How to Wear Wide-Leg Pants If You're Petite
I had no idea I would be short or petite until my freshman year of high school when I noticed that just about everybody else grew over the summer except me. I was so perplexed, just couldn’t understand how everyone was taller than me. Had I known then that dressing a petite body would be so difficult I would have maybe bargained with God for a little more height.
Did you know that most people still think petite means skinny when in fact petite has nothing to do with weight. Petite refers to stature not weight. It’s a term used in the fashion industry to describe a woman who is 5'3 tall or under. Petite women come in all shapes and sizes, whether they're a size 4 or 14.
Being 4’11” was cute at first until I realized that some trends I wouldn’t be able to pull off as easily as my taller fashionistas. For instance, the one trend I stayed away from was wide-legged pants and long skirts. That is until I discovered a few style tricks.
First of all ladies, we are not all built equal. Meaning although we are short, some petites have shorter torsos and longer legs and others have a longer torso and shorter legs. I happen to have a shorter torso and (shorter) longer legs. Knowing your portions helps when it comes to wearing wide-legged pants if you’re petite.
There are a few ways to pull off wearing big legged pants… check them out below:
1. Find a pair that is high waisted so that you’re legs look longer. Opt for cropped or ankle length.
2. Wear them with high heels, or boots with a heel, so again, you look taller.
3. Try tucking (or half tucking) in your shirt to create more definition at your waist.
4. Don’t want to wear heels, wear them with flats. Just because you’re petite does not mean a trend doesn’t look good on you without the extra height.
5. Get them tailored or cut your own hem.
At the end of the day, there’s no height-related excuse as to why you can’t give wide-leg pants a go (unless you just don’t like them.) But if you’re a fan, how do you style your wide-leg pants?
Photography: Kaylin James
