GoHaute

A rare commodity in years past, I have become quite adept at scouring every possible place that carries, or could perhaps carry, or maybe even sew me a pair of wide leg jeans. It was always all about the bootcut. Whether you went to Diesel or the Gap, that was usually your only choice.

Note: I am flat-out ignoring the so-called “classic styles” that still to this day pepper the shelves of shops in the hopes that a middle-aged woman from 1989 will stroll in and look for them. Jeans with high waists and tapered ankles are flattering on no one. And to stock them is to encourage the production of these ghastly silhouettes.

But back to bootcuts, which were themselves a revolution back in the mid 90’s when places like Abercrombie rolled out “flattering to all” cuts. I applaud the effort of trying to eliminate the “carrot” look for the lower part of the body, but the designers of these were quite off in claiming that it was a style to suit everyone.

My hips were what started me on wide legs. I have the Eastern European curves (as my mother calls it) and I have grown to, finally, not see my hip width as something only useful for easy birthing. However, I have always sought to “even out” my body-that is to create a flow from head to toe where nothing becomes so prominent that the focus only draws to that area. And wide legs do that for me.

Now I am not talking about these:

Or the horror that are these:

I don’t enjoy wearing a flowy denim skirt on each leg.

I am talking about a cut that does not hug a curve, but rather streamlines different parts of the body. So the fit should be comfortably snug on the hips (no muffin tops), and not too high-waisted - as this also accentuates curvy hips and thighs. And from that very point where the hips meet the legs it should all just flow down straight. It should not (or only very slightly) break at the knee into a wider opening - please no bell-bottoms! And it should DEFINITELY not taper in, as I’m sure no one likes the balloon effect on their lower portions.

So, in short, I just want to say HOORAY!! for the labels who have been putting out these gems increasingly for the past couple years. It seems my prayers to the denim gods have been finally answered!

For ideal cuts, look below:

Anlo Roth Wide Leg Trouser

Frankie B 3″ Wide Denim Trouser

William Rast Savoy Wide Leg Trouser

Seven for All Mankind Jeans Dojo