Wide legged pants are definitely back on trend this 2021 season. In this article, you will find plenty of tips on how to wear wide legged pants with some fabulous wide leg pants outfit inspiration.
I personally love wider pants which can be a very good choice of trousers for many women over 40.
Why should you wear wide legged pants?
Katharine Hepburn is probably the most famous wide-leg pants wearer from the golden age of Hollywood.
They certainly gave her an air of confident nonchalance and could do the same for you. Nowadays, they are the pants style of choice for Meghan Markle, Milla Jovovich, Victoria Beckham and Amal Clooney.
Let’s look at some reasons why wide leg pants can be a very flattering option to wear for many women as well as some of my own favorite wide leg pants outfits:
1. Wide pants can lengthen your legs
Wide leg pants are great for short legged women like me, as flared pants are very leg lengthening when they fit well at the top.
A few things you need to keep in mind to accomplish this:
- Tuck in your tops or wear your wide leg pants with a short cropped tops
- For maximum effect wear them with (high) heels and make sure your pants or jeans almost touch the ground.
This elongating effect works especially if your shoes barely show. In the image above (@40plusstyle) the hem is too high for my shoes, as I hemmed these pants for flatter shoes.
Above is how I (@40plusstyle) wore them with flats. As I’ve tucked in the top it still has a good leg line as the pants almost touch the ground and my legs look a mile long even though I have proportionally to my body short legs. Here is a similar pair of white wide legged pants.
For more inspiration, read our article on what shoes to wear with different styles of pants.
2. Wide pants may cover up your muffin top
If you have a bit of a belly or muffin top (as many of us over 40 women have) then wide leg pants do a great job to cover them.
Try a more relaxed wide leg pants style like the black linen pants I’m (@40plusstyle) wearing above.
Here is a similar pair of linen pants from Vince Camuto.
These kind of pants are fabulous for traveling when we’re able to do so once more (I’m here in front of the oracle of Delphi in Greece).
If your belly is too big, then you may like to wear your wide pants with a long (sleeveless) vest that will do a great job of camouflaging the belly.
Also read my tips on hiding the belly with the right clothes.
3. Wide leg pants are comfortable
I already showed you above that I love wearing airy wide leg pants in summer and on trips. But they’re also a versatile option for winter and fall (simply change your sandals for ankle booties). They are just super comfortable to wear!
Below is an example of how to wear wide legged pants with a shorter top that is semi-tight in the waist (@40plusstyle).
4. Wide leg pants give you more shape
This is especially useful if you are a rectangle like me (@40plusstyle). Provided that you accent the waist and your wide leg pants fit you well in the hip, you create a nice v-shape.
This is also helpful for pear shapes as it will focus less attention on the hips. Inverted triangle shapes can also use wider pants to balance their wider shoulder and top area.
Wide pants are definitely the most challenging to wear for apple shapes, but they may do so so if they use them in combination with longer vests.
Don’t know your body type? Discover your body type here.
5. Wide leg pants are fashionable
Victoria Beckham is among the many celebrities embracing the wide legged pants trend. I can’t remember the last time I saw a photo of her wearing skinnies.
Here is a similar pair of wide leg pants and collared shirt.
Below, you can see wide-legged pants on the fall 2021 runways.
Jason Wu – Victoria Beckham – Etro
Wide cropped pants are also popular right now
Cos jumpsuit – Fly London sandals
Wide leg cropped pants can be a great option for summer as they are cooler than full-length pants, and show off a little ankle. You can also wear them in winter with booties.
With this type of pants it’s even more important to tuck your tops in as you want to create a one third / two third silhouette OR to wear a cropped top (just make sure your pants are high-waisted).
Of course this is automatically taken care of when you wear a jumpsuit as I (@40plusstyle) have above.
The shorter your legs are proportionally to the rest of your body, the more important this is to create a flattering look.
Above is another example of how I wore wide leg cropped pants with a tucked in top.
This cropped length is quite short for my proportionally short legs, so tucking in is essential and a short heel benefits this look also.
Here is a similar pair of cropped wide leg pants from Amazon.
More on the rule of thirds and how to wear capris here.
Types of wide leg pants
Not all wide legged pants are the same shape and style. Below are the styles to look out for to create the most flattering outfit for you.
