Fashion trends come and go in an endless cycle. What’s in style from one year to the next is more likely than not recycled trends given new life with fresh, modern styling. Experimenting with trends can be a great way to get creative with your closet and freshen up your personal style. The thing to be conscientious of is only incorporating new trends into your wardrobe that are flattering and fit into your personal style aesthetic. If you invest in a fad trend that doesn’t meet your own fashion rules, chances are the piece will end up in your donate pile by next season, sometimes with the tags still on. That said, some real gems come back onto the pages of Vogue that you never considered before perhaps because you weren’t alive in their fashionable heyday. One of those gems is today’s fad to forever trend: the cropped wide leg pant.
The first I saw of this trend in a catalogue last year I had to do a few double takes. The look was incredibly classy and appealing, but seemed too trendy for me to pull off. After accumulating a heavy dose of Pinsperation I decided to take the decades old trouser trend out for a test drive and found that my initial impression was correct. It’s an incredibly chic, classic, and flattering trend. And if you don’t believe me, Katherine Hepburn and Jackie O. will prove it!
Wide leg trousers went into hibernation at the beginning of the reign of slim pants and skinny jean. While the slim trouser look (a la Audrey Hepburn) will always be in style, the cropped wide leg with its fluid, dramatic silhouette makes for an especially refreshing wardrobe update. It’s also a nice alternative to capri pants for those, like yours truly, with an athletic build and need a bit more breathing room for muscular calves.
The cropped wide leg pant can seem a bit intimidating to pull off, but there are some easy styling tips to achieve this ultra cool and elegant look. First and foremost is that the pant fits correctly. The pant must be high wasted, have a slightly loose fit in the thigh, and sit 1-3 inches from the top of your ankle. A more baggy fit that hits any higher than three inches above the ankle has a more trendy vibe.
For optimal styling 1) balance the voluminous silhouette of the pant with a top tucked in at the waste; 2) elongate your legs by pairing the pant with a sleek shoe in nude or the same color as the pant. (Both heels and flats can work with this style, but the more skin on top of the foot exposed, the better;) and 3) stick to a neutral, solid colored pant such as denim, black, or camel for a more sophisticated look. To mix things up, you can also create a jumpsuit effect by pairing a top and pant in the same color creating a crisp canvas to highlight a statement shoe.
The cropped wide leg pant is an incredibly versatile silhouette that can take you from coffee to cocktails as well as dockside to holiday party. They can be dressed up with court heels and a silk camisole, or dressed down with tennis shoes and a breton. For those keen on their white denim, this silhouette can elegantly and effortlessly carry your whites past labor day and into the holiday season.
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