How to Wear Wide-Leg Pants

When styling wide-leg pants, it’s not just about ensuring that the tailoring is on point and well-fitted to your height and stature. Your outfit should also convey a certain aesthetic, whether you’re going for ’90s flair, looking for something preppy, or taking an athleisure approach to your getup in a stretchy, breathable fabric. Wide-leg pants can be worn by incorporating the seasonal wardrobe essentials that you already own, helping you achieve the intended vibe.

Once you secure the perfect wide-leg pants, finishing the outfit is all about playing with proportions. For example, baggy patchwork denim can be streamlined with a mesh mockneck long-sleeved T-shirt or a bodysuit, rather than with a slouchy hoodie. You’ll still achieve the grunge-inspired look, just in a more updated, contemporary way. Meanwhile, roomy khakis with a thick cuff at the ankle are calling for a shoe moment, which you can seize with either go-to sneakers or kitten-heel slingbacks. Both footwear options are equally alluring, but make for different outfits that are either tomboy cool or preppy and polished. And there are wide-leg pants that are part of a suit set, which tell a cohesive style story all their own.

Ahead, you’ll find ideas for balancing wide-leg pants out, either with casual accoutrements, such as relaxed trainers, or a sultry element of surprise on a night out thanks to the addition of tall pumps and a bralette. Scroll to find 20 different looks that are built upon the foundation of wide-leg pants, then shop our favorite styles on the market right now.