Today’s post is about stepping out of your comfort zone. Wide-leg denim and pants are having a major moment this fall, and we’re so obsessed that we both added it to our fall wishlists. However, during our walk and talk, we quickly realized neither of us had a great handle on how to style them. What’s the best length? What are the best shoes? We were off to do some research and we’re sharing what we found with you! #friendssharethegoodstuff
Don’t let a style dilemma hold you back from embracing a trend. We’ll guide you through it. Today we’re sharing tips and outfit ideas to style your new wide-leg denim for everyday activities. Go forth with confidence and know we all struggle when trying a new trend, but the effort to get it right pays off.
And, yes, women over 50 can rock the wide-leg denim. This trend is for YOU!
Ladies, wide-leg denim isn’t a new style, so don’t overthink it. We’ve been wearing them for years (flares, bell bottoms, boot cuts, trousers), and you can continue to rock them with confidence. When trends hit, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Remember, just be yourself, and wear what you love and feel great in!
Can Women Over 50 Wear Wide-Leg Jeans?
YES! Yes you can! This fall is the perfect time to try the trend, when you can wear them with ANY shoes, from wedges and flats to booties and sneakers. And any tops, from fitted t-shirts to loose sweaters. Experiment with everything you have and see what works for you.
Here’s how to grab the best pair:
Balance Proportions
- Tops: Tuck in your top or choose a more fitted style to balance the volume of the wide-leg jeans. To balance wider hips, consider a top with a little puff sleeve. Tucking your top also helps elongate your legs, ladies!
- Know Your Rise: Try jeans with different rises. Your torso length will dictate whether high rise or mid rise works best on you.
Check Your Colors
- Darker Denim: Darker denim can be slimming and versatile, while lighter shades are great for casual looks.
- Match Your Colors: Pair your denim (or wide-leg pants) with a top of a similar color for a “column of color,” the most slimming look for everyone.
Find the Best Length
- Ankle Length or Full Length: This is personal preference and you might need to try them on to decide. Order a few and try them on at home with your favorite shoes.
- Heel Height vs. Denim Length: The right denim length also depends on the height of the shoes you’ll be wearing. Wide-leg jeans look different with flats, sneakers, or heels. One solution is to have a few different wide-leg styles in your closet that each pair with different heel heights.
Find the Best Shoe
- Pointed Toe: A sleek pointed toe shoe or boot balances the wider denim leg. Remember it’s all about proportions and balance.
- Neutral Shoes: Keep the overall silhouette clean and free of distraction by pairing your wide-leg denim with a neutral shoe. Let the wide-leg denim be the star of the show.
Wear Them with Confidence
- Wear It With A Smile: Confidence can elevate any outfit. Embrace the wide-leg style and wear it with poise and self-assurance.
Pro tip: If you’re new to wide-leg jeans, start by picking your favorite fall/winter shoes. Bring the shoes when you’re shopping. And, remember…if denim length isn’t perfect, a quick trip to the tailor can fix it!
And here are our picks for our favorite wide-leg denim to help you get started.
Christa’s Wide-Leg Denim Recommendations
Megan’s Wide-Leg Denim Recommendations
How to Style Wide-Leg Jeans
Now that you found the perfect pair of wide-leg denim, let’s wear them everywhere!
Go Shopping in Your Wide-Leg Denim
CHRISTA: For a day of shopping, comfort is essential. Pair your wide-leg denim with these new FitFlop comfort flats—they’re as cozy as your favorite sneakers but way more stylish! (I just got mine in the mail and was shocked at how comfy they really are!) To keep your look sharp with the trendy leopard sweater, try a front tuck for a polished finish. Remember, with wide-leg jeans, we want to create an elongated silhouette.
Get the Look
MEGAN: An eternal prepster, I pair my wide-leg denim with a striped top. This one from Tuckernuck has a teeny tiny puff shoulder and 3/4 sleeves. The puff shoulder helps balance any hip/belly you might have and the 3/4 sleeves show a bit of skin. I find myself tossing this cropped trench over everything these days. The perfect fall layer and it finishes the look.
Get the Look
Wear Your Wide-Leg Jeans for Book Club or Girls’ Night
CHRISTA: A comfortable heel is ideal for wide-leg denim trousers. The cute blouse works well without the need to tuck, thanks to its shorter, almost-cropped length. Paired with the jacket, it enhances the leg-lengthening effect of the jeans.
Get the Look
MEGAN: I find clogs to be the easiest shoe to style with wide-leg denim. They work with cropped or full length wide-leg jeans. Pairing a silk blouse with the denim elevates the look. Remember to (at least) tuck in the front of your top to take full advantage of the leg lengthening effects of wide-leg denim.
Get the Look
Style Your Wide-Leg Denim for a Night Out
CHRISTA: The wide-leg jeans that were perfect for girls’ night can also shine on date night. Pair them with a sleek bodysuit and pointed-toe booties to balance the wider leg and create a flattering silhouette. Or try the leopard sling backs–also with a pointed toe AND an extra pop of leopard!
Get the Look
MEGAN: Date night in denim is my favorite date night. Pointed toe boots with a kitten heel help keep your legs looking l-o-n-g and the hint of cap sleeve in the sweater vest helps build the shoulder up a little.
Get the Look
How Christa’s Wearing Her Wide-Leg Denim
Here are some tips that I hope help you:
- These wide-leg jeans have a 26″ inseam and are technically ankle length. On me, they almost reach full length (I’m 5’4). After trying many shoes and boots, I found that these jeans work best with a flat or very low heel.
- Know your measurements, ladies! Knowing your inseam will save you lots of time — and online shopping makes it easy to check the inseam! Measure your favorite pants for the insems you prefer, and save the details in the Notes app on your phone.
- I prefer to wear full length wide-leg denim with a higher heel.
- Thanks to ChatGPT, here’s the correct length with a heel: “For wide-leg denim with high heels, aim for the hem to hit just above the ground or slightly graze the top of the heel. This way, the fabric will skim the floor without dragging, giving you a clean, polished look.” (Who knew ChatGPT knew so much about fashion! Give it a try next time you have a style dilemma.)
Get Christa’s Look
How Megan’s Wearing Her Wide-Leg Denim
Standing tall at 5’1, wide-leg denim kinda scares me. Being short means that your clothes can overwhelm your frame pretty easily and wide-leg typically means, well, more fabric. With that said, after some research I’ve discovered that us shorties can absolutely rock the wide-leg denim trend. We just have to keep a few things in mind.
- Know your measurements and proportions. Grab a pair of pants in your closet that fit you really well and measure the inseam and rise. Commit these numbers to memory. You will save so much money not buying jeans that will never work on your body type.
- Wear a column of color. Nothing makes you look taller than a unified color from head to toe. Vary the fabrics (denim/jersey/wool) to create difference and interest.
- Throw a long sweater over your column of color to add a lengthening effect. I love the the JCrew Juliette colorless sweater jacket. It’s the perfect weight and length for fall.
- Shoes are key to completing the look, especially for petite women. You DON’T have to wear high heels, but you do need a pointy toe. Visually, a pointy toe in a similar color to your pants keeps the eye moving and makes your legs look longer.
- Lastly there are a few obvious tips: tuck in your shirt (especially if you have a longer torso), if you wear a belt – chose a dark color, vertical stripes, a slouchy sweater (that shows a bit of shoulder or V neck) elongates your torso.
- InStyle shared a good round up of their favorite petite wide-leg jeans. Check it out here.
Get Megan’s Look
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Thanks for reading! xo, Megan & Christa
