Wide crops have been trending for a while, and are gaining mainstream momentum. They are high in the waist, roomy to very roomy in the leg, wide at the hem, and cropped above the ankle. The idea is to showcase the high rise but tucking or semi-tucking tops into the waist, and most wide crops are styled that way. But feel free to wear an untucked top, especially when it creates a low contrast with the bottoms. That way you won’t shorten the leg line as much, especially when you wear flats.

Here are four outfit ideas to get you started.

1. Streamlined & Punchy Shoes

These wide crops are streamlined and the tucked top showcases the self-fabric belt. The black moto adds structure to the outfit because it’s short, thereby accentuating the natural form of the wearer from the hips down. The black moto also creates a column of colour in a more subtle way. Black boots would have been an obvious elongating choice, but the snakeskin is unexpected and punchy. The black in the pattern of the snakeskin creates enough colour palette cohesion.

2. Column of Colour

Columns of colour are often black or dark. But they can be any colour, like the red one here. Columns like these make a bold yet calming statement. They are elongating, streamlining, and make a statement. Columns of colour allow you to combine a larger assortment of silhouettes because they offset the horizontal lines that get in the way of flattering proportions. They also provide a so-called blank canvas for all sorts of accessories and footwear. Here, the white boots are crisp, and their black heels match the black buttons of the outfit.

3. Earthy Super Hero

These might be proportions that are easier to accomplish when you wear heels, but flats can work if they’re structured and tidy on the foot and ankle. The high contrast of the top, boots and coat create horizontal lines that affect proportions. Yet the subtle elongating strategies make a difference like the the semi-tucked top, the very long length of the coat, the open front of the coat, and shorter length of the wide crops.

4. Textured Black

I like the texture in this outfit, which offsets the flatness and severity that an all-black outfit can exude. There are six textures: wool, bouclé, fur, surface interest stitching, ribbing and patent. The grey laces and Swiss dot are subtle, but make a dancing difference against the black. The proportions work because a column of colour offsets horizontal lines that high-contrast items create. The result is streamlining no matter the silhouette.