It was a mainstay on the runway, appearing in jewel-coloured wool at Victoria Beckham, work-pant form at Burberry, and in bold colours and prints at Marques' Almeida. In other words, whether you want to revive your workwear wardrobe or rethink your going-out garb, a voluminous trouser is a good place to start.
Fleeting trend, this is not. Wide-leg trousers have been a style staple since the 1920s when Oxford University students started wearing 'Oxford bags', baggy styles that were allegedly designed to disguise the wearing of plus fours (a university-banned, long-line knickerbocker that was, incredibly, the height of fashion). Dancers and Hollywood stars – see: Katherine Hepburn, an enduring inspiration when it comes to styling wide-leg trousers – followed suit, and well, the rest is history.
If you’re looking for modern-day styling inspiration, we’ve got you; scroll to discover seven excellent ways to wear wide-leg trousers, from pleat-front chinos to leather flares. And not a knickerbocker in sight.
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7 Cool Ways To Wear Wide-Leg Trousers
A leather jacket and cowboy boots
Suit trousers needn’t be reserved for corporate dress codes; wear them low-slung and add a shrunken-fit leather jacket (or a cropped aviator style, as seen at Victoria Beckham’s AW24 show) and a slither of midriff (optional), and you have an outfit that’s appropriate for a day of vintage shopping or an evening watching your favourite band. The cowboy boots lend a little height – ideal for trousers with longer inseams – and feel more unexpected than a pair of trainers.
Peachy Den The Lennox Trousers
Reiss Leather Collarless Biker Jacket
Daisy Jewellery Estée Lalonde Maxi Dome Hoop Earrings
A leopard-print mac and ballet flats
A well-crafted pair of wide-leg chinos is one of those pieces you’ll wear for decades to come – just look at Diane Keaton’s Annie Hall slack-centric outfits, which continue to inspire designers and fashion lovers nearly 50 years after the film was released. Do like Annie and wear yours with a white button-up and tie, or mix things up with a denim shirt and leopard-print car coat and matching – or clashing – flats. The beige chino has a lot in common with the work trouser, which means it also looks great with a utility coat and chunky boots – as presented at Burberry for AW24.
Never Fully Dressed Lucia Leopard Denim 55 Coat
Poppy - Denim Blouse
Sézane Matilda Ballerinas
A belted blazer and ladylike bag
If you’re wearing a voluminous trouser, consider refining the silhouette elsewhere. Offset slouchy wide-legs with a nipped-waist blazer – something Ganni does extraordinarily well – or cinch an oversized style with a skinny belt. As for the shoes, pointed flats add a little precision to floor-pooling hems – bonus points if they’re studded and/or buckled. Complete the look with 1970s-inspired aviators and a ladylike tote. Alternatively, you could simply embrace the drama of an oversized suit, which is exactly what Stella McCartney did at her AW24 show.
Ganni Pinstriped Twill Blazer
COS Relaxed Tailored Wool Wide-Leg Trousers
Heaven Mayhem Bean Belt
Ganni Buckled Eyelet-embellished Ballet Flats
A party top and big jewellery
Rethink your go-to ‘jeans and a nice top’ for evening by swapping out denim for leather. A pair of leather flares can be styled for day, with a half-tucked knit and chunky boots, and for evening, with a wispy chiffon top in a vibrant shade, and a mini bag in a clashing colour. Load up on jewellery – an oversized pendant and chunky hoops work well – and finish things off with your favourite heels, in sandal or boot form, depending on how chilly you’re willing to be. For more inspiration, look to Nanushka’s AW24 styling; the Budapest-based brand layered their glossy, patent flares with an open-knit mini dress and a coordinating, cropped jacket.
Agolde Ren Recycled-Leather Blend Jeans
Rat & Boa Aphrodite Blouse
Chanel Vintage Red Leather Crossbody Bag
YSSO Cote Earrings
A leather coat and loafers
Don’t be afraid of a printed trouser; it has the power to transform an all-black outfit. We love the extra-wide silhouette of this brocade pair from Marques’ Almeida’s AW24 collection; on the catwalk, they were teamed with a matching top, but as proven above, they also look great with a form-fitting cardigan and chunky loafers. A maxi leather coat tempers the bold pattern, revealing a flash of florals as you walk. A pair of voluminous, leopard-print jeans or brightly coloured wide-legs serve a similar styling function.
Marques Almeida Brocade Boyfriend Trousers
Longchamp Le Roseau XS Bucket Bag
Nour Hammour Gotham Sleek Leather Coat
Charles & Keith Kaiya Penny Loafers
An oversized shirt and knitted vest
Make your work wardrobe a little more interesting by changing out your usual tailored trousers for a wide-leg pair. As demonstrated at Tod’s AW24 show, a biscuit-coloured style is a chic alternative to failsafe black, and makes the perfect partner to a crisp white shirt. On chillier days, layer on a charcoal knitted tank and a grey wool maxi coat, adding in block-heel ankle boots. Then, sling all of your office essentials in a caramel leather tote. Work mode, activated.
With Nothing Underneath The Boyfriend
Mango Wide-leg Pleated Trousers
An oversized jumper and ballet flats
Invest in a pair of slouchy, white trousers to wear now – with luxe knitwear and menswear-inspired coats – and when the weather warms, with a ribbed tank and flat sandals. Our favourite high-street option is the recently restocked trouser from Marks and Spencer’s sell-out collaboration with Sienna Miller, who wears hers with the coordinating waistcoat and jacket. For a more casual ensemble, team yours with a slouchy cashmere jumper, gold jewellery and a rectangle bag or clutch. The simplicity of such an outfit allows for a more interesting shoe, so consider Margiela’s Tabi flats or a buckled ballerina – otherwise, a classic black ballet flat works just as well.
M&S x Sienna Miller Wool-Blend Trousers
Bottega Veneta Mini Leather Andiamo Clutch Bag
& Other Stories Almond-Toe Ballerina Flats
Reformation Jadey Cashmere Oversized V-neck Sweater
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