Best Wide-Leg Jeans for every mood, style and personality

Brenda Cooper, author, stylist, color expert and Emmy winning costume designer at Brenda Cooper Style could not be more thrilled that wide-leg jeans are back in fashion. “I hope they stay for a long time,” she says. Why? Unlike skinny jeans, they flatter body types from petites to fuller-figures and everything in between.

Depending on how they’re styled, wide-leg jeans look great across all generations and can convey vibes from funky and cool to elegant and sophisticated. Almost every brand that makes jeans for women, has at least one wide-legged option (most have several) in their repertoire. I have personal experience with a large number of them. As a tailor and pattern maker for film and television for 33 years, I attend fittings for all the actors in a show even when we’re using off-the-rack contemporary clothing. Most people would be surprised to learn that, on some shows, I alter a lot of jeans (including the wide-leg variety) and t-shirts.

To help me sift through the seemingly endless range of options of wide-leg jeans, I reached out to some fashion designers and stylists including Maddy Pelster, a personal stylist and owner of Holland & Bloom Style Co, Naina Singla, fashion stylist, Lindsey Glasser, co-founder of fashion brand, Grey Bandit and Daisy Barnett, founder and personal stylist at The Daisy Edit.

Our top picks for best wide-leg jeans

How to choose wide-leg jeans

“Wide-leg jeans are a return trend that can be incredibly flattering on nearly all body types,” says Barnett.

Our consumer landscape offers options for all shapes and sizes of people including jeans for curvy women, jeans for petite people, jeans for people who like to dress for every occasion and jeans for those who just want a comfortable, durable pair of pants. “When shopping for a new pair, the three most important considerations,” says Barnett, “are fit, denim weight and how you style them.”

Fit

Generally, wide-leg jeans come in two varieties: Those that fit snuggly through the waist and hips, then gently flare from the top of the leg and those that are boxier with a loose fit throughout.

The rise of the pants is another key factor in fit. Rise, if you’re not familiar, refers to how high they come up on your waist. A high-rise pant, designed to sit at (or even an inch above) your belly button, usually gives off a more tailored sophisticated look than lower-waisted versions. They’ll also elongate your legs if you’re more petite as well as provide taller people with the illusion of a shorter waist.

A mid-rise jean will likely hover right below your belly button while a low-rise style rests on your hips. Low rises are generally thought to be more flattering on people with less curves, though, depending on your overall style goal, they can work for most anyone.

Types of Wide Leg (Wide to Flared)

Some wide-leg jeans end in a palazzo style width that widens as an A-line skirt does while others simply fall straight down from the hips or the top of your thighs. Smaller people could find super wide styles a bit overwhelming. Though, I’m a long-time fan of the culotte style that gives off a "is it a skirt, or not?” vibe. I’m all for owning a range of wide-leg jeans in varying widths and lengths that I can dress up or down depending on my mood.

Color/Wash

Darker washes or black denim on a wide-leg pair of jeans give them the look of a pair of dress pants while lighter washes tend to convey a more casual vibe. White can go either way depending on your footwear; heels for a dressier look or sneakers for a more sporty athleisure one.

Fabric Content and Weight

A lighter-weight denim will give you a more flowy, breezy look while a heavier one will provide a more structured silhouette.

Some people like some stretch with their denim for a closer fit, while others (like me) prefer a more OG 100% cotton feel. Cotton stretches and molds to your body with time so the more you wear a pair of non-stretch jeans, the better they’ll fit. I’m never a fan of leggings or jeggings, but if I do try a pair with some stretch I make sure it only contains only a small percent.

Length/Inseam

Ideally, says Pelster, “wide-leg denim should hit right at the floor to an inch or two above the floor when wearing shoes.” That is unless you’re going for a cropped silhouette or the long, puddle-hem look, which is when the fabric of long pants puddles around the feet and ankle. Pay attention to the inseam length when choosing a pair of pants but remember the same length will hit differently depending on your height and what shoes you wear them with.

Taller women often have problems finding pants with sufficiently long inseams for their height.

Caitlin Begg, host of Progression to Analog podcast, and a 6-foot-1 former division-one athlete, says she can never find jeans that are long enough and fit right. Until, that is, she stumbled upon the Denham store during a visit to Amsterdam in 2022. “I have no financial incentive to say this but their jeans are incredible!” she gushes. Wide-leg jeans in particular look great on tall women, says Begg and Denham offers flattering wide-leg cuts with inseam options.

How to style wide-leg jeans

Just as there are a variety of wide-leg jeans available, there are a range of ways to style them. “They have a loose fit, making them a comfortable choice that can be dressed up and down,” says Singla.

Go for a tonal look

Barnett recommends a fitted or cropped navy-blue cardigan paired with the classic and flattering Pilcro jeans from Anthropologie.“This makes the jeans the hero,” she says, “The tone on tone draws the eyes to the shape of the outfit rather than other elements like patterns or textures.” This means the fit of the jeans really stands out. She also likes the “balance of a sweet, classic cardigan with the long, wild pant leg.”

