Okay, so I finally jumped on the wide leg jeans train. Saw them everywhere, figured I’d give ’em a shot. Bought a pair, brought them home, put them on. They felt comfy, looked kinda cool… until I tried to figure out what shirt to wear. Man, that was a whole process.
My First Attempts – Total Misses
First, I grabbed my usual go-to: a loose, comfy tunic top. Big mistake. Huge. Looked like I was wearing a tent on top of another tent. Zero shape, just… fabric everywhere. Okay, scratch that.
Next, I tried a regular-length band t-shirt, untucked. Still not right. It just cut me off visually in a weird spot, made my legs look shorter, and the whole silhouette was just sloppy. I realized pretty quick these jeans needed a different approach than my old skinny jeans.
Figuring Out the Tops – Trial and Error
Alright, back to the closet. I started thinking about balance. If the pants are wide, maybe the top needs to be… not wide?
- Fitted Tops: Pulled out a simple, snug-fitting ribbed top. Tucked it all the way in. Hey, now we’re talking! Suddenly I had a waist again. The defined top balanced out the volume of the jeans. This felt much better.
- Tucked-In Button-Downs: Tried a classic button-down shirt. Left it untucked? Nope, same sloppy problem. Tucked it in fully? Much cleaner. Even did that half-tuck/French tuck thing, just tucking the front bit. That worked too, felt a bit more casual but still defined.
- Cropped Stuff: Found a sweater that’s naturally a bit shorter, hitting right around the waistband of the jeans. Perfect! No tucking needed, but it still didn’t add extra bulk around my hips. Cropped t-shirts also seemed to work on the same principle.
- Bodysuits: Dug out a bodysuit I rarely wear. Honestly? This was maybe the easiest option. Smooth line, automatically tucked in, no fuss. Looked really sleek.
The Shoe Situation – Another Puzzle
Okay, tops sorted, kinda. But then, shoes. This was tricky too.
My regular flat sneakers? They kinda got swallowed by the wide leg hem. Looked a bit stumpy, if I’m honest. Needed something to give me a little lift or presence.
What worked better for me:
- Platform Sneakers: These were pretty good. Gave me some height, felt casual, and the chunkiness held its own against the wide denim.
- Heeled Boots: Ankle boots with a bit of a heel (block heel works great) were a winner. They peeked out from under the hem, made my legs look longer, and instantly made the jeans feel a bit more dressed up. Pointed toes helped too.
- Simple Heels: For a smarter look, basic pumps or heeled sandals also did the trick. Again, the height makes a big difference with the volume of the jeans.
- Chunky Loafers: Tried some loafers with a thicker sole. Also not bad! Better than totally flat shoes.
So, What’s the Verdict?
After all that experimenting in front of the mirror, here’s what I landed on for actually wearing these wide leg jeans out in the real world:
Keep the top fitted or tucked in. Seriously, defining your waist is key. Bodysuits, tucked-in tees, fitted sweaters, even a tucked-in button-down works great. Cropped tops that end near the waistband are also a good bet.
Shoes need some presence. Either some height (heels, platforms, boots) or some chunkiness (chunky sneakers, loafers with a lug sole). Delicate flats tend to get lost.
It’s really about balancing the proportions. Wide on the bottom needs structure or definition on top. Took me a bit of trial and error, messing up my room pulling clothes out, but I think I’ve got a handle on it now. They’re actually pretty versatile once you crack the code.
