The best wide leg pants are flattering wide leg pants — is that too obvious to mention (She says cheekily)? The growing popularity of wide leg pants has created some pretty outrageous options that are not flattering and my clients are struggling with the overwhelming selection. Of course, I am here to remedy that. Let’s talk logistics…
Are Wide Leg Pants Flattering?
Yes, wide leg pants can be flattering! But it takes a lot more thought to create a flattering look with wide leg pants, than it does with skinny jeans. If you have especially wide hips, then wide leg pants can balance your body. But even then, they can add a lot of width if you don’t choose the best fit for your body type. Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to creating the most flattering silhouette with wide leg pants:
- The width of structured wide leg pants shouldn’t be wider than your hips. This applies whether you have wide hips or narrow hips.
- If you want to break this rule and wear pants that are wider than your hips, then you must choose wide leg pants that are cropped. Showing the lean line of your ankles will create a slimmer silhouette. The other option would be to choose wide leg pants in a lighter material that drapes and moves well.
- Wide leg pants must be worn with shorter tops, cropped tops, or tops tucked into your pants. There are exceptions of course, but let’s stay focused.
Flattering Wide Leg Pants
On top of finding the right width for your body type, flattering wide leg pants must also fit your hips, waist, crotch, and bum impeccably. This is no room for error since they hide the rest of your body as they widen down the leg. With that in mind, here are the best wide leg pants you can buy right now…
Maeve The Colette Cropped Wide-Leg Pants
I’m sure you recognize these pants by now! These are truly the best wide leg pants right now and I personally own them in several colors. They’re insanely comfortable and flattering. They are machine washable, but I recommend dry cleaning to keep their silhouette sharp.
Available at Anthropologie.
Sizing: Available in 23-34. Runs big and these pants look better shorter. Size down, and get a petite if you are 5’5″ or shorter.
Material: Viscose, linen, cotton, elastane.
J. Crew Essential Pant in City Crepe
These wide leg trousers from J.Crew are so flattering and comfortable. They will fit all body types well.
Available at J.Crew.
Sizing: Available in 00-24.
Material: 63% recycled polyester, 37% polyester
AG Saige Stretch Raw Hem Crop Wide Leg Jeans
Available at Nordstrom.
Sizing: Available in 24-33.
Material: 97% cotton, 3% elastane
Hugo Boss High-Waisted Relax-Fit Trousers
Available at Hugo Boss
Sizing: Available in 0-12.
Material: 72% acetate, 28% viscose. The pocketing is 100% cotton.
Free People Quinn Pants
Oddly enough, these wide leg pants are flattering despite the fact that they don’t fit the torso at all! Make sure you wear a fitted top or a crop top with these to ensure the most flattering silhouette.
Available at Free People.
Sizing: Available in XS-XL.
Material: 81% viscose, 19% linen
Petal & Pup Devlin Linen Wide Leg Pants
These pants are for my gals with long torsos and straight bodies. A straight body is when there is not much difference in width between your waist and your hips. You can also describe this body type as having narrow hips.
Note, these pants have no stretch and they need to be pressed at the dry cleaner — a bit of starch is a good idea.
Available at Petal & Pup and Nordstrom.
Sizing: Available in 0-16. (Not for my curvy or short waisted gals.)
Material: 100% linen
Spanx AirEssentials Wide Leg Pant
These flattering wide leg pants are not only lightweight, but also super soft and comfortable. Pair them with thicker sandals or wide-ish sneakers for the most flattering look.
Available at Spanx and Nordstrom.
Sizing: Available in XS-XXXL.
Material: 47% modal, 46% polyester, 7% elastane
PAIGE Anessa Flare Leg Jeans
Available at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Anthropologie, and Neiman Marcus.
Sizing: Available in 23-34.
Material: 98% cotton, 2% elastane
Veronica Beard Crosbie Cropped Wide Leg Jeans in Stone Army
These pants are for more of a boyfriend look. They don’t have the most impeccable crotch fit, but they are super fun. Wear them if you have a leaner body.
Available at Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom.
Sizing: Available in 23-32. Runs large, size down.
Material: 98% cotton, 2% elastane
Open Edit High Waist Wide Leg Trousers
These pants are for my gals with wide hips and smaller waists. The fit is fantastic for you!
Available at Nordstrom
Sizing: Available in 00-16.
Material: 92% rayon, 8% polyester
AG Farrah Crop Bootcut Jeans
Available at Nordstrom.
Sizing: Available in 23-33.
Material: 56% cotton, 19% modal, 18% lyocell, 6% polyester, 1% elastane
Faherty Cloud Cashmere™ Pant
These wide leg casual pants fit the torso beautifully!
Available at Faherty.
Sizing: Available in XXS-XXL. Best for women 5’6 and taller.
Material: 100% cashmere
Madewell Kick Out Crop Mid Rise Jeans
I know these aren’t wide leg pants, but I love them so much, and we won’t be covering straight leg pants for a while. These are a must!
Available at Madewell and Nordstrom.
Sizing: Available in 23-32.
Material: 86% cotton, 9% polyester, 5% elastane
AG Farrah High Waist Crop Bootcut Jeans
I often put bootcut pants in the same category as wide leg jeans when shopping for my clients. I love the hem on these!
Available at Nordstrom and AG.
Sizing: Available in 23-31.
Material: 98% cotton, 2% polyurethane
Athleta Salutation Stash Flare Pant
These are the wide-leg version of one of my favorite workout leggings.
Available at Athleta.
Sizing: Available in XXS-XXXL.
Material: Nylon/lycra
Banana Republic Lena Linen-Blend Pant
I know there are no sizes left, but I love these pants so much! The fit is amazing and they’re so comfortable and stylish. I even wore them for a 12-hour day on set. I hope they restock them in more sizes and colors.
Available at Banana Republic.
Sizing: Available in 4-12.
Material: 69% viscose rayon, 31% flax (linen)
Best Wide Leg Pants from Years Past
I originally wrote this post on the best wide leg pants years ago and update it regularly due to its popularity. I’ve left these photos below for nostalgic purposes. Whenever I update older posts, I love to hold on to a collection of images as a bit of a time capsule so we can watch how our style evolves.
Leith High Waist Crop Pants
These Leith High Waist Crop Pants slim, flow, and flatter. Pair them with sandals for the best look.
Sizing Tip: Runs small.
Uniqlo Women Jersey Flare Pants
I can’t get enough of the Uniqlo Women Jersey Flare Pants. They are so incredibly comfortable and look great with sandals, chunky heels, and wedges.
Sizing Tip: Runs true to size, but you may also want to order a size up to compare.
2 Responses
Any tips for those of us that don’t have flat lower bellies while trying to do wide leg pants with a tucked top?
Yes! I have that problem myself. First, let’s get on the same page on lower bellies…
A lower belly protrusion usually means the belly dips in above the protrusion. A slimming tip is to “fill in” that dip so that the stomach looks more smooth aka flat. Here are ways to “fill in” that dip in the belly…
1. Blouse out your tucked in top a little more in the front to cover the indentation. (Try not to overblouse on the sides as that will create width in the waist, which we don’t want.)
2. Add a belt that sits at the indent in your belly
If you continue to struggle with tucking in a top and not feeling comfortable with the exposure of your lower belly, get tops that hit about 1 inch above your belly’s widest point. A well rated local tailor can help you find that perfect hem length for your tops to wear with wide leg pants.