Wide-leg pants may be considered the trendiest pants style of 2023, but you’ve got to admit that not all short girls can pull off the look beautifully, and if you fail to style these pants well, there is the peril of the pants making you look shorter.
I am a short girl myself, and as a member of the club, I can tell you that my first time was not as adventurous or as edifying as I’d hoped – let’s just say I looked like I rushed out of bed with my slightly stylish pjs.
But I’ve learned a lot over time, and I’ll share tips and tricks for wearing wide-leg pants, especially if you are a short girl.
But first, the biggest enigma where wide-leg pants are concerned.
Do wide-leg pants make you look shorter or taller?
While the wide-legged pants have been around for quite some time now, most style and fashion pages only show off these pants on supermodels or very skinny women.
On them, the pants give off the most elegant vibes, regardless of the tops they wear with them. They not only appear to have a slimming effect, but the wearers often look taller. And so, if you are a short girlie, you may be wondering if you will look any good in the wide-leg pants.
Well, the truth is that if you are short, the wide-leg pants will not do justice to your silhouette, and the pants tend to make the wearer appear shorter, especially if the cut is wrong.
Note, however, that it is not just about the leg width but also the cut of these pants, your silhouette, and most importantly, the shoes you wear.
I want to argue that if you are a short girl planning to wear wide-legged pants, first make sure that you have the right shoes for the pants, preferably heels. It’s not about the color, pattern, and textures on these pants, but the cut and your height.
The width of the legs is equally essential. And so, if you are 5’3” or even shorter, the only way that the wide-leg pants would make you look taller is if the pants were the right cut at the legs.
If the pants are too long for your frame, you will look shorter than you are. But this doesn’t mean that you should avoid the wide-legged pants if you are short.
You should embrace the look; just make sure that the pants’ leg hits right above the ankle bone. This way, the pants don’t swallow up all your lower limbs, making you look and feel bad about yourself.
And to avoid looking weird, especially if you are tall and your legs are pretty long, you may want to wear wide-leg pants designed to sit at the bottom of your calm muscle or maybe just slightly above.
However, these pants will work for anybody’s type and height. You could even opt for the wide-leg pants with slits on each side, going up to your mid-thigh. These do a great job of elongating your legs while slimming down the waistline so you won’t look shorter than you are.
So, if you are short and have been questioning your decision to buy a pair of wide-leg pants, this is your cue to get it out of hiding, maybe get it to the tailor for some alterations, and then rock those pants.
We understand that clothes shopping isn’t much fun when you’re short, especially in the ‘normal’ people’s aisle, but it doesn’t mean that you cannot find some cool outfits to wear.
Because wide-leg pants at ankle length tend to emphasize your ankles’ horizontal lines and create an illusion of cut-off legs and a shorter frame, ensure that the pants end on the ankle bone and leave some skin.
More tips on making the pants look great are coming up shortly.
Do wide-leg pants look good on tall people?
The wide-leg pants look good on tall people; tall people look quite elegant in wide-leg pants, especially if one pays attention to the cut of these pants.
You may argue that the wide-leg pants were designed for tall women. The pants, especially the ones with exaggerated cuts, will add oomph to your slim, long, straight legs.
Do wide-leg pants look good on short people?
The wide-leg pants look great on short people, but only if the cut of the pants is proper. To look great and for a height boost, you may want to wear cropped wide leg, high-rise pants.
What body type can wear wide-leg pants?
The wide-leg pants look great on individuals with triangle and rectangle body shapes. The exaggerated cuts will add a much-needed oomph to your legs, especially if they are slim and straight.
These pants are also flattering on short individuals if they are cropped. But in general, these wide-leg pants are pretty flattering on most body types, so you shouldn’t shy away from the pants because of your body type. Instead, try the wide-leg pants in different sizes and cuts.
Pros and cons of wearing wide-leg pants
Pros
- Wide-leg pants make you look taller. Since skinny jeans don’t look great on all petite girlies, we recommend wide-leg pants as an alternative. While making you look taller, they also accentuate curves. We recommend the high-waisted wide-leg pants for this effect and the ones with a cropped cut or right below the ankles to expose the skinny part of your legs.
- These pants accentuate curves because they enhance your natural waist effortlessly, lengthening the legs. Just make sure that the pants are not too wide.
- Wide-leg pants are versatile, and you can wear them on any occasion/ setting, in and out of the office, in summer sandal heels or stilettos.
- The wide-leg pants are quite comfortable, and they let you breathe while giving you some wiggle room.
- They are stylish and affordable
- These pants work for all body types
Cons
- The wrong cut and width could make you look shorter
- The extra-wide pants aren’t always flattering
Tips for wearing wide-leg pants that make you look taller
1. Wear ankle-length or cropped wide-leg pants
To avoid the headache of the pants making you look shorter, wear these pants with heels and opt for the cropped or ankle-length pant cuts because these will make your ankles stand out as the pants skim over your hips gracefully.
If you are 5’2” and have an inseam length of 28 inches, go for ankle-length pants for an excellent fit – you won’t have to make a trip to the tailor.
2. Cut the hem
A raw hem might have been frowned upon, but the unfinished hem is quite stylish today. This fashion loophole means you get to wear the pants at the right height for you, even as the pants unraveling give off a friendly, chic vibe.
3. Scale is everything
The ideal length or cut is above the ankle bone for these pants. You must show off the ankle. Also, opt for the high-waist pants for an illusion of longer legs, and pair the pants with a tucked-om bodysuit or a crop top.
4. Mom’s jeans look great for starters
If you find the idea of wide-leg pants but haven’t dared to wear them, we recommend starting with mom jeans to get a feel of these relaxed and comfortable pants.
Conclusion
Wide-leg pants may make you look shorter if they are too long, too wide, and low-waisted.
So, avoid these – go for high-waist, ankle-length, or cropped-length wide-leg pants, and avoid the pants that are too wide.
Read more fashion tips here or here!
Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.