Wide-leg pants and trousers have really made a big comeback over the past few years. And we’re here for it! Wide-leg pants are a wonderful alternative to jeans and add a sophisticated, modern feel to any outfit. Plus, depending on the leg silhouette and style of the pants, they can be super comfortable. Step aside skinny jeans or tight pants…comfy wide-leg trousers are taking over! But…how do you style them?? We’re sharing 12 tops you can wear with your wide-leg pants for outfits that range from business to weekend casual. If you already have your wide-leg pants, adding these tops will be SO effortless. If you don’t already have a pair of wide-leg pants, we’ve linked some of Erin’s favorites too! Let’s dive in…
Wondering what shoes to wear with jeans? We have a super helpful graphic you don’t want to miss!
What Tops To Wear With Wide Leg Pants
Classic Black Sweater
For fall, a classic black sweater is a super easy way to style your wide-leg pants. In this look, Erin’s wearing a comfy black ribbed sweater by Open Edit but you could recreate this look with any black sweater you have in your closet. Just make sure it’s not too oversized or bulky. The key is to find a sweater that’s body-skimming!
By the way, these pants by Reiss are some of Erin’s new go-to’s! They’re super comfortable, have an elastic drawstring waist, and a flattering stripe down the side. They also come in petite length, which is what Erin’s wearing (she’s 5’4”). This look is perfect for travel, lounging at home, or errands.
Classic Ivory Sweater
If black isn’t your favorite, consider an ivory sweater instead! In this look, Erin’s wearing a more office-ready outfit. Her sweater is by Quince, 100% cashmere, high-quality, and super affordable! She styled the sweater with her favorite pair of wide-leg pants by Favorite Daughter. You’re going to see these pants in tan and black throughout the rest of this post…they’re THAT good! Erin has tried a lot of wide leg pants and trousers over the past year, and these are the best because they don’t create bulk around the tummy, the “Shortie” length is perfect on her at 5’4”, and the fabric feels very high-quality.
Turtleneck Sweater
Next, you can try styling your wide-leg trousers with a turtleneck sweater. Turtlenecks are tricky because they highlight right under the chin, which isn’t always flattering. But this one is thin, lightweight, doesn’t come up too high, and can be folded in. The thin cashmere fabric is great for tucking into pants without adding bulk around the tummy too. If you don’t like the gray, this sweater comes in a few other colors. The burgundy would make a fun pop of color (that’s still muted) for fall. Erin’s wearing the same Favorite Daughter pants from the previous look but in black! This look would be great for the office.
Vest
For a trendier wide-leg pants outfit, try a vest! Vests are very “in” right now and we love wearing them with a matching pair of trousers. The vest and the pants are both from Aritzia and have a great fit. Erin bought both pieces in white and black for her trip to Italy and loved how sophisticated and modern they made her look and feel when they went out to dinner.
Sexy Off-Shoulder Top
Remember the Reiss pants from #1? In that look, Erin styled them super casually with a black sweater. But if you want to turn up the sexy, wear them with an off-the-shoulder top like this one by Cult Gaia. You don’t need this exact top to make the look work, any sexy top will do. You could wear this look out to dinner, on date night, or for GNO.
Oversized Sweater
Wearing an oversized sweater with your wide-leg pants can be tricky. You don’t want to style your pants with a top or sweater that’s too thick because then you’ll have bunching and bulking around the tummy when you tuck/half tuck. In this look, Erin’s wearing an oversized sweater by Free People. But the material is thin enough, so you don’t have to worry about any extra volume in the midsection. She styled the sweater with a pair of pants by Reiss she snagged during the NSale this year. They are similar to the last pair of Reiss pants, but a little more elevated so they can easily be dressed up or down.
Fitted Ribbed Top
To avoid the possibility of adding bulk around the tummy, you can always style your trousers with a more fitted top or sweater. Adding a fitted top to balance out the volume on your lower half can be a great styling trick depending on your body shape too. You can go with a more fitted tank top, sweater, shell, or blouse…it’s totally up to you! In this look, Erin’s wearing a fitted ribbed top by Open Edit that’s not too fitted…it’s body-skimming! If you want to look even slimmer, consider adding a third layer over any of these wide-leg pant outfits. Erin’s wearing a denim blazer but it can be any blazer, denim jacket, or style of outerwear you prefer.
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Velvet Top
This is another great date night, GNO, or even holiday party look. Erin’s wearing a v-neck velvet top by Veronica Beard. The top is a little cropped, which works perfectly with the Veronica Beard pants because they’re pretty high-waisted. She has it barely tucked in, but you could wear it untucked too. The v-neckline combined with the elongating legs of the pants make this outfit incredibly slimming!
Pre-Layered Sweater
For a more casual but elevated look, try a pre-layered sweater like this one by Brochu Walker. It has pretty lace trim details around the neckline and hem that make the basic sweater feel more elevated. You could wear this sweater with any pair of wide-leg pants, but Erin has it on with a pair of flattering faux leather pants by Spanx. This look is super chic, edgy, and modern.
Lace Blouse
If you prefer a more feminine outfit, style your wide-leg pants with a lace blouse. This blouse by Wayf is one Erin has owned for years and multiple Team Busbee members love. The lace fabric is so pretty, it has puff shoulders, and the fit is flattering and body-simming. Erin’s wearing the tan Favorite Daughter pants and pumps for a simple office or dinner-ready look.
Hoodie
Wearing a hoodie with your wide-leg pants is super chic, trendy, and cool! We love this wide-leg pant outfit Erin put together. She’s wearing a cashmere hoodie underneath and an oversized blazer and threw on a pair of sneakers to keep it casual. You could wear this look running errands, on a coffee run, or to a casual lunch.
T-Shirt
One of the simplest tops to wear with your wide-leg pants is…a tee! For a super casual look, throwing on a tee and sneakers with your favorite wide-leg pants is so simple. And the good news is that you probably already have a basic white or black tee in your closet.
How To Style Wide Leg Pants
Consider the Fabric
We touched on the following tips briefly before but they are worth repeating. Pay attention to the fabric of the top you are styling with your wide-leg pants! Thicker fabrics are going to create bulk around the tummy and look less flattering. The fabric of your pants also matters. High-quality fabrics will fit much better than lower-quality fabrics.
Pay Attention to Fit
Which brings us to our next tip! Considering the fit of your tops and pants will help you put together more thoughtful-looking outfits. If high-waisted pants highlight a tummy for you, go for medium or low-rise pants instead. If puff-shoulder tops make your shoulders look broader, opt for a top with shoulder-minimizing details instead. It all comes down to knowing your body!
Consider The Tuck
We know that many of you have shared that tucking or half-tucking is not an option for you. If that’s the case, look for tops that you don’t have to tuck instead. The velvet cropped top we featured earlier, for example, would be a better option for you.
Have you embraced wearing wide-leg pants? How do YOU like to style them? Let us know in the comments below!
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