How to Pull Off Wide-Leg Pants

We are decidedly living in the golden age of wide-leg pants. Skinny pants have been out for a decade. A straight-leg is classic, but not exactly novel and exciting. And don't even get me started on anything that tapers in below the knee—I have chills just thinking about it. It's all about the wide leg in 2025, and if you're going wide, you've gotta nail the styling, too.

It doesn't matter whether you're reaching for denim or a suit trouser; it's all wide, baby. I've already written a guide on what kind of shoes to wear with baggy jeans for you, and for the most part, you can use those same tips on deciding on footwear for your wide-leg pants.

Keep in mind, though that wide doesn't have to mean ridiculously huge and billowy. Just reach for something a little bit more relaxed than your average pants, with fabric that doesn't hug your legs, and creates a slightly more column-like silhouette.Then, come back here for a complete rundown on what to wear with 'em.

Michael B. Jordan pairs wide-leg trousers with a slightly-cropped, fitted cardigan and lug-sole shoes.

With a heeled shoe and tailored blazer, Drew Starkey elevates an otherwise casual, wide-leg jean.

Sometimes, making your look cohesive is as easy as opting for the same fit from head to toe. With your wide-legged pants, a big top usually fits the bill—especially if you're going for a cool yet casual, easy streetwear look.

This could mean reaching for a boxy tee, or an oversized sweater, or a hoodie. Even wearing a generously cut jacket does the trick. Going wide on top and wide on the bottom has the effect of creating an all-around relaxed silhouette; nothing looks out of place when everything has the same fit. It's all laid-back, all easy and breezy.

With an oversized button-down and relaxed denim jacket, Jeremy Allen White nails dressing-down his wide-leg pants.

Justin Bieber’s cropped, boxy hoodie, paired with wide-legged suit trousers? A match made in heaven.

Scratch everything I just said, and reverse it. Sometimes—and especially if you want to elevate things a little bit—going for some visual contrast is the way to do it. Wide-leg pants, meet slim, sleek, tailored top.

This isn't to say you need to wear a super-tight baby tee—just something with a trim look. Could be a blazer, could be a chic topcoat, could be a button-down. Maybe even a fantastically fitted tee. This is especially true for wide-leg, pleated trousers, but even jeans look pretty damn great with this formula. To real drive the proportional interplay hom, throw on a pointed-toe shoe or a boot, while you're at it.

When you're tailored on top and wide on the bottom, it also adds a bit of classic elegance to your fit, even if your wide-legged pants are very contemporary.

Walton Goggins wears pleated, wide-leg trousers with a chic overcoat and leather loafers for a polished look.

Take notes from Jacob Elordi—sometimes, all it takes to dress up a pair of wide-legged jeans is a sleek, tailored topcoat.

Still not convinced you can pull off a wide-leg pant? Let me make it even easier for you—just grab a matching suit jacket and you'll look put-together.

In this day and age, a slouchy, relaxed suit is rarely a bad idea. That usually means wide-leg pants are part of the package, and when you have a matching jacket—whether it's on the fitted side, as Tyler James Williams' is below, or baggier, like Robert Pattinson's—it helps to create a cohesive, coordinated effect. Your wide leg will never look out of place if it's part of a suit; it'll always look intentional.

Tyler James Williams goes for an all-periwinkle look with this suit, complete with wide-leg, pleated pants and a matching double-breasted jacket.

It’s as easy as Robert Pattinson makes it look—wide-leg pants, slightly oversized jacket.