Wide-leg trousers and jeans are easy to love and easy to get wrong. Almost every outfit that works follows one rule: when the volume is below the waist, keep definition above it. Here are five formulas built on that rule.
The rule: balance the volume
A wide leg adds fabric from the hip down. If the top half is loose as well, the outline disappears. So choose one of three things for the top: fitted, cropped or tucked in. A high rise helps too, because it marks the waist and makes the leg look longer.
1. Tailored trousers and a fitted off-shoulder knit
The Varenne Tailored Wide-Leg Trousers have a sculpted high-rise waist and a fluid, full-length leg. Pair them with the Élodie Off-Shoulder Ribbed Sweater in Burgundy, which fits close to the body and sits off the shoulders. The result is narrow above, wide below and right for dinner.
2. Tailored trousers and a scoop-neck tank
For the office or a warm day, replace the knit with the Élan Scoop Neck Tank Top in Sand Beige, tucked in. The trousers have belt loops, so add a slim belt to finish the waist. A blazer over the shoulders takes it into a meeting.
3. Wide-leg jeans and a buttoned cardigan
The Solène High-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans pair a defined high waist with an extra-wide, full-length leg in washed blue. Wear the Éloise Ribbed Short-Sleeve Cardigan buttoned up as a top. Its close fit and crew neckline keep the look neat, and it comes in gray, pink and brown.
4. Wide-leg jeans and a cropped sweater
A cropped knit ends where a high waistband begins, so you get the comfort of a relaxed sweater without losing your shape. The Élodie Embroidered Sheep Cropped Knit Sweater has dropped shoulders, side slits and a cropped length made for high-rise denim. This is the weekend version.
5. Tone on tone
Dressing in one color family from shoulder to hem makes a long, unbroken line. Try the Élodie sweater in Espresso with trousers in a neighboring neutral, and keep shoes and bag in the same range.
What shoes to wear with wide-leg trousers
- Add height. A heel, platform or pointed toe under a full-length hem lengthens the leg.
- Mind the hem. It should skim the top of your shoe and stay just clear of the floor. Hem placement changes with your height and your shoes, so try them on together.
- Flats work with a cropped top. If you wear flats or sneakers, keep the top short or tucked so the proportions hold.
Common questions
What top goes best with wide-leg trousers?
A fitted, cropped or tucked-in top. Any of the three keeps your waist visible, which is what makes a wide leg look deliberate.
Can petite women wear wide-leg trousers?
Yes. Choose a high rise, keep the top short or tucked, and wear a shoe with some height under a full-length hem to lengthen the leg.
Are wide-leg jeans right for the office?
In most workplaces, yes, when the wash is clean and the top is tailored. A blazer or a neat knit does the work.