Balance proportion

“Consider offsetting the loose silhouette of the denim with a fitted tank, button down or bodysuit which will create a sleek, streamlined look,” says Singla. Or, pair a cropped cashmere cardigan or blazer with your wide-leg denim. This will elongate your legs, she says, especially if the jeans are high waisted and your top layer hits right above your hip. “This is a great way to put together a more styled and polished look,” she explains. Alternatively, a tailored blazer and a tucked-in silky long sleeve blouse with wide-leg denim will appear dressy. And, she adds, “a belt is always a nice finishing touch.”

Have fun

Cooper offers up some playful ways to style your jeans. “Pairing wide-leg jeans with a cropped tank top, cool belt and trendy sneakers or Doc Martens will create a chunky, funkier look,” she says. And you can always add a cropped hooded sweatshirt for cold weather. For a sexier look, Cooper suggests pairing the jeans with a bikini top, high heeled sandals, a great pedicure and statement earrings.

Want dressy?

For a simple, sophisticated look don a black turtleneck (long sleeves or sleeveless for warm weather) and black suede ankle boots. “Look for a wide-leg jean that is made of lighter-weight denim,” Cooper advises, “so that it doesn’t feel heavy on the body and has an excellent drape.”

What shoes to wear with wide-leg jeans

The right shoe is critical when it comes to styling wide-leg jeans, says Barnett. A high clog is her go-to, but she also likes a classic boot with a pointy toe. As odd as it may sound, a sandal with a kitten heel looks great if you want a lower shoe.”

Singla suggests fun and playful heels as they’ll offer an element of interest, especially if you choose a pair of jeans that are cropped at the ankle. If you’re petite, this can balance the look.“For a neutral look, wear a darker pair of wide-leg jeans,” she says, “add flats and a simple tucked in camisole with a blazer. This works well for a casual day at the office.”The darker wash of the wide-leg jeans gives the appearance of trousers and fosters a more work appropriate and elevated style, she explains. Finally, for a weekend casual outfit, Singla suggests a pair of wide-leg jeans with white sneakers and a cropped tee.“Layer a trench for a super relaxed look that works for a farmers market run or casual brunch.”

How I selected the best wide-leg jeans

Personal experience

I’ve been dressing and altering and making garments for actors of all shapes and sizes for over 30 years. I’ve seen wide-leg jeans come into style, then out, then in, out and in again. As a tailor and pattern maker, I know a lot about different fabrics, what looks good on different body types, how to fit clothing, and how to tell if a garment is well made.

Expert recommendations

I took into account recommendations and advice from other stylists and designers. They all have unique tips and knowledge to offer and I talked to several for this article.

Price, quality, and style

I weighed my experience and the suggestions of the experts I talked to against attributes like cost, overall quality, style, color/wash options and size inclusivity to come up with a diverse list of wide-leg jeans to satisfy and compliment a range of styles and personalities.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What body type should wear wide-leg jeans?

Glasser believes anyone can wear wide-leg jeans. There are so many options for lengths, as well as different rises that anyone can find a pair they like. The only thing, says Singla, “is you have to be careful how you style them, so that they are the most flattering.” It's all about proportions and balance, and finding your ideal length.

So, how do you determine your ideal length? While some is personal preference, Singla recommends the following guidelines. For petites, avoid styles that are really cropped and choose a high-waist denim. “Pair them with pointy toe heels for additional height and tuck in your shirt to show off your waist and make the legs look longer,” she says. For those with curves, choose wide-leg jeans in a darker color and avoid styles that are too slouchy and relaxed.

Are wide-leg jeans more flattering?

According to Cooper, the challenge of wide-leg jeans is that many women assume the wide-leg will make them look short. Many have been led to believe that only tall, slender women can wear wide-legs.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” she says. How a wide-leg jean or pant drapes on the body magically minimizes and slims that body — as well as being roomier and more comfortable than slimmer styles.

“A wide-leg jean does not automatically make you look wide or short,” Cooper says. She also loves that they’re so versatile. You can wear them during the day and transition into casual evening wear and be confident that you look modern, chic, and fashionable, she explains. They’re a fabulous style alternative to skinny jeans or sweats.

What is the best length for wide-leg jeans?

This depends on what look you’re going for. Some wide-leg are meant to be long, puddling over your shoes. These give off a trendier ‘90s style and are not the length you’d really want to wear if you’re going to be traipsing around town or in nature—or if it’s raining. If you’re on the shorter side, an ideal length might be just to the top of your toe when in heels; this will make your legs look longer. Glasser tends to wear sneakers a lot so she has a pair that cuts right below the ankle so they don’t drag on the floor. However, she keeps a pair that is a longer length to wear with heels when going out. Once you get on the wide-leg jean bandwagon, you’ll likely want more than one pair.