High Waist – Full Flare
Good if you want to hide a muffin top or want to create an hourglass figure as this style accentuates the waist.
Karen Millen Soft Tailored Waist Detail Wide Leg Trouser
Tight upper pants – small flare
Good if you have skinny legs. Not so good if you have saddle bags.
Standard leg – wide flare
Good to hide thicker thighs, perhaps if you have a pear-shaped figure.
Theory Demitria 2 Stretch Good Wool Suit Pants
classic wide leg
A classic wide leg will suit many body shapes. You could wear these to balance an inverted triangle shape.
Nordstrom Wide Leg Flannel Pants
on trend green pants
Wide leg pants are particularly on trend, and green is one of the biggest fall color trends for 2021. So, you could combine the two.
Karen Millen Essential Tailored Wide Leg Woven Trousers
Palazzo pants
Very wide pants all over and good for tall women. Short or bulky women, be careful with this style! Palazzo pants can be a great option for summer. But, equally, you could also wear a pair of palazzo pants for an evening out.
Karen Millen Apotheosis Drama Palazzo Woven Trouser
For a more casual palazzo pants option, the lounge pants below come in a huge range of color choices and have close to 23,000, mainly good, reviews.
Arolina Stretchy Wide Leg Palazzo Lounge Pants
Cropped wide pants
Best to wear with your top tucked in so that you create a more flattering silhouette using the rule of thirds. A good choice for summer or for traveling.
Karen Millen Compact Stretch Tipped Button Cropped Trouser
Karen Millen Satin Crop Wide Belted Detail Trousers
Prefer jeans? Check out the best jeans for women over 40.
burgundy wide pants
Opting for colors that mirror autumnal shades is always a lovely idea for fall. If you like to wear a darker shade but want a change from black, burgundy could be the color choice for you.
Boden Mulled Wine Wide Leg Pants
Black high waisted trousers
Black pants will never go out of style. Black, wide legged pants are particularly good for the pear shape, as you can use a darker shade on your bottom half to draw attention away from your hips and thighs. Adding a vertical stripe to your black pants can also elongate and make your legs look longer.
Thakoon Pinstripe High Waist Pants
High waisted wide leg pants
Look for high waisted styles if you want to make your legs look longer. A particularly good style if you have a long torso that you want to balance out.
Open Edit Belted High Waist Pants
Plus size wide leg pants
There are fantastic options for all sizes when it comes to wide-legged pants.
Petite wide leg trousers
While you may think that wide-legged pants would be a no-no if you are petite as they could make you look wider rather than taller, they are actually very flattering.
They can make your legs look longer and you look taller, particularly if you wear a high heel underneath them.
Caslon Elastic Waist Wide Leg Pants
There are more tips here on how to dress when you are petite.
Wide leg dress pants
A pair of wide-legged pants can be a beautiful option for both day and night. If you have a formal event or party, or a dinner, to attend, you could wear a pair of wide-legged pants rather than choosing a dress. Or, you could wear your wide-leg pants to the office.
NYDJ Sculpt-Her™ Pull-On Wide Leg Pants
Wide leisure pants
As many of us are at home more at the moment, you may wish to choose a pair of wide-legged pants for lounging.
Socialite Satin Wide Leg Pants
You will find more stay-at-home outfit options in this article on the best loungewear for women over 40.
sporty pants
For casual days, a pair of sporty wide-leg pants could be perfect.
Karen Millen Milano Knit Sporty Trim Trouser
Printed pants
A pair of printed pants adds a fun element to your outfit. You could style with a sweater for cooler weather or with a tank top and sandals for summer. The check print pants (below) have a very subtle print.
Karen Millen Lydia Millen Country Check Wide Leg Trousers
geoprint
Or, you could choose a bolder print and keep your top neutral.
Karen Millen Geo Print Satin Wide Leg Woven Trouser
Also, take a look at how to wear printed pants.
Drawstring pants
For extra comfort, without losing any style, you could opt for a pair of drawstring pants to fit your tummy.
SySea Womens High Waisted Printed Palazzo Pants
There are more tips on the best pants and skirts to fit and hide a belly in this article.
elastic waist
An elastic waist is another comfy that that is easy to wear day-to-day.
Caslon Elastic Waist Wide Leg Pants
What to wear with wide legged pants – tops for wide-legged pants
Now that you’ve chosen your favorite pair of wide-legged pants, what should you wear with them?
