Flares/Bootcuts... are they really coming back, and how? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Inspiration

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Flares/Bootcuts... are they really coming back, and how?

rae

(website)

Veteran

Cleaning out my closet today, raising eyebrows at my flares and bootcut jeans. I still think they look really good on me, but they are getting older... trying to decide if they should still be kept around for an upcoming resurgence of the style or if they will be totally lame by the time the look comes back.

Also been trying to find some inspiration on how to wear these in conjunction with the modern-looking minimal trends - is there a way? Like stuff from Zara, Vince, Helmut Lang... I'm not turning up much in the way of styled photos. Rick Owens came out with these flares a while ago, but nowhere are they shown with an actual outfit - how would Rick want us to wear those??

I have to admit it: I'm stumped. Help?

19 replies

Latest reply was from

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I purchased two pairs of slim boot cuts this fall and decided to return them for the same reason. I do have a pair of flares that I am keeping, I got them in late 2011 and they are fun and dramatic and high waisted. I think they work well with a crop top. I am also hanging on to a pair of trouser jeans, also with a higher waist, from 2011. Maybe I will try to style them for forum feedback.

I think the higher waisted styles have more trend longevity, as rises are going up higher.

catgirl

Veteran

I think bootcuts are just normal, but the true flares are making a comeback. The 70s chick in me (yes, I am a 70s/80s gal) would love a pair of bell bottoms for summer but can't see any petite options out there.

Tanya

Veteran

I think that flares are making a strong comeback. After all, Angie has just bought a pair of J Brand's Love Story. She has a whole pinboard on how to wear them:
http://www.pinterest.com/youlookfab/flares/

Also, sites like Shobop and Net-a-porter are showing a bunch of them:
http://www.shopbop.com/clothin.....064886.htm
http://www.net-a-porter.com/Sh.....d&

I get a lot of styling ideas from these two sites.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Denise, that is interesting. If you had a hard time styling them, then I don't feel so bad!

Tanya, thanks for the links - I had seen Angie's but most of those seemed like modern classic, or a lot of them looked more like wide legs than flares to my eye. Funny how Shopbop seems to be the only ones to show entire outfits with them, and with that you have to click all the way through. Perusing now...

Tanya

Veteran

You are welcome Rae! Actually, net-a-porter shows them styled too, you just also have to click through each one individually and then use the down arrows.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You definitely need the right style of bootcut jeans. I got rid of ten year old AG bootcuts last year - that still fit perfectly and were in great condition - but they just didn't look modern to my eye. The mid rise was in a weird place and the flare neither big nor small. I just got the J. Brand Love Story flares and they look spot on. The dramatic flare, snug thigh fit, and low rise look so much better.

I wear them two ways:

Fluid jumper
Tucked masculine shirt with belt

Always with pointy toes. Sometimes with a cropped jacket, and sometimes with a long man coat. Not with a blazer.

My older bootcut trousers on the other hand still look 100% Modern. Thank you Theory.

Sal

Veteran

I have one pair of flares, and they are a dark denim high waisted style, slightly more dressy.

I like them with a blazer or jacket and an ankle boot, nothing too original there. In my head it is more that "Charlie Girl" look, late 70s rather than "hippy 70s".

I love the looks with the moto jackets too on Pinterest. Or the striped!

For me with an hourglass type shape, I can't have too much volume or length on top otherwise my waist disappears. On the other hand too body-con is not all that flattering around my tummy. This year I might play around with a more cropped top over a longer vest I think.

I think they could be minimal with a skimming hi-low top and simple ankle boots or pumps.

My main battle with flares is heels - mine are too long to wear with flats and so I always have to have a heel, which is not appropriate on wet rugby fields or dragging around on the walking school bus.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, Angie and Kiwi! I have a feeling most of mine should go. After looking at links on Shopbop and Farfetch it seems like either a voluminous sweater or a tucked blouse is where things might work for me - thinking a high-waisted style might be better than what I have, like Denise suggested. Either that, or I'll just enjoy my one pair of flared trousers and possibly not bother with flared jeans.

This is the last one I'm considering...?

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Lisa

Veteran

A great question. I still sport my bootcuts.

Rae-I like the jeans in your photo with that top, it's a little more volume so that outfit works for me.

Angie-Bootcuts with a blazer, is this a passe look?

Diana

Veteran

Hmm, I still wear a couple of pairs of old boot cut jeans that are pretty classic. They have a fairly large leg opening. I'm not sure about the really dramatic flares on me though. Partly it's because I have poison eye for shoe-eating pants legs. ETA: and I'm not fond of the high rises as they emphasize my short waisted ness.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I used to be such a devout bootcut fan but have been wearing straights and skinnies so much more in the last couple of years, that I'm starting to wonder how to freshen the bootcut look too.

High waisted styles are not for me. The combination of short torso and big hips just make it look awful. So that limits me. I guess stick with mid and lower rises and semi tuck with belts? Pointy toes are my favorite with bootcuts, so that's an easy solution.

I also have to watch out for extreme flares -- they tend to have tight thighs and on me, can be even more unflattering than tight-tight skinnies because of all that thigh emphasis.

So funny how something that was once a fashion no-brainer for me has become a big question mark!

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

Gosh, I *wish* the bootcuts or flares made for my height had tighter thighs and tapered knees. There may well be some out there, but I don't know where. I have to do petite or short versions, and I wonder sometimes how proportioned they really are...almost always, I find that there's lots of "stovepipe" width around my knees, and that takes so much of the architectural quality out of them. It just isn't the right look. Same exact problem with short and petite yoga pants! Too much volume around the knee, making me look like a little kid in someone else's cut-down pants.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Janet, I know, right? I used to wear bootcuts all. the. time. But my style has changed so much and skinnies have prevailed for so long...

Ambergreen, I remember having such a similar problem when buying jeans. If the thighs fit, then the knee break was too wide. Lucky brand worked for me pretty well. Although back then I was also 20 lbs lighter... :T

cciele

Veteran

I like those bootcuts in your photo, Rae. Although I'm hardly an expert in what the latest interpretation of bootcuts/flares should look like!

Patricia

I am a fan of boot cuts because they balance my thighs nicely and so I wear them whether they are stylish or not. To my eye they make your legs look slender and long. I don't really like skinnies despite their popularity so take my opinion based on that.

deb

Veteran

I still have my bootcuts put away and have not tried them on in years. I cannot wear flares because I cannot wear heels and flats jut do not look right, I wonder if I can wear my bootcuts with flats and make them work?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I really like the bootcuts in your photo too. Looks nice with that high-low jumper.

catgirl

Veteran

Rae, those are great! I think of flares as summerwear due to my climate, so I love these in a lighter wash.

Anonymous

Gap used to make "Long and Lean" style jeans which was a mid-rise and just the right amount of flare. They fit me like a glove so I bought the last 3 pair of size 8s before they were all gone. They are the only jeans I have worn that really make my entire lower half (including my butt) look great. When these wear out I haven't a clue where to even look.

I also like flares because I don't have to buy talls and hem them. The regulars are usually long enough for me.