Well the short answer is “any bloody way you want!”
But I know that’s not helpful haha! So, let’s talk about two main things when it comes to styling wide leg pants;
What top?
What shoe?
So the tops that work best will all be based on the fundamental styling principles – balance and proportion.
Wide leg pants generally look best with tops that are more FITTED (that’s the balance we’re creating in an outfit).
And if not fitted, TUCKED or TIED (that’s the proportion rule). You want to create a ONE THIRD | TWO THIRDS effect with your outfit. It makes your legs look longer, and draws the eye in at the waist.


You will very rarely see me wearing a wide leg pant without at least a bit of a tuck in the front (we call that a French Tuck) it’s just a nicer proportion.

So the moral of this story, is if in doubt, tuck right?
Ok – now let’s talk shoes.
Actually, pretty much any shoe will go with wide leg pants, I find it more to do with the length of the pant, and the look you want.
For a SMART CASUAL look, you can’t go past a great pair of leather trainers. You can wear a dressier blouse, and then add the trainer for a cool, dressed down look.

The LENGTH you want to go for in a flat shoe is to have the hem of the pants almost touching the ground. This is to keep that proportion of your legs being super-long, going.

For a more dressed-up look, a heel will work because, again, it helps to elongate your leg.

But my pants are cropped…
OK, let’s work through this too – for tops, see above haha.
For shoes, again, anything really goes! It’s more about WHERE the pants crop.
The most flattering length is actually just on your ankle (so not up too high around your calf, that length is more likely to cut you off).
If the pant crops at your ankle, it draws attention there, which is a good thing (smallest part of your leg remember), and then you can show off any fabulous shoe!


So I hope those tips give you a little more direction and confidence when it comes to rocking the wide leg pants.
They are a fabulous shape we’re seeing more and more of in stores, but as always, they aren’t for everyone, and thats ok! Just don’t let the fear of not know HOW to wear them stop you from giving them a go!
Until Next Time, In Love & Style Always,

Hi Cait! I’m in love with the hot pink pants, can you please tell me where are they from?
Hey Nicola!
aren’t they fab! They are Zara, but not sure if they are in stock anymore – they do have a slightly more cropped version though 🙂
Love this Cait thank you!! I have a pair of navy wide leg pants that I love, but find them really hard to match to anything else – I tend to wear all dark colours. When I see how many outfits that you’ve styled and they all look awesome, I have no excuse! I’m off to find some tutorials on how to tie a top!! (I don’t think the general public would appreciate the old ‘shove the hem through the collar opening’ I got away with as a kid!!)
bhahaha I have visions of us 40-yr-old women doing the hem through the collar trick!!
Check out these two vids I did that gives you a few options for tying a top…
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1f1pr-F55H/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1PTyaHHfN-/
Legend!! Thank you!! The hair tie one is perfect 🙂
pleasure!! its a neat trick isn’t it 🙂
Where is the long line jacket from.? Thanks
its a Zara one from a few seasons back x
I am only 5ft 2 and overweight. So, finding crop pants that are still crop when I try them on, is quite hard. Plus I wonder if longer wide leg pants are just too much fabric. And with my stomach, a tied top just leaves too much on display. I am unable to wear shoes with heels to help the illusion of body length. Should I just stick to jeggings and leggings?
Hey Jenny 🙂
There are a couple of things you can do if this is a trend that you really want to play with (and remember, it’s TOTALLY ok if it doesn’t do it for you!)
If you like the idea of the cropped pant, get some taken up slightly. Not every garment can fit all of the bodies the same, but we can do things to tailor them to our frames.
Try tucking a top, instead of tying it, the blousing effect with give you some tummy camouflage, or even look for a top that has the tie already in the style, so it’s not as exposing, like this one: (there are three colours to choose from) https://www.farmers.co.nz/women/fashion/tops/whistle-tie-front-satin-flutter-sleeve-top-emerald-6450954
You don’t need to wear heels at all, I VERY rarely wear heels with my wide leg pants, the pants themselves, being high waisted, will give the illusion of a longer leg all on their own.
I hope that helps a little x