pros & cons of wide leg bottoms

always trying

Veteran

Finding ways to wear my 2 pair of wide leg pants I am concluding I still am not a fan of these.

NEGATIVES::

Hard to find the right proportions

can't just roll them, tuck them into boots,etc. so length has to be right

They add pounds to your look, unless you have waist definition or something

If made in cooler fabrics like cotton, linen blends or such they wrinkle ,and are not very packable.

POSITIVES:

They are cooler in hot weather if made in breathable fabrics.

can be a nice change of style if you can get it right

Are at least comfortable to wear

care to add your thoughts!

7 years ago

Dressing

22 replies

Latest reply was from krissy751

Katerina

Veteran

I love wide leg bottoms, my favourite bottoms.

Agree about the lenght. Don’t think they necessarily add pounds to your look, but it is important to find the right balance - e.g. the right width. Some can be too wide. IMO, it is also important to wear them with right type of footwear to balance the width. Personally, I like them best with a bit heavier footwear, such as heavier pointy toe oxfords (perhaps on a slight platform). I also like them best in softer fabrics which fall better. They are more difficult to pull off if they are made of stiffer cotton or linen. Yes, they are comfartable. They can also be a very nice alternative to skirts. You don’t have to define waist particularly much.

7 years ago

Anonymous

I have PTSD from the last time I wore wide leg pants - and caught the heel of my shoe (pointed toe pump) in the hem while walking along. A gorgeous drapey houndstooth wool check pant. Nearly fell , and it would have been messy. Never, ever again.

7 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'd say you are spot on.

I'd add TRENDY to the list of positives.

7 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

My thing with wide leg pants has been about how much they hinder my activities. Like, if its freaking cold outside and I don't have a bunch of house cleaning or errands, wide leg pants are perfect for serious leisure time. If I try to wear them when I have lots of errands & gotta drive myself, well... I wind up getting tangled up in the fabric or my shoe gets caught in the fabric, or something. So skinnies are my default most days.

The upside of wide leg pants for me is that they just look so elegant. They also just give a feel of leisure to me, probably because my experience with wide legs is that they're best for days when I don't have to do a lot of stuffs.

7 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I tried on a pair of these today. My son and I immediately said "NO". I know they look good in some photos Angie has posted of models, but cannot begin to see how they could be anything near ok on me.

7 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

I like wide legs and am glad they're available again! It may be mostly a body-type thing but I feel stumpy in skinnies and elegant in wide-legs. I think a floor-sweeping trouser is about the classiest thing ever, but the cropped wide legs feel modern and practical and accommodate so many types of footwear.

I do like waist emphasis, or at least waist highlighting -- a tucked-in shirt, or a cropped boxy top over high-rise pants -- and wide legs pants work well for that. Getting a great fit in the waist and hips is important.

I also just like a lot of variety and would never be happy if I tried to limit myself to one pants silhouette.

7 years ago

Anonymous

I really, really like this look IF the proportions are right.

They are SO comfortable in the heat. I haven't had the issue of wrinkling so that is not a negative for me.

But they do add visual pounds. They make me look huge! I'm willing to deal with this during the summer months, but I won't be adding to my collection.

7 years ago

Anonymous

I kept one pair of wideleg pants, but didn't wear them much last year. I like them more with sleeveless tops to balance the volume, but thats a transitional look for me. Debating whether to keep them or pass on...

7 years ago

Daisy Avalin

Active Member

I'm stuck with wide-leg pants. They do look elegant, but at 5' dead and somewhat stocky, they just don't work for me! Flares do, I think it's because they skim my thighs and then flare out, rather than being wider all the way down!

7 years ago

The Cat

Veteran

Love them. Relaxed elegance. Look great with slightly fitted tops. Can be worn with a variety of footwear, including platforms and wedges.

7 years ago

Joyce B

Veteran

They need to have dedicated shoes in order to achieve ppl. That is my least favorite part of all.

7 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I like them mostly long, or more culottes if cropped. I don’t look good in wide straight crops, usually, and not with usual flats; the higher shaft boots are a possible way to deal. For long pants I agree with Joyce B. — I have to hem to a specific shoe or booties and pretty much wear those ANDI like to push the heel height to my max, so can’t have many options there.
I also wear pants s LOT so I like variety , so want some wide, some straight, some tapered pants.

7 years ago

jussie

Veteran

When they’re done well I think they look awesome. Kind of classy and fashionable.
For me, they do seem to add pounds, but I hope to eventually find a pair that is flattering. With my 2 pairs of wide legs crops, I prefer them with a strappy sandal or slide, and a short sleeved or sleeveless top to show some skin to balance out the volume.

7 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I finally found a pair of wide-leg crops that I liked and bought them a few weeks ago. I have worn them several times already. As you note, the proportions are a little tricky--I am so glad that I have some very short tops, because those look best. And I have a lot of footwear and can find the right heel height.

I had them altered to fit my waist better, and the tailor also took in some of the width of the leg in the hip area because it was pretty wide (I have a petite frame). They are much more suited to my body type now.

I too love how cool they are in the heat, and I also like how they are different from other stuff that's out there. When I get bored with my closet, I am one to look for a change in silhouette, and the wide-leg pants are just what the doctor ordered.

7 years ago

Jane

Veteran

They aren’t for me for the reasons others have said, I’m shorter so they can swamp, and what Lisa P says about potentially getting my foot caught in the hem and tripping up, but I do love their elegance. May be for another time in my life but not for now.

7 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I love them. I find them more flattering than skinnies. I don't think I have ever owned skinnies.
It is fairly easy for me because of my body type and my wardrobe to put together outfits with my cropped wide-legged pants. I do tuck in my top and define my waist.

7 years ago

Adriana

Veteran

I used to wear them always, easy for me to fit with straight hips and bigger thighs. Shorter, fitted or tucked tops, linenblend in summer. And with heels.
Would like to try again, see how I feel about it.

7 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

I’m on the fence. I don’t like them in the winter because they are too impractical in the snow, dragging through slush, puddles and muddy parking lots. Ugh! I recall the days of sopping ankles from my childhood and don’t want to go back to that!

7 years ago

Gail

Veteran

I like them but I wish I was a tad taller as I believe they would be easier for me to style. I do struggle with finding tops that go with mine. I like to wear a fitted top but it has to be just right to disguise my mid section as I do not tuck. Love the way they swish and found a fabulous navy pair that I love to wear to work. I never wear in the winter as it's impractical here in the northeast for all the reason staysfit gave !

7 years ago

Becky

Veteran

What Daisy said. As someone who is short and of a sturdier build, this is a look that can make me look as wide as I am tall. I prefer flares for that reason. Also, being klutzy and prone to stumble, trip, and catch excess fabric or fussy extras on doors, edges, and whatnot, I need a silhouette closer to my body for maximum grace. That said, I would be open to the *right* pair of cropped moderately wide-leg pants in a lightweight fabrication for hot weather.

7 years ago

Vanessa

Active Member

I love those types of jeans.

7 years ago

krissy751

Active Member

Not particularly a fan of them.

7 years ago

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