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.
wide leg pants outfit idea | 40plusstyle.com

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.

tucked in top and pants | 40plusstyle.com

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

Black wide leg linen pants | 40plusstyle.com

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

linen wide black pants for summer | 40plusstyle.com

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

Sylvia wearing white flared pants | 40plusstyle.com

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 blouse and pants | 40plusstyle.com

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.

Wide leg pants on the runway | 40plusstyle.com

Jason Wu – Victoria Beckham – Etro

Wide cropped pants are also popular right now

Wide leg jumpsuit | 40plusstyle.com

Cos jumpsuitFly 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 | 40plusstyle.com

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.

1822 Denim Flare Jeans | 40plusstyle.com

1822 Denim Flare Jeans

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 | 40plusstyle.com

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 | 40plusstyle.com

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 | 40plusstyle.com

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 | 40plusstyle.com

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 | 40plusstyle.com

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 | 40plusstyle.com

Karen Millen Compact Stretch Tipped Button Cropped Trouser

Karen Millen Satin Crop Wide Belted Detail Trousers | 40plusstyle.com

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 | 40plusstyle.com

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 | 40plusstyle.com

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 | 40plusstyle.com

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.

BP. Crop Plaid Pants | 40plusstyle.com

BP. Crop Plaid 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 | 40plusstyle.com

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 | 40plusstyle.com

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  | 40plusstyle.com

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 | 40plusstyle.com

Karen Millen Milano Knit Sporty Trim Trouser

Heathyoga Bootcut Yoga Pants | 40plusstyle.com

Heathyoga Bootcut Yoga Pants

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 | 40plusstyle.com

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 | 40plusstyle.com

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 | 40plusstyle.com

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 | 40plusstyle.com

Caslon Elastic Waist Wide Leg Pants

What to wear with wide legged pants – tops for wide-legged pants

How to wear wide-leg pants - Sara in linen pants | 40plusstyle.com

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.

tops to wear with wide leg pants | 40plusstyle.com

Alice + Olivia blouson silk bouseFrame puff sleeve silk blouseOpen Edit wrap sweaterBP. front button crop cardigan

How to wear wide legged pants – outerwear for wide leg pants

How to wear wide leg pants - Emms wears wide leg pants and a moto jacket | 40plusstyle.com

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.

jackets to wear with wide leg pants | 40plusstyle.com

Karen Millen leather biker jacketKaren Millen military knit jacketKaren Millen knit belted jacketDe La Creme cashmere coat

Shoes to wear with your wide-legged pants

Greetje in wide leg pants and a navy top | 40plusstyle.com

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.

shoes to wear with wide leg pants | 40plusstyle.com

Kenneth Cole REACTION Chelsea bootJ. Adams peep toe bootieFranco Sarto loaferRoxy platform sneaker

Accessories for your wide-legged pants outfits

Tamera in wide leg pants and a large hat | 40plusstyle.com

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.

acccessories to wear with wide leg pants | 40plusstyle.com

Bronze Age toteRebecca Minkoff hobo bagNordstrom cashmere & silk scarfGas Bijoux station necklaceKarine 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.

wide leg pants capsule wardrobe | 40plusstyle.com

shop the items above here:

Some additional tips on how to wear wide pants

wide leg pants capsule wardrobe | 40plusstyle.com

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

Wendy in wide leg pants and a matching top | 40plusstyle.com

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

Nikkie in red pants and a striped top | 40plusstyle.com

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?

Shauna in print pants | 40plusstyle.com

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

Julie pattern mixes in her wide-leg pants outfit | 40plusstyle.com

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:

  1. How To Wear Jeans Over 40 – Guidelines And Lots Of Ideas
  2. How To Wear Capris And Cropped Pants – An Extensive Guide!
  3. The Best Fitting Jeans For Women: Choose The Best Jeans For Your Body Type

Like this article on how to wear wide legged pants? Save it on Pinterest!

Wide legged pants: how to wear them in 2021 and where to buy the best ones | 40plusstyle.com

Feature image by Julie @stylishparadox

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