The wide leg pants look has been super trendy since popping up on runways for the past few seasons. These high-waisted pants are exactly what your wardrobe needs to spice up your look.
While wide leg pants look amazing and glamorous on models in magazines, often real women don’t know how to make this look work for them. While the billowy fabric can be intimidating, especially for shorter women, it’s a look that can be very flattering on just about any figure. The key is knowing how to wear them.
With spring on the horizon it’s time to start thinking about sprucing up your office attire. Here are seven tips on how to wear these pants for a stylish business casual look that’s going to turn some heads.
1. Color Considerations
Different colors will work for different figures. If you are tall and slender you can afford to bring more attention to your lower half with bright colors. On the other hand, women who are shorter or on the curvy side might opt for a darker neutral color like navy or black. If you prefer prints opt for a nice subtle herringbone pattern and avoid anything overly flashy for the office.
2. The Waist Is The Key
Pants that are wide need to sit high on your waist. Otherwise all that fabric can be overwhelming and end up looking misplaced and sloppy. These pants need to be well fitted to your body from the waistline to just below the hips before they flare out. This will make your legs look longer and make your waist appear slimmer.
3. Tuck It In
That high waistline isn’t going to work it’s magic on your frame if you hide it underneath your top. With a wide leg and high waistline you are drawing the attention to your now proportionally smaller middle. Add to that slimming effect by tucking in your shirt or wearing a midriff. Keep in mind that too much fabric on the top won’t mix well with those billowy pants so keep your blouse simple.
4. The Jacket
While a jacket is optional to pull off the business casual look, it’s a good option if you’re not feeling overly confident about showing off your middle. Avoid ruining a good thing and looking frumpy by choosing a fitted jacket which won’t add too much fabric or wearing it as a drape on your shoulders. A jacket will balance your hips and shoulders giving you more of an hourglass figure by simply making your shoulders look wider.
5. Shoe Sense
There is a time and place to pair wide leg pants with sneakers, but the office is not one of them. For a chic business casual look you will need to pair these pants with your heels. Not only will this give you a more sophisticated look, that extra height will make you look taller and slimmer. By keeping your shoes nude or in the same color as your pants, you will elongate your look for an even better slimming effect.
6. A Little Something Extra
The finishing touches to any outfit are the accessories. Choose a pair of long and narrow dangling earrings. These create the illusion of an elongated neck and will add to the long and slender look. If you’re looking for something to put around your neck, go for a long chain with a bold pendant or a multi-layered necklace. Keep bracelets sleek and minimal.
7. Own It
Nothing can look better on you than confidence. The most important thing about the wardrobe choices you make is that you feel beautiful in what you are wearing. It’s good to try new things and play around with your look sometimes but if it doesn’t grow on you, don’t force it. Wear what makes you feel good.
Will you be trying wide leg pants this spring?
Sierra E is a Los-Angeles based trial lawyer and entrepreneur. She became partner at her law firm in 2015 and has made numerous appearances as a guest legal correspondent on CNN. In 2018, Sierra launched SuitKits, an online shopping service that allows women to custom design suits and separates to fit their exact measurements, style, color and cut. Through her career, her writings, and her company, Sierra hopes to help women from all backgrounds achieve both personal and professional success for the benefit of themselves and their families. You can find her on Twitter/Facebook/IG @SuitKits
