which Shon fabric should you buy first?

This is where it gets dangerous. Same perfect shape, a different personality in every fabric. How does one decide??

Cotton twill: the everyday starter

If you're buying one pair, start here. The cotton twill Shon is the most versatile of the bunch and the easiest on the wallet. We love the Shon Pant in Military Green for its army surplus energy and the Shon Pant in Rust for a warm fall neutral. The Shon Cotton Pant in Cabernet is our pick if you want a color that still behaves like a neutral, and the Vintage Washed Admiral Blue wears like your favorite broken-in navy. And yes, the Shon Pant in Camo is a Vermont essential.

Herringbone: the dressed-up one

The herringbone weave adds texture that makes the Shon feel almost tailored. The Shon Herringbone Pant in French Khaki goes straight to the office with a crisp shirt, and the Vintage Cream is the winter white we'll be wearing straight through February.

Denim: the jean that thinks it's a trouser

The Shon in denim is soft and drapey, made in the USA from 100% cotton. The Shon Pant in Travertine is a pale, stony neutral that pairs with everything. For classic blues, look at the Shon Jean in Indigo Rinse or the Classic Wash. The newer Resin Rinse and Cienna Wash are the ones we keep stealing off the new arrivals rack, and the Shon Jean in Black is the one you'll wear to dinner.

Corduroy: the fall favorite

The corduroy Shon is garment-dyed and washed in the USA for that faded, mid-century look, like you found them at a very expensive thrift store. It has a touch of stretch, and it's the pair our team reaches for the second the leaves turn. Shop the Hazelnut, Mahogany, Brunette, Caffe or the unexpectedly great Service Blue.

Leather and suede: the splurge

For the Shon devotee who has everything, the Shon Leather Pant in Black and the Shon Suede Pant in Martora take the same relaxed shape somewhere much more serious. Wear them with a gray sweatshirt to keep them from trying too hard.

How do you style the Shon pant for fall?

The Shon does most of the work, so the trick is not to overthink it. A few formulas we keep coming back to:

The Saturday version. Cotton twill Shon, a slouchy cashmere crew and a pair of suede sneakers. Add a baseball cap.

The office version. Herringbone Shon with a crisp button-down tucked in and a leather belt. Finish with a loafer and a blazer you can take off by lunch.

The dinner version. Black Shon jean with a silk camisole and a long wool coat. A pointed flat keeps it sharp without asking for heels.

The Vermont version. Corduroy Shon, a chunky turtleneck and lug-sole boots. Throw on a quilted vest and you could plausibly be on your way to either a ski lodge or a gallery opening.

One rule: keep the top half a little relaxed too. The Shon looks best when the whole outfit feels like it exhaled.

Is the Shon pant worth the investment?

Shon pants run from about $375 for cotton twill to $450 for denim, corduroy and herringbone, with leather and suede in their own category. That's real money for a pair of pants. Here's how we think about it: this is the pant you'll wear three days a week, every season but peak summer, for years. The shape doesn't date, the fabrics wear in beautifully and the craftsmanship holds up wash after wash. Divide the price by the number of times you'll pull them on and the math gets very friendly very fast.

Also, ask anyone on the Coco Goose team how many pairs they own. The answer is never one.