As mentioned before, you’ll want to make sure that you either tuck in your tops OR wear wide pants with short tops that end at the waist or have a tie at the waist. That will improve your silhouette and create a really flattering overall look with wide pants.
If your tops are too long or have no structure, you would just look wide all over which is not flattering. With wide leg pants especially, you need to create some structure in the outfit.
If your tops are too long or have no structure, you would just look wide all over which is not flattering. With wide leg pants especially, you need to create some structure in the outfit.
Sara @style_designco above opts for an oversized shirt and wide-leg pants, but keeps her look balanced by making sure she shows off her waist with a half-tuck.
Recreate her outfit with this similar shirt, wide leg pants and sandals.
Below are more tops to tuck into or wear with your wide-legged pants.
Alice + Olivia blouson silk bouse – Frame puff sleeve silk blouse – Open Edit wrap sweater – BP. front button crop cardigan
How to wear wide legged pants – outerwear for wide leg pants
It’s easier to work out how to style tops when you are wearing wide-legged pants as the most flattering way to style them is to tuck your top into your pants so that your look is balanced and your legs look long.
Sweaters can be harder to tuck in, although there is a trend currently for tucking the front of your sweater into your jeans or pants.
This can, however, add unwanted bulk at your tummy area.
You could also look at fitted sweaters which will give balance and will be possible to tuck in, at belted sweaters so you don’t loose your waistline and at cropped sweaters.
Just make sure you opt for a pair of high-waisted wide-legged pants if you opt for a cropped option and you don’t want to flash your tummy.
Emms @beautifuleveryday_uk above wears her moto jacket with wide-legged pants.
Steal her look with this similar tee, moto jacket, pants, sneakers and backpack.
Karen Millen leather biker jacket – Karen Millen military knit jacket – Karen Millen knit belted jacket – De La Creme cashmere coat
Shoes to wear with your wide-legged pants
You’ll find that plenty of shoe styles go with your wide-legged pants. You’ll want to make sure, however, that your shoes don’t get lost among your outfit. Boots and platform styles can be good choices.
Greetje @no_fear_of_fashion above (read her style interview here) wears boots that match her pants, making her legs look extra long.
Recreate her outfit with this similar top, wide leg pants, booties and necklace.
Kenneth Cole REACTION Chelsea boot – J. Adams peep toe bootie – Franco Sarto loafer – Roxy platform sneaker
Accessories for your wide-legged pants outfits
Wide-legged pants can add dramatic flair to your outfit, so you can go as bold or as subtle as you want with your accessories.
Tamera @tamerabeardsley above (read her style interview here) keeps her look all-neutral but adds impact with her wide-brimmed hat.
Check out this similar blouse, blazer, wide leg pants, loafers, tote, hat, earrings and sunglasses.
Bronze Age tote – Rebecca Minkoff hobo bag – Nordstrom cashmere & silk scarf – Gas Bijoux station necklace – Karine Sultan linear hoop earrings
Your wide leg pants together in one capsule
See how you can put together your wide legged pants outfits in a capsule below. You’ll see you could easily mix and match these outfits to provide countless different looks.
shop the items above here:
Some additional tips on how to wear wide pants
Now that I’ve taken a look at some of the different styles of wide-legged pants as well as some of my favorites in stores now, here are some extra tips to think about when choosing a pair of wide legged pants.
1. Buy your wide-legged pants long
I don’t like the look of flared pants that are too short. Especially if you want to create a lengthening effect for your legs, it’s nice when your pants hide your high heels.
Wendy @fashionoverfifty.wendy above wears her pants so they cover the tops of her booties.
Get her look with this similar turtleneck top, pants, sleeveless cardigan, booties, necklace, sunglasses and earrings.
2. Define your waist
Wide pants look particularly good if you define your waist with a belt or the way the pants are tailored.
3. Balance your look
To get a balanced silhouette wear something slim fitting on top. You’ll see most of the styles featured here include a more fitted top, or tops which are tucked in at the waist.
Nikki @40notfrumpy above perfectly balances her wide-legged pants with a scoop-neck open top.
Recreate her outfit with this similar striped top, wide leg pants and sandals.
