How to Style Wide Leg Jeans for Spring: 5 Tips and Outfit Ideas!

Recently I mentioned that straight-leg jeans and flares are two of the new “it” jeans this spring, but the real superstars are wide-leg jeans.  How do wide-leg jeans differ from straight-leg jeans and flares?

• Straight-Leg Jeans have the same circumference from knee to hem.
• Flare Jeans (bell bottoms) are tight-fitting through the thigh to the knee, where they flare out into a wide base. The flare is often greatly exaggerated, like a giant bell.
• Wide Leg Jeans are wide from the thighs down to the hem of the pants. They have a trouser-like leg.

Wide-leg jeans have an elegant, relaxed vibe and are very popular because they make you look tall and slim, like your legs go on for miles.  The best ones this season have a high waist, are snug across the hips, and then flare out to the bottom of the leg.  Wide-leg jeans are comfy and also very versatile. It’s easy to make them look put together with just a few basics. 

Here are a few of the newest wide-leg jeans and 5 tips on styling them to look modern and fabulous.

1. Wear Wide-Leg Jeans with a Fitted Top

Wide-leg jeans are most flattering when you wear them with a fitted top or shirt that is either cropped or that you tuck in. By creating a defined waist, you give the illusion of an hourglass shape. (Cropped jackets are also excellent for this too.)

If you want to wear a roomier top with wide-leg jeans, like a pretty blouse, or an oversized sweater, be sure to tuck or half-tuck to highlight your waist. A belt also helps.

If you are short, you must be especially mindful of defining your waist. Long or voluminous tops with wide-leg pants can easily overwhelm your small frame and make you look short and wide.

Tall?  Your long legs mean you can get away with a longer top over wide-leg jeans so long as it is not more than 3/4 length (above the knee)

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2. Choose a Flattering Width

Wide-leg jeans come in different cuts. Some are tighter or looser across the hips and thighs, some start to flare sooner than others, and there are different sizes of flares. Many this spring are very wide -close to palazzo pants!

The wider your flares, the shorter you will look, so keep this in mind if you are petite. Look for wide-leg jeans that are slim in the leg and flare out at the knee. If the flare starts earlier, it will drown your petite frame. 

• Curvy Hourglass types should be careful about jeans with such massive flares that they exaggerate your already ample curves. 
• Rectangle-shaped gals can use flare jeans to create the illusion of curves where there are none. 
• Inverted triangle shapes can balance out their narrow bottom halves in a pair of wide-leg jeans full in the leg.

It’s all a matter of balance. Check the mirror and find a pair that gives you that beautiful shape.

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3. Dark Wash is Slimming

Wide-leg jeans come in several washes this season, from a very light-wash blue to inky black. A dark wash will also help maximize the long leggy look of wide-leg jeans. Another way is with a monochromatic look. Wear tone-on-tone shades of one color head to toe. For example, multiple shades of black & gray, or navy & blue, which is slimming.

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4. Heels Enhance the Look

For the best leg-lengthening effect, wear your wide-leg jeans with heels, even if that means low heels. Also, a chunky heel or wedge, compared to a fine, skinny heel, balances out the flare. Wide-leg jeans are meant to be long and should almost touch the floor. One-quarter to one-half inch above the floor is about right.

These days cropped wide-leg jeans are popular. Many women wear this shorter length with statement sneakers, which can be a cute look.

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5. Trendy Light Wash Adds a Boho Vibe

I mentioned earlier that wide-leg jeans with a light wash are trending. If you love vintage, hop on this color trend. Wide-leg jeans in a light faded wash worn with a pretty linen peasant blouse will give you laid-back boho style. You can also create a more energetic look by wearing lightwash jeans with a pop of bright color. Lightwash denim + saturated colors like bold, bright green, yellow, and blue are a modern color mix for summer.

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Other ways to Style High-waisted Wide-leg jeans

Besides looking great with a tucked-in top, high-waisted, wide-leg jeans look fantastic with anything cropped, like a

• cropped jacket – Chanel- inspired tweed type looks fab. or even a cropped denim jacket
• cropped cardigan – worn on its own buttoned up or with a white shirt underneath with shirt tails peeking out
• cropped sweater – a chunky cropped sweater and a pair of wide-flare jeans is fabulous

and a

• top with horizontal stripes – I like the look of a boat neck, horizontal striped top tucked into wide-leg jeans, which gives a nautical look. Funny enough, wide-leg jeans are said to have first been worn by sailors, so no wonder it is a good look!

Have you bought a pair of wide-leg jeans yet? I would love to see them and I’m sure my readers would too. Join my Private Facebook group here and post away. You could be my next style superstar!