Wide-leg crop pants are endlessly versatile and effortlessly chic. Plus, they can keep you at just the right temperature when the seasons change. But which are the best pairs, and how should you wear them? This article has all the chicest wide-leg cropped pants we’ve found, along with plenty of outfit ideas.
Why we love them
There are so many reasons to add a pair (or two) of wide leg cropped pants to your closet if you haven’t already.
They’re perfect for transitional weather
Too cold for shorts but too hot for jeans? Wide leg crop pants are the answer. They’re great for transitioning from spring to summer, or summer to fall.
You can show off your ankles
Dressing in a way that makes you feel confident is all about downplaying what you aren’t so happy with, and showing off what you are. So, if you love your ankles, wide leg crop pants are for you.
Shan @teachingonthegc above mixes casual and formal with her wide leg crop pants, blazer and sneakers.
Get her look with this similar top, blazer, pants (other options here and here), sneakers, earrings and necklace.
they add subtle glamour
We love wide leg pants because they’re effortlessly glamorous. You can read more about how to wear full-length wide leg pants in this article. The beauty of cropped styles is they look great dressed up with heeled sandals.
which body types cropped wide pants work best for
Crop wide pants can look fantastic on everyone, depending on what you wear them with. They can create the illusion of curves for rectangle figures, a dark colored pair of wide crop pants with a brighter top can balance a pear shape, while if you wear them with a tighter top they are good for inverted triangles. They look great on hourglasses too who often have shapely ankles.
Jamie @moreturquoise above (read her style interview here) shows off a very on-trend outfit at the moment – which combines co-ordinated wide crop pants and a waistcoat.
Recreate her outfit with this similar waistcoat, pants, sandals and sunglasses.
What to bear in mind
Because crop pants create a visual line across your legs, they do have the potential to make your legs look shorter. If this is something you’re worried about, then wearing pants that are closer to your skintone, or which match your top can help, as well as adding a pair of heels. Choosing a high-waisted style can also counteract this shortening effect by making your legs look longer and your torso shorter.
the best wide leg crop pants
Let’s take a look at some of our favorite wide leg crops pants.
paige jeans
PAIGE is one of our favorite jeans brands, and we love the high-waisted crop style (below). These jeans keep their shape but still feel soft and comfy. They would go with everything from sneakers and a T-shirt to a silk top and heels.
PAIGE Anessa High Waist Wide Leg Jeans
MANGO Double Buckle Jacket – NIC+ZOE Jersey Twist Tank – PAIGE Anessa High Waist Wide Leg Jeans – Söfft Vaya Wedge Sandals – Lele Sadoughi Paper Lily Drop Earrings
White wide crop pants
A white pair of wide crop pants are a great addition to your closet for summer. They will go with all your tops, and you can add glamour by teaming with metallic shoes. There’s more inspiration in this article on the best white jeans for women over 40 and in this article about tops to go with your white jeans.
Re/done Twill Mid-Rise Crop Wide-Leg Pants
Linen crop pants
When the weather warms up, linen is a great choice of material to keep you cool. The L’AGENCE crop pants (below) are 100% linen so a perfect option for your vacation wear.
L’AGENCE Henderson Linen Crop Pants
Sharryn @thestylishwoman above (read her style interview here) wears an all-neutral outfit, and adds glamour with her accessories and gold shoes.
Check out this similar shirt, vest, pants (another option here), sneakers, belt, earrings and sunglasses.
Crop suit pants
You can go as casual or smart as you like with your wide crop pants. Suiting is very much on-trend right now, as you can see in our round-up of this season’s trends. So, you could always wear crop pants with your suit rather than a full-length pair.
Karen Millen Sleeveless Tailored Set (matching set here)
elastic pants
If you want to combine comfort with style, a pair of pants with an elastic waist is ideal. The cropped pants from Boden (below) have elastic at the back and come in five colors. Reviewers say they are flattering and lightweight, making them perfect for summer.
Boden Double Cloth Cropped Trousers
Karmamia Lee Tie-Front Satin Shirt – Boden Double Cloth Cropped Trousers – Tory Burch Ella Leather Chain Tote Bag – FLY London Yotu Sandals – Ivi Signore Super Mini Hoop Earrings – Lele Sadoughi Paper Lily Drop Earrings
Raw hem jeans
Adding an on-trend touch like a raw hem can update your outfit. Wear casually with your sneakers or sandals, or mix formal and casual and wear with heels and a blazer.
AG Saige Crop Raw Hem Wide Leg Jeans
print pants
If you usually wear plain pants with a print top, why not switch up your outfit and do it the other way around? The MANGO printed pants (below) are perfect for warm summer days at home and on vacation.
Sandra @lapecosapreciosa above looks beautiful in her red printed pants and button-down tank top.
Steal her look with this similar top, pants (another option here), sandals, handbag, hat and sunglasses.
Co-ord set
Co-ordinates are very much on trend. We love the linen and rayon-blend set (below) for vacation wear because you can wear it as a set or create different outfits by wearing it as separates. It comes in a huge choice of colors – take a look and see if you have a favorite. Reviewers praise the quality and say it offers the perfect blend of comfort and style.
what to wear with your wide leg pants
Of course, you won’t be wearing wide-leg crop pants on their own. So, what tops go best with them? You can break the rules and opt for a loose long top with wide pants. But, generally, it’s best to opt for a slimmer top, a top that ends at your waist, or to tuck in your shirt. Jackets that end at the waist usually look best too. That way, your legs still look long.
Karmamia Lee Tie-Front Satin Shirt – Carolina K Boyfriend Abstract Crêpe de Chine Shirt – NIC+ZOE Jersey Twist Tank – J.Crew Fine Rib Tank Top – J.Crew New Classic Denim Jacket – MANGO Double Buckle Jacket
All sorts of shoes, from sneakers to heels to sandals, go with wide cropped pants. For more advice, see this article on what shoes go with different styles of pants.
Tory Burch Ella Leather Chain Tote Bag – MANGO Mini Shopper – FLY London Yotu Sandals – Söfft Vaya Wedge Sandals – MANGO Block Heel Sandals – Ivi Signore Super Mini Hoop Earrings – Lele Sadoughi Paper Lily Drop Earrings
Dayle @artfulcitystyle above (read her style interview here) opts for a stylish crop pants suit.
Recreate her outfit with this similar moto jacket, pants and shoes.
Your wide crop pants outfits together in one capsule
Below, you can see the outfits from above together in one capsule wardrobe so you can think about all of the different ways you can wear them. Any of the print tops would go with the plain jeans or pants, or you could team the white top and jacket with the print pants.
shop the items featured above here:
Continue reading:
- Wide Legged Pants: How To Wear Them In 2024 And Where To Buy The Best Ones
- How To Wear Capris And Cropped Pants – An Extensive Guide!
- How To Wear Jeans Over 40 – Guidelines And Lots Of Ideas
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Feature image by Jamie @moreturquoise
Sylvia is 40+style’s editor-in-chief and has been helping women find their unique style since 2011. An alumni of the School of Color and Design, she is devoted to empowering women of any age to look and feel their best. Read more about Sylvia and 40+style on this page.
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