Best Tops to Wear with High-Waisted, Wide-Leg Pants
High-waisted, wide-leg pants are having a moment this spring, but if you’re planning to pair them with just any top from your closet, you might be in for a surprise. These pants call for a carefully chosen top that complements their unique silhouette. Today, I’m sharing some fabulous, on-trend tops that work perfectly with high-waisted wide-leg pants, along with fresh outfit ideas to help you nail the look.
What Tops to Wear with High-Waisted Wide-Leg Pants: It’s All About Balance
Achieving that effortlessly chic vibe with wide-leg pants is all about balance—and it starts with choosing the right top. Get it right, and you’ll look youthful, balanced, and oh-so-chic. Get it wrong, and you risk looking shorter, wider, and boxy. Think about it: wide-leg pants are voluminous, loose, and flowy, so pairing them with a long, baggy top can overwhelm your frame. On the flip side, a tight top might highlight a narrower upper body, creating an unflattering, out-of-proportion look.
The key? 1) Define your waist, and 2) balance the silhouette. A perfectly chosen top will do just that, ensuring you look sleek and polished rather than swamped by fabric.
Shop the look
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Luckily, there’s a lot of choice when it comes to the best tops to wear with high-waisted, wide-leg pants, making it easier than ever for women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s to embrace this trendy look. For example:
Off-the-shoulder tops and blouses, wide boatneck tops, and Dolman sleeve tops will make your shoulders appear broader and balance out the wide-leg silhouette. Cropped tanks, tees, and sweaters complement high-waisted pants by defining instead of hiding your middle.
Front tie tops are also an excellent way to define the waist more softly. Vests are trending and look fabulous with high-waisted jeans. Leave one but open at the bottom if you like to explain the waist further. Cropped jackets that hit at the waist, worn with tanks and fitted cropped tops, can visually broaden your top half and balance your wide-leg pants.
You may wonder about button-down shirts, and they can work, too. Just make it to tuck in to create a waist and get more of a flattering hourglass shape. Other tops that work? Bodysuits, wrap tops, short lady jackets, and cropped cardigans.
How To Style High-Waisted Wide-Leg Pants
Now, let’s put some looks together. I’m starting with pretty ballerina pink jeans. They’re wide, flowy, and high-waisted, so they need a shorter top to play that up.
jeans | top | bag | necklace | shoes
Cute and Relaxed in a Casual Crop Top
A cropped top is one way to get the proportions right, but that doesn’t mean it has to be so short it exposes your midriff! This cozy white top lands at the top of the hip, making your legs look long and lean in these pants.
The short sleeves also help balance the wide legs. The cuffs draw the eye up and outward, making your shoulders look broader, which in turn makes your waist look smaller and balances the wide-leg jeans. Imagine you are creating an X shape.
jacket | tank | pants | shoes | bag | earrings
Tank Top with Cropped Jacket – The Perfect Combo
If you prefer a more fitted look, then a close-fitting tank top is fabulous to wear with high-waisted wide-leg pants. Slim on the top and wide on the bottom, it looks excellent when your tank hits at the waist or top of the hip or you tuck it in.
If you’re still dealing with transitional temps, throw on a cute denim jacket to add structure to your shape. Since it ends right at your waist, you won’t look boxy in your high-waisted pants.
Try a Fitted Summer Tee Tucked in
Another easy look with high-waisted wide-leg pants is to wear a cute fitted tee. I found this Provence one and paired it with these high-waisted, wide-leg casual, cropped pants. You can see how when you tuck the top in, it really plays up your waist. I like that this tee sits close to the body but is not tight or clingy.
pants | tee | bag | sweater | sandals
If you’re a pear shape and feel a little bottom-heavy in wide-leg jeans and a close-fitting top, try draping or tying a thin cardigan around your neck to broaden your upper half and balance the wideness of the pant legs. An extra layer also uplevels the look of your outfit, and a nice shot of color around your face can be very flattering, too.
boatneck top | pants | shoes | bag | earrings
Boatneck Tops Balance the Wide Silhouette
If you prefer long-sleeved tops, then a Boatneck top is the way to go. Boatnecks are one of my favorite necklines because they broaden your shoulders and correct any slumpiness.
This striped boatneck top is really cute and, paired with high-waisted wide-leg jeans, gives this outfit a sporty, nautical vibe. It’s best to tuck it in your boat neck top to highlight your waist and make the pants look good. But if you are self-conscious about a belly, then try a half tuck, which I often do! A pair of low heel sandals also helps to make your legs look long and lean in this kind of pants.
lady cardigan | black pants | shoes | bag
Lady Cardigan is Elegant with the Wide Leg Trouser Trend
A lady jacket (whether it’s a formal jacket or a lady cardigan) is one of my favorite looks, along with high-waisted, wide-leg trousers. It’s about as elegant as you can get. It sits close to the body, is cropped, and when it is the same color as the pants, creates a slimming monochromatic look.
cardigan | pants | bag | shoes | earrings
Chic in a Cropped Cardigan and Wide Leg Pants
This gorgeous cropped floral cardigan works really well with high-waisted, wide-leg pants, whether they are long or cropped. The trend is to keep one of two of the last few buttons undone to play up your waist even more. Add a bag in a color from the cardigan to make this outfit pop. Cute kitten heel slides add a touch of height, which offsets the cropped pant length.
shirt ( similar) | jeans (similar) | shoes ( similar) | sweater
The classy button-shirt look is Modern
Here’s proof that a sporty striped shirt can also work with wide-leg pants. This is a fairly voluminous shirt, but when you tuck it in and roll up the sleeves, it works really well with this pant silhouette. A cardigan over your shoulders also helps draw the eye outward and balance the wide leg. I love this classic with a modern twist look.
top | wide leg jeans | bag | shoes | bracelet | earrings
Trendy Cropped Top Nails the Look
There are so many short tops out there, so choose one that feels fresh and modern, like this pretty lace top. Lace is a huge trend this spring and looks very feminine, ladylike, and cool paired with some fabulous wide-leg jeans. Add a woven bag and sandals for a summery vibe.
High-waisted wide-leg jeans exude chic style, especially when paired with the perfect top!
High-waisted wide-leg pants are a popular fun trend that will elevate your wardrobe this spring. All you need is the right top that balances out this silhouette, and it’s easy to look fabulous. I hope these examples helped!
For more outfit ideas and fashion tips, check out these posts:
Wide-leg jeans Outfits for Women
How to Wear Cropped Wide-Leg Jeans
Cute Ways to Wear Cropped, Wide-Leg Pants & Jeans
Chic High Waisted Wide Leg Dress Pants Outfits
Make sure you’re keeping up with my LTK storefront to see all of my favorite outfit ideas, from everyday fashion to chic, trendy styles. You can also join my private Facebook group, Fabulous After 40 Dressing Room, to discuss all of the ways you’re styling your high-waisted wide-leg jeans this year!
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