It knows what it wants when you first lay eyes on it. A good wide leg hangs straight and falls away from your hip. It has enough give that when you walk, your legs swing and don’t bunch (which is why fabric is key. Silky heavy crepe, wool suiting or a tencel blend that actually weighs enough on its own will drape correctly). Avoid anything that clings to your upper legs or feels like it’ll stand away from your legs like a board because more times than not, that’s where a nice silhouette goes wrong.
Fit wise through your waist and hip is key too.
The best I’ve found sit higher rather than lower and sport a waistband that stays put vs rolls, with a flat front that’s been designed to be flat or pleated deliberately, vs. gathers where you don’t want them.
Tailoring shouldn’t be your goal with a wide leg trouser since you want to show off the shape of the leg, but a sharp waist and defined front crease lend that sensibility when the fabric is more forgiving. Hem length is also important. You want these end somewhere you can wear heels or flat shoes. Something that brushes the ground or hits right at your ankle bone is preferable. Stay away from Wide legs that flow onto the floor when you walk, they tend to look like you forgot to let them dry completely.
You want to spend most of your money on these guys styling them. A tight knit or slim shirt that you tuck in will provide needed balance to the bulk below and keep your proportions realistic. Boxier tops can look good but only when the rest of the trouser is actually sharp- think structured waistband or a fabric that holds well.
Wide legs take to a blazer naturally; I prefer something cropped or soft for wide legs. They’re also one of the only trouser shapes that look as put together worn with a simple top and sneakers as they do over heels and another blazer.
Busy weekend? Wide legs can go from office to happy hour to travel season with ease. They do work, dining out, and days where you just want to look put together without wearing a dress. They’re especially great for those in-between events that require you to look pulled together but not quite to the point of suits and heels. Worth it? When you find a pair that works, they become your niche go to because they can do it all and not once will you wonder what to wear with them in the morning.
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