4. Opt for a classic look
Flared pants can give you a very classic, timeless look, so will look great with a, tucked in, well-fitted shirt.
For more timeless tips look at this style guide and capsule wardrobe for the classic style personality.
5. What if you are petite?
Short people can also wear wide pants. Just make sure they are more fitted at the top and the pants don’t flare too much.
Shauna@chicover50 above (read her style interview here) keeps her look tonal and adds height with her hair style.
Steal her look with this similar top, denim jacket, printed pants and sandals.
6. Break the rules
Although a slim-fitting top is the easiest and most flattering way to wear wide pants, I also like to combine them with short dresses and wider tops.
It’s a tougher look to pull off, but I personally like the silhouette it creates.
7. For the pear shape
Although wide legged pants can be perfect for the pear body shape, make sure you don’t have any side pockets as that will add extra bulk.
Pear shapes also benefit from flat front pants, as opposed to pleated ones.
Julie @stylishparadox (read her style interview here) mixes her prints but makes sure her outfit works together by matching her blazer to her bag.
Steal her look with this similar top, blazer, wide leg pants, pumps, tote, necklace and glasses.
8. For longer legs
Want even longer legs? Try flared pants with vertical stripes, a center crease. Or wear your pants with heels!
How do you wear wide pants? Have you found these tips on how to wear wide leg pants useful?
Continue reading:
- How To Wear Jeans Over 40 – Guidelines And Lots Of Ideas
- How To Wear Capris And Cropped Pants – An Extensive Guide!
- The Best Fitting Jeans For Women: Choose The Best Jeans For Your Body Type
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Feature image by Julie @stylishparadox
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Can a woman in her early 30s wear wide leg mother-of-the-bride looking chiffon pantsuits?
Absolutely. So long as you keep the tips in my short video in mind. It’s all about creating a great silhouette!
Chantelle, I think you could look fabulous in such chiffon pants, but you may not want to wear the whole suit. Or if you do, add some unexpectedly edgy accessories. As a woman old enough to be your mom, whose truly unlovely legs do not merit public exposure, I opted to wear black chiffon palazzo pants to a relative’s wedding, but I paired it with a fabulous high-quality white cotton man-tailored shirt that featured two feminizing details: a covered placket, and bell sleeves instead of the usual shirt cuffs. I accented that with a finely-dotted real black silk tuxedo cummerbund (found conveniently on clearance at $9.99!), which I altered and adapted to wrap and fasten with velcro, to fit and accent my small waist. It was a little bit of a gender-bending outfit, not matronly, and different than anything other women were wearing. (Also higher quality and more stylish than the wait staff, so I didn’t get mistaken for a server at the reception. 🙂 ) Since I am an energetic and enthusiastic dancer, I was also pleased at the ease and comfort of that outfit for dancing, and loved the way those drapey pants moved and flowed around my legs when I danced.
I’m 5’4”, and a heavy hourglass. So I didn’t think wide leg pants would work for me. I’ve also got a longer torso and shorter legs. But the tips in this post has me wanting to try them out!
Yes wide leg pants can work for any shape. Be sure to tuck in your tops or keep them short. If you wear your pants long and add an extra wide belt (as shown in the video) that can lengthen your legs even further.
Hi there!! Love your website. So hard to know how to dress as we get older. I love wide trousers but even though i am slim and 5’6”” i have pretty much no ahem… butt left. Won’t this style make this look worse?
A good tip for us buttless people (I’m one of them is to let you top hang losely over your bum a the back. Then at the front you can tuck it in. You can see my friend Greetje doing that here https://www.nofearoffashion.com/2020/09/27/trousers-and-top-co-ord/
Sylvia: Thanks for all your great tips.
I am 76 and no longer can wear short sleeves let alone go sleeveless. I built an arsenal of tunics to wear with a tank as my summer wardrobe. It covered my arms, butt and waist.
I recently got wide legged pants but now I’m stumped what tops to wear and then tuck in. The other day I knotted my long sleeve tunic in front to try to give more of a streamlined look.
Any suggestions for tops that are not tuck in?
Thanks,
Any tops that end at the waist will do. Or you can belt a slightly longer top. The most important thing is to add structure to the look so it’s not wide all over.
NICE… Both the article and the fact you feature me. Thank you. I am honoured. I have discovered how to wear wide legged trousers and indeed they suit me and my inverted triangle shape very well.
