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How to Style Wide Leg Pants

Over the last 1-2 years I’ve developed a deep affinity for wide leg pants. I like them long, I like them cropped, I like them in warm weather, in cool weather, at the park, out to dinner, buying groceries, out to coffee, in a box, with a fox, this list goes on. Though my love for this style came right away, a swift learning curve did not.

It took a lot of experimenting, a good year or more, for me to finally figure out how to style wide leg pants in a way that I liked, understand why I liked how I styled them, and then replicate looks many times over. I want to share my tips and thought process with you, just in case you are wondering how to style wide leg pants too. Normally, I am not big on ‘how to’s’ because, what works for one person’s style/body shape doesn’t always work for others. But I believe these tips could apply to many body shapes and senses of style.

When I pick out what I’m going to wear for the day, I often start with pants. I find pants a lot more interesting than tops and prefer to build my outfits/make my statements around them. When I style looks with my beloved wide leg pants, I usually consider three main formulas.


1) A Fitted Top

To me, this seems like the most obvious and simplest choice. It works well with wide leg pants because it balances out the overall look. It’s so effective, I’d call it a ‘no-fail’ strategy.

You can achieve a ‘fitted top’ in a variety of ways:

– a slim-cut/body con shirt

– a cropped shirt

– a tied shirt

– a tucked in shirt

Based on my photo archives, this is my most utilized formula:


2) A Boxy, Front-Tuck Top

This is probably my favorite way to wear wide leg pants because it’s a little bit unexpected and feels a bit bohemian. I love pairing a relaxed, boxy-fit top with my wide leg pants. It works with chunky sweaters too, with the front-tuck being the key. The front tuck helps keep the overall volume of the look more balanced, and keeps the leg line long.


3) With a Long Layer on Top

It took me the longest time to figure out this one. Styling doesn’t come naturally to me, I usually have to hear it or see it on someone else first. When I bought my first pair of Kamm pants about a year ago I was chatting with the sales clerk at Frances May, running through ideas on how to style the expensive pants before I completed the purchase. Stylish in a way that she could only be born with, the sales clerk mentioned how she liked to wear her Kamm pants with long layers on top. That conversation, combined with witnessing my pal Lee expertly style her pants in a similar manner, finally encouraged me to give it a shot, and I’ve loved the results.

The fit and drape are the key factors in pulling off this look. If the long layer is fitted through the shoulders and has a straight silhouette, that’s a winner. See #1 and #3 below. If it’s not fitted, but still has a nice drape, that works well too, for a more unconventional look. See #2. Additionally, if the sweater stops just past the bum, it doesn’t seem to work as well for me, and just adds visual bulk.


WHERE TO SHOP WIDE LEG PANTS:


1) Sailor Pant, by Jesse Kamm – Hands down, my favorite wide leg pants. They cost a pretty penny, but they often pop up on the second-hand market, and sometimes you can catch them on sale with a discount code at boutiques.

2) The Wide Leg, by ABLE – After my Sailor Pants, this pair is my next favorite wide leg style. The fit is great, and I love that I can adjust the length of the cuff if I am inclined. The waist isn’t as high as the Sailor Pants, but this pair is 100% cotton and very comfortable.

3) Wide Leg Crop, by Everlane – I have owned two pairs of these pants, and honestly, I really liked them until I tried the Sailor Pants, which for me are sort of the gold standard. It was hard to be satisfied with the Everlane ones after that. But, if you’re new to the world of wide leg, and want to try it out without the major investment of Kamm pants, these are an excellent place to start. The thick, stretchy fabric is forgiving and comes in a nice variety of colors.

4) Legion Jeans, by Rachel Comey – I haven’t personally tried these, but I’ve peeked at them on and off over the last several months. I love the super high waist, longer inseam and frayed hem.

5) Finch Jean, Selvedge Denim, by Esby – I haven’t tried these either but the thick denim and contrast pockets intrigue me! I imagine they are the kind of item that just gets better with time.


