A Leg Up: Fall's Wide Leg Pants

And were back! TFFF is fresh from vacation with a glow in our cheeks and our 100th post!

Of course now that we are back we must bid adieu to one of last years trademark trends.

Goodbye skinny denim! We hardly knew ye!

The time has come to usher in a new (new-old anyway) silohuette and while some of us are ecstatic about this development there are others who are clutching their drainpipe jeans in horror at the very prospect of wide leg pants. Its not hard to understand why - for every vision of Kate Hepburn in perfect high waisted trousers there is another equally prevalent image of shapeless baggy pants with legs so big they look like skirts. Wide legs pants can look chic just as easily as they can look bad so its important to know just how to wear this trend.


The Late Great Katherine Hepburn and the pants she made famous


Fit
The most important thing with wide legs (and with everything else for that matter) is fit. You want your pants to fit perfectly. Never too wide and never too tight. The perfect wide legs will be roomy throughout the entire leg.


Wide Legs on the Runway at Givenchy, Proenza & Phillip Lim

Note how the pants are full throughout the entire leg - if a pair of pants nips in at the thigh too much or is tight in general just wont look right. Form fitted is not the look were going for with these. Granted no one wants the very baggy "these pants are two sizes too big" look either so pay attention to how the pants skim over your body.

Length
Different strokes for different folks. I am an advocate of having just a little extra length on your wide leg pants incase you wish to wear heels. However no one wants to drown in excess fabric. If you are shorter your pants need to be hemmed accordingly, if you are taller they need to be extended accordingly. With wide leg pants slight differences in pant length are very apparent so its good to be conscious of these subtle differences.

Wide legs themselves are coming in different lengths as well now - there are of course wide leg capris and even shorts but the same rules apply. Make sure to try them on before buying. Too short on a wide leg can look like you've unintentionally worn high waters.

Proportions
I say this about everything but proportion is so important. Wide leg pants require the same amount of attention paid to proportion as skinny jeans do. If you're going for a wide leg its best to pair it with a smaller top. A flowing tunic top can look good as well but make sure its belted or cinched at the waist. Pairing a large top with large bottoms can be too much. Since the pants are already baggy its good to structure them with a fitted top or jacket.

Waist
High waists. Oh high waists. I'll be the first to admit they look cool. There is something very 1970s retro about a pair of pants with wide legs and a high waist there is no denying the popularity of this trend but buyer beware the trend is not particularly flattering. Be sure not to go too high - anything that cuts you off right under the boob are is almost guaranteed to look bad. And stick to darker colors - high waisted pants are already tricky and a dark color just makes things automatically flattering.

Accessorizing
Heels. Heels. Heels. I don't now how many times I have to say it but heels. If you are shorter (or even if you're not) heels will elongate your frame and make your wide leg pants look better. Try a great pair or platforms (more on those later this week) and I guarantee you wont regret it.

Since the waist is the focus of your outfit you'll want to invest in a good belt - something more interesting than the usual basic black.

So how do you feel about the resurgence of the wide leg? Will you be wearing this trend or is it something you'll skip? I'm quite excited for wide legs to be honest - even the high waist variety. There is something a little ladylike about the whole trend that appeals to me - I've already gotten a couple pairs now I just need this weather to cool down so I can wear them.