Experimenting with more dramatic silhouettes like a wide-leg jean is a surefire way to imbue a look with interest and attitude.
But like all pieces with a bold cut, it does call for more consideration when it comes to styling - finding the right proportions on top to balance out what’s on the bottom is what takes an outfit from average to exceptional.
If you’ve subsequently been avoiding styling wide-leg jeans because it seems to take the kind of time and energy that you just don’t have to master, we appreciate that. Simply finding a pair of denim jeans that fit perfectly and make you feel confident is work enough. But then also having to find pieces to go with them can be an added challenge, one that cuts you off at the pass and leaves what is actually an incredibly flattering and versatile foundation piece sitting on the shelf, untouched.
That’s why our design process is structured to be more comprehensive than just giving you a pair of great jeans. We also create all the knits, tops and blazers that work with them, so that when you're putting an outfit together, you can simply pick what feels appropriate for the occasion.
In this handy guide to styling wide-leg jeans, we take you through what those pieces are and why they work, so that you can go forth and dress with confidence.
Top Notes
The waist-enhancing nature of a high-rise cut like our Soft Pleat Front Jean is best emphasized with a top tucked in.
The downside of this mode of styling is that it runs the risk of the tails or details of a blouse creating an awkward cluster of bulk around the middle.
This is precisely why the frill-trim button placket of our Silk Cotton Watercolor Floral Print Blouse has been measured to stop at the point of a high pant waistband. It allows the blouse to be neatly tucked in for a smooth finish that also does the job of highlighting your waist.
The Cropped Wide-Leg Jean
If maximum leg elongation is what you’re looking for, then may we suggest wide-leg jeans in shorter cuts. This styling approach works to elongate the look of your legs by highlighting your ankles and breaking up your look. Case in point: our Worn In Culotte Jean. Draw more attention to the narrowest point of your leg by styling with our 70s Clog Sandal and emphasize your waist by tucking a classic jersey top into the high-rise waist.
Finish your look with a longline blazer that complements the shape of the wide-leg jean by playing with outfit proportions. The result is a cohesive, put-together finish achieved by distributing the focus ensuring the finished ensemble is neither too top nor bottom-heavy.
The Cropped Jacket
Finding the right lengths to style with wide-leg jeans applies as much to outerwear as it does tops.
The shorter length of our Italian Check Cropped Blazer hits the sweet spot to complement the high waistline of our short or regular-length Split Seam Flare Jean. The length ensures that you don’t lose any definition around the middle to create a flattering silhouette.
The Shirt
Wearing a high-rise jean doesn’t mean you have to forgo oversized tops or boyfriend shirts entirely. In fact, doubling up on relaxed cuts when it comes to wide-leg jean outfits can create an especially modern silhouette.
Our Bold Stripe Relaxed Boyfriend Shirt tucked into our Soft Pleat Front Jean is the perfect entry point to mastering this look. It retains the jean’s dramatic high-rise silhouette and wide-leg cut without being a slave to it and the cuffs can be turned up for a casual finish that imbues your finished look with effortless confidence. If office dress codes permit, turn to the pairing when you’re not working from home and prove its versatility by slipping the pieces on for Saturday brunches and Sunday socializing.
It’s All About Balance
Contrasting the exaggerated silhouette of wide-leg jeans with a slim-fit top maintains a certain sense of equilibrium.
For example, pair the Split Seam Flare Jean in either a regular or short length with our Ruche Neckline Top. Crafted from soft modal imbued with stretch, this elevated basic hugs the body without feeling oppressively tight, giving you the option to tuck it in or wear it over the waistband.
Pick Your Leg Length
A casual look calls for sneakers, so opt for our Low-Rise Wide-Leg Jean in a regular length; it will be long enough to feel nonchalantly cool but not so long as to be impractical for wearing with flats. And now we have our new, shorter-length iteration of this signature jean that removes 5cm from the hem to maintain its full-length cut on smaller statures without overwhelming.
Achieve slouchy (not sloppy) sophistication with the relaxed silhouette of our Supersoft Long Sleeve Stripe Top. In knitted jersey, it fits close and is cut with flattering full-length sleeves, the cuffs of which are designed to peek out from the arms of jackets and coats for a covetable layered look.