I’d love to hear your tips on styling wide leg pants! How do you wear yours? Tell me what I missed!

To make it even more fun, tag your wide leg style on Instagram under #STYLESALT so we can all share ideas!

20 thoughts on “How to Style Wide Leg Pants

  1. This was really helpful! I love the look of wide legged pants but sometimes feel unsure about how to select a top I like.

  2. Yes! This is how I’ve been wearing mine but couldn’t have put it in words the way you did :) I got a pair of apiece apart Merida pants on major sale – love them. High waisted, thick structured waistband. I have them in the bleached denim color and sized up so I can move around / sit comfortably. I also grabbed a pair of mother pants – think they’re called the cinch greaser in olive – again major sale at anthro. Love these too. Fabric is more of a soft cargo pant. Works well w a tank tucked in and denim jacket.

  3. Thank you for this! I love the wide legs. They are sooo much cooler than skinny jeans – literally and figuratively. Being in a hot climate, a breeze is nice. I love that they make the statement and you can throw on a muscle tank or vintage tee with a knot and you’re good to go!

  4. How would you say the ABLE and the Everlane pants fit? True to size? Size up? Size down?
    Thanks! Great styling tips!

    1. The ABLE pants are definitely true to size. My 28’s fit perfectly. For the Everlane ones, I think I’m between the 4 and the 6! I am always a 6, so I’d say the Everlane ones run maybe a half size big. I hope that helps!

  5. Andrea, I’m so envious of your Kamm pants. I’ve purchased a couple just to turn around and sell them after only a few wears because I find them to be intolerably uncomfortable. Seeing how you’ve styled them here, and how chic they look, really makes me want to try again.
    Does anyone have any suggestions on getting through the uncomfortable phase – and I can assure you I purchased the right size, even going bigger and baggier in an effort to find a solution.

    1. I’m on my second pair and feeling the same way. I sold my first and then sized up…I keep trying to convince myself that they feel as good as they look, but I just don’t know if it’s worth the struggle!! Also, there’s absolutely no leeway for a little heavy eating! Whyyyyyyyy must something look so good and feel so awful?! Hahahaha. But I know some people swear by their comfort.

      1. Lauren and Alex, I have no idea what to say. Maybe we have different thresholds for what is comfortable? I have Kamms in 2 sizes, and the smaller pair definitely took the longest to get comfortable (months!) and the bigger pair was comfy from the onset, but they do ride up sometimes because they are looser. I think like any good piece of clothing, something worn over and over again eventually starts to mold to your shape, and that is when it feels the best. I am sorry they haven’t worked out for you Alex. Lauren, don’t give up on yours yet!

  6. I usually wear my pair of wide leg pants with a fitted top. I’m glad I decided to get the Tall version, because I don’t think I’d like all that width in the default cropped length. They are canvas, and still a bit stiff, but hopefully a few additional washings will soften them.

    1. They sound cute Anne! I hope you get lots of wear out of them. I think wide leg pants are really fun to wear sandals with.

  7. Last time I was in FM, the woman helping me was wearing a long, linen tunic (ES Harper style, maybe) with her Kamm pants. Everything was tonal if I remember correctly – white tunic with off-white pants and tan shoes. She looked effortless, comfortable and amazing. Maybe that’s a look worth trying?

  8. Such a great post! I think the Kamm pants wouldn’t fit me (even in a size 10), but I just ordered a pair of the denim Maison Pants from Creatures of Comfort and can’t wait for them to arrive. The denim has a tiny bit of stretch in it; I’m hoping that will cut out the discomfort so many people complain about when it comes to the Kamm pants. Years ago, I owned a pair of real U.S. Navy-issue dungarees, which I bought in a great second-hand store in D.C. At the waist, they even had a label embroidered with the name of the sailor who once wore them. 100% cotton denim and completely indestructible. Those pants must have been two or three decades old, but they looked perfect. I still regret getting rid of them!

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