Greetje
Wide leg pants work for me because I’m short and fat. I have to wear flat shoes though because of surgery on both feet, thanks to 35 years in 4-5” heels (I still love them but my foot won’t arch enough to wear them anymore). I don’t like to emphasize my waist because I don’t have one. I wear long tops over wide cotton knit pants. I’m in desperate need of a style makeover. I did see a snap on advanced style with a woman in platform sneakers with black/white stripes I really want. Where did they come from?
For any woman we feature in the article we include the link to their IG photo. Click on that to check details of the outfit they wear.
I’m looking for the best shape jeans/ pants for my large legs. I’m 5’3″, size 12 short or petite, apparently according to Macy’s there’s a difference. Are straight legged jeans a better look?
straight jeans would work well. Slight bootcuts would work well too, especially if you wear a bit of a heel underneath and the jeans are hemmed almost to the ground.
Thank you. These tips are super helpful. I get my measurements taken by a seamstress once in a while (you know, just in case I gain or lose a few extra inches). That way I increase my chances of getting the correct clothing size, especially when it comes to pants or jeans. For me, personally, buying pants or jeans online is rather tricky because there’s no universal size chart that companies follow. So each purchase is a risk. That’s why I try to buy two sizes (if shipping is free) so I can just return what doesn’t fit me.
Good strategy Flo! Great to read that these tips were helpful.
Oh, and just to add to my previous comment, I think women should also try to learn how to navigate their way around the “complex” world of jeans sizes. This article (https://www.blitzresults.com/en/pants-size/), in particular, discusses how various sizing systems work for bottoms like pants and jeans. There are also conversion tables for US, EU, UK sizes, etc. which will make shopping for pants easier.
Hi there,
I would to know if i could wear these pants in this link http://www.ivyrevel.com/nl/collection/pollux-pants-peach/A000424-118.html
I am a 169cm tall girl and i weigh about 63kg i have long legs.
Would these pants fit me nice and to my body type?
Yes, if you combine with a short top.
Yes, I do wear wide-legged pants but they are not my favourite go to pants. I prefer them in lighter weight material and for more dressy occasions. I do not like them for driving either. I don’t like that during the winter the cold goes up the pant legs. Also, because they need to be worn more on the long side they always get dirty and salty so quickly. They are don’t work well for me at work. However, I really like them during the summer in light weight material that blows in the breeze.
Wow! I just discovered your blog and I love it!
Thanks for the very well explained ways of how to wear the palazzo trousers. And all your outfits were on point! keep up the great work with your website!
visit mine: http://www.herlifebites.com
cheers!
im from the philippines and I’d like to ask if what kind of top should I wear with my palazzo pants.. im a bit confused with what to pair im 5’2 and 117lbs and has quite big ars.. Your suggestion will be a great help to me.. thank u!
Just wear any top that you can tuck into your pants. A form fitting top is usually best. You may like the image of Victoria Beckum wearing wider pants on this page https://40plusstyle.com/how-to-dress-when-you-are-short-petite/
Hi Sylvia,
New to your site. Help me to match my sandals and shoes with my jeans and long skirts. Suggestions appreciated.
Hi Sushma. Welcome! I don’t give individual advice (except in my style course) but suggest you browse through the what I wore section for inspiration as I frequently have worn both wide pants and long skirts. https://40plusstyle.com/category/style-inspiration-tips-for-women-over-40/what-i-wore-outfit-of-the-day/
Hi Sylvia – new to your site but find it great. I am 40, I have lost some weight so have a nice figure well proportioned. I love wide legged pants as they are comfy and cool. I bought some nice high waisted ones but I find they somehow make me look middle aged especially if I wear them in a dressy way. Any tips on making wide legged pants look a big younger on me i.e. how to dress them down a bit . . .
Very hip right now is to wear a crop top with them. Great with high waisted wide jeans. Or combine with a short funky jacket, like a leather or denim.
I never managed to wear this kind of pants without looking like a matron, my legs big, my upper body short, my boobs enormous. They are actually having a comeback and once skinnies will be definitely out, I’ll switch to skirts.
I fully agree the easiest way to wear them would be fitted tops – but with an E/F-cup these are out of question (looking vulgar in a soft fabric and impossible to find otherwise). As a real inverted triangle, I don’t have neither a real waist nor hips, so … well … let’s say, anyway, not every style can fit everyone and I am afraid I’ll have to work around this one.
