Relaxed fits are poised to be the biggest denim and pant trend for fall ‘21 ranging from straight-leg to all out baggy. Thanks to the pandemic and our new affinity for comfort, designers across the board are leaning into looser fits. Let’s take a closer look at this classic cut that never seems to go out of style and how to find the perfect shoes to compliment your look.
Why Should You Wear Wide Legged Pants?
First off, what defines this style? Wide-leg pants are at least 20" in circumference at the hem, and differ from bell-bottoms in that the entire length of the leg is large in circumference whereas flare or bell-bottom jeans become wider below the knee. Wide-leg jeans are considered a variant of baggy jeans, which were also popular in the 1990s. Super wide-leg jeans have a circumference at the hem of 23" to 26" and extremely wide-leg or palazzo pants are as wide as 50".
Katharine Hepburn is probably the most famous wide-leg pants wearer from the golden age of Hollywood- they certainly gave her an air of confident nonchalance and could maybe do the same for you. Not only is this style comfortable, but it will never go out of style and is appropriate for almost every occasion from the office to the beach. A common misconception is that they'll make you look bigger, but if you pair them with a fitted top or tuck in your blouse, they actually accentuate your waist, elongate your legs, and give you a flattering silhouette.
Nowadays, this is the pants style of choice for celebrities like Meghan Markle, Milla Jovovich, and Amal Clooney. The wide-leg style can be flattering on women of all shapes, heights and sizes, including petite women. We’ve seen them worn by popular petite celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckham and Mira Duma. By having the waist line higher than your natural waist, it will instantly add a few inches to your leg length and make you look taller.
What Shoes to Wear with Wide Leg Pants?
A looser leg looks equally chic with boots, loafers and sneakers so the styling choice is totally up to personal preference, but we’ll help you out with some pointers. If you are petite, obviously wearing heels is going to make you appear taller, so go for it with heels, platforms and all things elevated! Just make sure that your pants are full length; it’s helpful to have a trusty tailor and to have different pairs hemmed for different shoe heights.
If you’re not worried about height, our favorite pairing with wide leg pants is a pair of tennis shoes or trainers. Or, if you’re looking for something a little less sporty, loafers are also a fantastic pairing for wide legged bottoms.