My Favorite Pair of women’s jeans for Everyone | The Wide Leg Jean Phenomenon
Honestly, I own more jeans than I’m willing to admit. Yet, if my house were on fire, I’d run back in for these. That is if I wasn’t already wearing them! The secret is finding a style that looks great on you and with all of your shoes. There is no question that wide leg these will be the most popular jeans this fall and winter. I’m breaking down the wide leg jean phenomenon. I’m going to show you everything you need to know including where to buy them, how long they should be, all the ways to wear them, and the best fit for your body type.
YouTube
If you’re a visual learner start by watching this video, then use the links in this post to shop for all of the high-low wide leg jean outfit ideas I share.
The Most Versatile Wide Leg Women’s Jeans
Finding the most versatile pair of jeans has everything to do with one measurement, but has nothing to do with your measurement. It has everything to do with the “opening” or the distance along the bottom of your jeans. If you can find wide-leg women’s jeans with an opening between 17 and 22″ you’ll be able to wear them with all of your shoes. The most versatile length for a wide-leg crop jeans is ankle length.
How to find your cropped or ankle-length inseam.
- First find your full length inseam. Step on a soft tape measure to find the measurement from your center crotch seam (on a fitted pair of pants) to the ground.
- Place a rubberband around your ankle, then measure from your ankle to the ground.
- Subtract that measurement from your full-length inseam. That is your cropped inseam.
If you know “your” cropped inseam, you can compare it to the inseams listed online when you are shopping. This gives you a better idea of how the jeans will look on you, not just the model.
Petite Wide Leg Jeans For Women
Some “cropped” jeans may actually be full-length on you! Brands like FRAME and MOTHER offer “petite” styles that are shorter, have better knee placement, and have a lower rise.
This is my new favorite pair of jeans. They have a 17.5″ opening that looks good with flats or heels The “petite” version I’m wearing is only 26.25″ long and the perfect length for me without hemming. Typically, anyone under 5′ 4″ is considered “petite”, but God made us all different shapes and sizes, so it is best to use “your” measurements when you shop. You can get the longer cropped version of this same style HERE.
Lil Mother Jeans
I’m 5’4” and wearing a “regular” in the same styles as my niece who is 5’ and wearing the petite version of the same styles. Notice the difference in the knee placement and rise that makes these petite jeans more flattering on a petite frame.
How to Hem Your Jeans at Home – New Sewing
The Best Shoes For Wide Leg Jeans
Most wide-leg jeans fall into two categories; those with openings between 17″ and 22″ and those with openings closer to 26″. Whether they’re long or short, typically wide leg jeans with a wider opening look better with bigger heels that fill the space along your hem and help your silhouette head-to-toe look balanced.
Current Favorites
This fall tall boots are back. Updated your wardrobe and wear them under your jeans instead of over them!
Wide leg crop jeans with smaller openings look better with flats and sneakers. Choose closed-toe flats with a pointed or almond-shaped toe box. If you like a bulkier boot or reto-style sneaker with a round toe, it helps if you show a little skin.
The Best Wide Leg Jeans For Your Body Type
Most wide leg jeans come with a higher rise. That’s the measurement from the center crotch seam to the top of the waistband. To find the most flattering fit for you, find “your” rise and then pick a pair of jeans with a rise that stops near your belly button. For a majority of women that is usually about 11″. If you’re a lot shorter on your top or bottom half, look for a rise that will give you length where you need it. A higher rise can help elongate your legs, and a lower rise can give you a little more room between your bra and your belly button.
Universally Flattering Fits
Paige makes a style called “Anessa” that comes in different colors and lengths but usually comes with a universally flattering 11.5″ rise and versatile 22″ opening. The Nordstrom 6 chose the Anessa as part of our August Nordstrom 6 Drop. I’m wearing a the new dark denim wash in this Coffee In My Closet Style Session on Instagram and on YouTube. My Nordstrom 6 friend Danielle and I are both wearing the long version with a raw hem in the photo. I’m 5’4″ and wearing a size 25. Danielle is 5’9″ and she is rocking a size 31. You can find “Anessa” in plus sizes HERE.
Fidelity Denim
Rails Denim
This flattering style from Fidelity sold out in one weekend, but is restocked now! It has an 11″ rise and 24″ opening. If you can’t wear “jeans” to work try this wide leg style from Rails that comes in 14 washes and 4 colors including the emerald green that I’m wearing.
What To Wear With Wide Leg Jeans
Now that you know you can wear any shoes you want you can start making wide leg jean outfits. Since most wide leg jeans come with a higher rise they will look the best with shorter tops and layering pieces.
Top Tops for Your Body Type
If you’re already struggling because your are broad, busty, or petite look for tops that are surplus style. Surplus style criss-cross or wrap which draw lines on your body that are slimming.
If you fight feeling thick in the middle or have a shape that is straight up and down try a peplum top. A peplum top flares out where your waist is typically the smallest. This adds the illusion of a little more shape at your waist. You don’t tuck a peplum top so it helps camouflage any belly bulge you have and can add a little more length to your top half.
If you’re looking to add some of the length you lost in your torso with a higher rise jean, try a turtleneck. with long arms and a high neckline, turtlenecks are naturally elongating. This is my favorite classic super soft black cotton turtleneck, but something sheer is fun and can be styled in lots of different ways. I have this one from Amazon under $10 and it comes in a bunch of colors.
Heading into fall you’ll be looking to layer, just don’t get lost in them. Look for short structured layers like a shrunken blazer, motorcycle jacket, or trending bomber.
If you’re looking for lofty soft layers consider a short cardigan instead of a long one. A shorter cardigan that stops right around your hip or pocket looks the best with wide leg jeans. When you wear a long cardigan chances are it will stop right around your finger tips, which is about half of your overall silhouette. When your bottom half is already oversized and you add to that to proportions that are now 50/50 the look isn’t very flattering.