Your skinny jeans are starting to feel just a little bit dated, and you’re ready to take the plunge on voluminous, oversized, wide-legged and flared pants. If you wear them well, wide-legged pants can give you an elegant silhouette and create the illusion of longer, leaner legs and narrower hips. Tall women can easily wear pants that are very wide all over. Shorter women may want to look for wide-leg pants that are more fitted at the top and that don’t flare too much. Flared pants give top-heavy women a nice advantage by drawing attention down to the ankles. Proportion and balance are the key to making this trend work.
A wide-leg style that flatters most figures is one with simple lines. Choose pants that fit across the waist and fall easily from the hips and thighs. A high waist with a tailored waistband shows off a slender midsection. If you don’t want to draw attention to your waist, avoid design details such as front pockets.
High-waisted, wide-leg trousers are perfect for the office when teamed with tucked-in, buttoned-down shirts, fitted tees and tailored vests. The look is chic and easy and flatters almost every shape. Trade your work top for a silky blouse or camisole, slip on some strappy sandals and statement jewelry and you have an outfit that will take you out on the town at night.
Length is a defining element in the oversized trousers look. Either wear wide-legged pants in a length cropped to about an inch above the ankle bone or wear a longer leg that drapes nicely over the front of the shoe without creating a fold in the fabric. While the puddle effect and totally hidden shoe looks good in magazine layouts, you’ll find it trips you up on city streets.
Shoes can make or break this look. High heels further heighten (pun intended) the illusion of longer legs. Platform, wedges and stacked-heel pumps go great with wide-legged pants. Flats and sandals are a good look with the cropped length. Sneakers are really on trend, but make sure the toe shows a little.
Tops that are snug, fitted and cropped at the waist give a nice proportion and keep the style from looking sloppy. A tucked-in tee or silky blouse works well. A streamlined, simple sweater helps balance flashier bottoms. Don’t team wide-leg pants with tops that are so big they swallow you up. If you opt for an oversized look on top, choose a loose blouse left untucked or a coat that hits below the hips. The oversized look calls for the ankle-baring cropped pant length, but steer clear of big tops with wide-legged culottes.
Jackets and vests are a chic complement to wide-legged pants. Your jacket should be fitted and cropped or long enough to extend the silhouette and hit below the hips. A tailored blazer lends polish. Avoid a slouchy or boxy jacket that would make the combination look sloppy. Stick with a slim jacket that flatters you.
