The Ultimate Guide to Effortlessly Styling Wide Leg Pants
A note from Hallie: I am a proud Jewish American, with ties to my ancestral homeland, Israel. A percentage of all affiliate sales from this blog post will be donated to Magen David Adom. They provide EMS support to ALL Israeli’s - Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Druze. Everyone! Thank you for all of the support and kindness that so many of you have shared over the past few days, it really means the world to me.
In the ever-evolving world of fashion, trends come and go. We’ve been hearing for a few years that skinny jeans are on their way out; don’t freak out on me! They had their day in the sun, but now, they’ve graciously passed the torch to their roomier cousin – the wide leg pants and jeans. But hold onto your skinnies, they are not out, just gracefully transitioning to a classic style.
The spotlight now is on the breezy, easy-going vibe of wide leg styles. You've probably seen them around town or worn by your favorite celebs, and perhaps even snagged a pair for yourself. But the lingering question might be: how to style them to feel absolutely amazeballs? If so, you’re not alone. Knowing how to style them is the key. So, let me give you some professional tips and tricks to make your chance of styling success easier.
Please keep in mind that I am sharing general how-to's that work for most, but as always with fashion, it’s likely that they will need to be adapted to you. These tips will work for many, but remember, the devil is in the details. Don’t hesitate to play around, tweak, and style until what you see in the mirror makes you do a happy dance.
It’s all about what works for you - your body, your taste, and your lifestyle. And if something feels a tad off (which is the customary greeting of trying something new), small tweaks are your best pals.
Understanding the Basics of Styling Wide Leg Pants
Balance Between Top and Bottom:
As the hemlines widen, it’s a cue to go slimmer or shorter up top to strike that balance. The cool thing about wider leg bottoms is that the top can still have drape and flow, but then the waist needs to be defined. This means either tucking that top in or opting for a somewhat cropped style - not the teenage belly-show, but a graceful graze somewhere between your hip bone and waistband.
Accentuating the Ankles:
With wider bottoms, giving a sneak peek of your ankles is key. Opt for pumps that show off those ankles, sandals that flaunt the vamp of your foot, or boots with a snug fit around the ankles (sometimes coined as sock booties). If a shoe is chunkier, a simple roll or crop of the pants does wonders in maintaining that visual balance while showing a sliver of ankle.
Color Coordination:
Transitioning wide leg denim from warm to cold weather can sometimes hinge on the color palette. If you’ve enjoyed pairing your wide leg denim with sandals or sneakers during warmer months, but find yourself at a standstill on colder days, here are some color cues to consider.
Light-colored denim tends to blend seamlessly with light-colored footwear, like a pair of white sneakers. If you find that your black booties clash with your favorite light-wash wide leg jean, it might be the denim's color tone at play. Opting for a similar style in a mid or dark wash could be the solution you need to harmonize your cold-weather look!
Discovering New Denim Styles
Transitioning from skinnies? Meet the new squad: Boot cut, Flare, Trouser, Straight leg, Cargo, and Wide leg. Each brings a unique flair to the table, ready to be styled and personalized to you.
Styling Ideas for Different Denim Styles:
FYI, these photos of my beautiful model Bonnie were from a segment I filmed for wkyc. It has not aired yet, but I will be sure to link it once it does. The reason I cropped out Bonnie’s face is because these photos were taken from the day we were just trying on and planning the outfits. And I am NOT a professional photographer. The goal was to remember what pieces went with what and how it was styled. So in some photos her eyes are closed, and some I unintentionally cropped part of her face off.
Actually, when I take photos for my clients, virtual look books, I also crop their heads out of the photos. I think it helps everyone look at the outfits as opposed to hyper focusing about things on their face, or hair that needs color etc. Sorry for the long explanation, but I thought it was important to note.
Boot Cut:
Elegance is the name of the game with a tucked-in blouse paired with pointy toe boots.
SHOP BOOT CUT JEANS
Flare:
Channel the casual chic vibe with a tucked-in tee, hip-grazing topper, and almond toe clogs.
SHOP FLARE JEANS
Trouser:
A hip-grazing vest with pointy toe boots screams polished professionalism with a trendy twist.
SHOP TROUSER JEANS
Straight Leg:
Merge sporty with sophistication by pairing a hip-grazing tee, a nipped waist blazer, and some cool sneakers.
SHOP STRAIGHT LEG JEANS
Cargo:
Go rugged yet refined with a cropped-to-ankle cargo, a waist-grazing slim sweater, hip-grazing topper, and lug sole loafers.
SHOP CARGO JEANS
Wide Leg:
For a breezy and trendy look, team up cropped-to-ankle wide leg pants with a hip-grazing sweater and lug sole loafers.
SHOP WIDE LEG JEANS
Experiment and Personalize:
The runway to perfect styling is paved with trials, tweaks, and a sprinkle of personal flair. Take these tips for a spin, see how they resonate with your style, and don’t shy away from adding your own flair to the mix. Remember, fashion should be fun and make you feel fabulous.
Note that transitioning from skinny jeans to wide leg pants/jeans can be a smooth sail with the right styling tricks up your sleeve. Share your styling concoctions, questions or fashion musings in the comments below.
Keep experimenting, keep styling, and above all, keep having fun with it! Your style is your signature, make it memorable.