09
Nov
Here’s a question I get asked all the time, and it’s a good one. The answer might surprise you though. Finding the perfect pants for your body shape has very little to do with your weight. It has everything to do with your shape.
Once you shift your focus from the number on the tag to the shape of your body, buying pants gets a whole lot easier. The right style will highlight the parts you love and skim over the parts you’d rather keep quiet. That’s the magic of dressing for your shape.
Now, there are three classic pant styles that work beautifully across all body shapes. These are the styles I come back to again and again. They’re timeless, they’re flattering, and they’re worth having in your wardrobe.
Style One: Wide Leg Pants
Wide leg pants are one of the most flattering styles you can own.
Go for a mid to high rise. This sits comfortably at or above your natural waist and gives you a smooth, clean line across the stomach and hips. The leg then falls from the lower hip to the hem in a wide, relaxed line that elongates your legs beautifully.
As for pockets, that’s entirely up to you. If you love a side pocket, look for a style that has them. If you’d rather keep the silhouette clean, skip them.
A good place to start: Forever New is an Aussie brand with a solid range of wide leg pants in both casual and workwear styles. Great for building wardrobe staples.
Style Two: Straight Leg Pants
Think of straight leg pants as the Goldilocks of the pant world. Not too slim, not too wide. Just right.
They fall in a straight line from the top of the leg all the way to the hem. That straight line is what makes them so good. It creates length, gives a clean silhouette, and works on almost every body shape.
Again, stick with a mid to high rise. Low rise has a habit of creating a muffin top on most people, and nobody needs that.
Worth checking out: AAM specialises in styles for curvy girls, with a roomier leg and a waistband designed to fit a curvy waistline. No more back gap. Their range comes in different cuts and colours, so there’s plenty to choose from.
Style Three: Bootcut Pants
Bootcut pants are a classic for good reason. They never really go out of style, and they work on pretty much every body shape.
The leg is fitted through the thigh and then flares out slightly from the knee down. That subtle flare balances out wider hips and thighs, creates a lovely long line through the leg, and pairs perfectly with a heel or a flat boot.
If you haven’t tried bootcut in a while, it’s worth revisiting. The modern versions are sleeker and more refined than the wide flares of the past.
Like the other two styles, go for a mid to high rise. It makes a noticeable difference to how the whole outfit sits. Forcast have some awesome styles.
So What Are the Perfect Pants for Your Body Shape?
Honestly? All three.
These are the styles that stylists reach for because they work across all shapes and sizes. Whether you’re petite, tall, curvy, straight up and down, or somewhere in between, wide leg, straight leg, and bootcut pants will serve you well.
Start with whichever style appeals to you most and build from there.
Ready to find your perfect pair? If you’d like help working out which styles suit your shape try our Body Shape Quiz and then review your style guide.