Or … any ideas?
You will just have to work out what works for you Mat. Straight legged pants are always an option and I think it will be a while before skinnies are completely out…
I am 24 and fat. Height5’4. Would flare pants look good and what kind
Yes, so long as you proportion it well and the flared pants are fitted at the top. Make sure that your top is not too long also.
Great tips!
I love white wide-legged pants and you make them look great Sylvia 😀 I have never owned any – I am slim in the legs and hips but big around the tummy and boobs so not sure how to wear them, as I think they look better with a slim-fitting top. Any suggestions appreciated!
I’m wearing wide pants in an article today Petra with a top that is wide and drapy and hides the tummy yet still defines the waist and your bust. That could work really well for you too! https://40plusstyle.com/creating-5-outfits-with-2-covered-perfectly-tops/
Now I can dare to wear those flared pants thanks………
I always get little tensed when i try something new ……..I am well fitted trousers and shirt women
how to wear maxi skirts,what should i wear if I have tummy?
It’s probably best to wear your maxi skirt with a top over your skirt. Depending on how big your tummy is you may want a top that has draping to camouflage it. Here are some tips on how to hide your tummy: https://40plusstyle.com/how-to-hide-your-belly/
I’m featuring some more wide pants in a couple of days together with a top that hides the tummy so watch out for that!
Sylvia,thank you for your kind welcome.as a first time blogger!I have found it a great tool for any questions with true to life answers!I’m particularly keen on wide leg pants,but am unsure as to where to find good quality ones in Singapore .I know this will sound a little strange to long term residents. I ‘m happy to spent enough to make it an investment piece.any suggestions appreciated . Angela
I’m having a lot of trouble finding them too! They just haven’t been around much. I’m hoping that more will come in stores too. I saw that Zara has few in their new collection. For tips on where to shop in Singapore you can see this article: https://40plusstyle.com/where-to-shop-in-singapore/
Love your work.
I like the look, but with a short upper torso, long legs, I’m not sure it will work that well for me, personally.
Just wear your tops a bit lower Lisa to create a better balance. I’m sure you would be able to rock this look!
I’m happy that wide legged trousers are back on trend this season! I prefer a cut with a semi-high waistband, curved side pockets (if any) and that zips up on one side, not in the front. Makes them so much more flattering.
Yes, you are right. But side zipped pants are just so rare…
I have a pair that zips on the side.. I tried them on last night, but am concerned they are too dressy for work. I work in hospital administration…
These trousers are much more difficult for me to wear than skinnies, although I am reasonably tall. I have no hips or bum so the only way to wear them is with a fitted jacket which covers those areas. No option to wear it with a fitted top as I would look indeed like an inverted triangle. A wider top is also out of the question.
Of all the ones you have shown, I like your own white ones best and the Carolina Herrera ones (figures…). A lot of them look too short.
Yes, they do. I wonder if it’s because most of the models showing them are just too tall!
This is so funny because in the 1940’s and then again in the 1970’s wide leg pants were a la mode. I just finished working more on that article and showed how to style vintage versions of this.
What goes around comes around…
bisous
Suzanne
I think they have eternal appeal. I really like the katherine Hepburn look!
Hi, I’m only 11 but I read this article to find some inspiration for wearing some flare pants I made the other day. I am 5ft 4 and I need some ideas for what to wear on top. I also want to ask, is it a good thing to have long legs? I have extremely long legs and I don’t want to look like I’m wearing stilts.
Yours sincerely,
Young Fashion Blogger
You can wear wide legged pants with all kinds of tops. Just have a look through >what I wore. You will see that I wear my wide legged white pants quite a lot but I also show them in orange and blue. Long legs are generally seen as a very good thing although you may want to balance them out if they are proportionally a lot longer than your upper body. You can do that by not tucking in your tops and wearing them over pants and skirts. For further tips also see my article on how to dress when you are tall
I always steer clear of wide leg pants they make me feel fat, doesn’t help that I am only 5’2 as well. If I were to wear them I will need 15 inch heels to make me look slender!
You could try really high waisted pants. The elongate as I showed in my article on >how to dress for the petite Victoria Beckham looks great in them!