This is an year in which flares are on-trend, and wide leg pants are there alongside them. But while the wide-leg may not become your new wardrobe staple just yet, don't overlook it as an elegant, stylish addition to your 2011 repertoire, particularly when styled right.
Wide-leg trousers
Sophisticated yet relaxed, sharp and tailored with a mid to high waist: that's how 2011's wide-leg trouser distinguishes itself. Perfect for masculine-inspired looks, be they very modern or very vintage.
Wide-leg jeans
Jeans that are wide-legged from top of the thigh down can have a tendency to end up looking baggy. In 2011, we'd recommend jeans that are more fitted on the thigh - lean to flared legs or moderately wide legs rather than wide legged jean styles that are too baggy or that lack shape. Be wary of a skinny leg that then widens from the knee, however: that's too much like the 90's take on bell bottoms, a look firmly out in 2011.
Palazzo pants
Palazzo pants are the resort cousin of the wide-leg pants family. While wide-leg trousers take you from the office to the bar, palazzo pants serve you best when you're lounging around on a yacht or soaking up some Mediterranean sun. Fabrics should be light and with plenty of drape and flow - silks, crepe, jersey; you can even try sheer fabrics for a look that's daring.
How to wear wide leg pants
A final, mandatory note about wide-legs, be they jeans, trousers or a draping palazzo: all of these styles work best of taller frames. If you're short in the legs try a pair of skinny cropped pants or ones with a subtle flare paired with heels.
Styles of wide-leg pantsThere are three key styles of wide leg pants on trend in spring 2011:
Wide-leg trousersSophisticated yet relaxed, sharp and tailored with a mid to high waist: that's how 2011's wide-leg trouser distinguishes itself. Perfect for masculine-inspired looks, be they very modern or very vintage.
Wide-leg jeans
Jeans that are wide-legged from top of the thigh down can have a tendency to end up looking baggy. In 2011, we'd recommend jeans that are more fitted on the thigh - lean to flared legs or moderately wide legs rather than wide legged jean styles that are too baggy or that lack shape. Be wary of a skinny leg that then widens from the knee, however: that's too much like the 90's take on bell bottoms, a look firmly out in 2011.
Palazzo pants
Palazzo pants are the resort cousin of the wide-leg pants family. While wide-leg trousers take you from the office to the bar, palazzo pants serve you best when you're lounging around on a yacht or soaking up some Mediterranean sun. Fabrics should be light and with plenty of drape and flow - silks, crepe, jersey; you can even try sheer fabrics for a look that's daring.
How to wear wide leg pants
- With heels. Flats will simply never complete the look as well as heels will; the exception is if you're carrying off a very masculine look with man-style flats.
- With a slim-fitting top to balance out the volume on the bottom half. A soft, billowing blouse can also work well but is best broken up with a waist-cinching belt.
- With utter 70s glamor: wide-leg trouser, platforms and a big floppy hat.
- Female dandy style - look to vintage icons like Katharine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich for inspiration.
- With 40s pin-up girl flair, by pairing some wide-legged sailor pants with nautical stripes and espadrilles.
A final, mandatory note about wide-legs, be they jeans, trousers or a draping palazzo: all of these styles work best of taller frames. If you're short in the legs try a pair of skinny cropped pants or ones with a subtle flare paired with heels.
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