You spot a fire look on Pinterest – Amal Clooney wearing these flared pants en route to a high profile court case or a mirror selfie of an influencer in flared jeans lounging in her apartment – and so you ordered some flared pants. When they arrived, you excitedly pull them on and run to the mirror.
Uh oh, not exactly Pinterest-worthy is that?
That was exactly how I felt when I pulled on the pair of fitted black flared pants I ordered. I was rudely reminded that I don’t exactly have the longest legs in the world to pull off fitted flared pants, and I have relatively strong thighs (which I am proud of) from figure skating and well, genes.
I was about to return them, but one night, when I had to pick an outfit to go out for dinner in and I wasn’t interested in any other pants in my closet, I decided to give those flared pants another go and see if they’re actually that bad on me.
And they weren’t! That’s really the magic of styling for me. It’s all about knowing your body, accepting your body, and working with it to create your unique style that makes you feel fabulous and confident. Over the next couple of months after that night, I have worn those pants many times over, and I am so glad I didn’t return them.
Do I have short legs?
By short legs I don’t mean the actual length of your legs, I mean the thigh-to-calf ratio and the torso-to-legs ratio. If you have a higher number for both of these, you will look like you have shorter legs and vice versa. This means that you could be tall and have short legs, and short and have long legs.
By my above definition, I actually have average to short legs, and the tips that work for me will work for you!
Why flared pants are difficult on short legs
Flared pants are notoriously difficult on short legs because of one particular thing: your calves and ankles are gone. Poof! Gone.
When you are wearing skinny pants or leggings, you can visually shine with shorter legs because the full shape of your legs is honoured. With flared pants, if you don’t style in ways that visually elongate the lower part of your body, it will highlight your shorter lower body and make you look shorter overall.
How to wear flared pants if you have short legs
1. Wear with Heels
This is obvious but wear your pants with heels! This adds length to your calves and immediately elongates the look, making your whole outfit look proportionally better. I would suggest going with stilettos or a chunky open-toe platform.
2. Pointed / Open Toe Shoes over Round Toe Shoes
Wearing round-toe shoes does not serve you with flared pants. Visually, the length of your legs just stops adoptedly with round-toe shoes. Pointed-toe or open-toe shoes, however, somehow allow your legs to visually go on and on beyond where they actually stop on the ground. Weird trick on the eyes. Scientists have yet been able to explain this.
3. Wear a Top Cropped at the Waist
Let’s talk about what’s going on on top of your pants for a second. After you follow the above recommendations on shoe styling, I would suggest accentuating your waist by wearing something cropped at the waist. This is if you are comfortable with your lower belly being more exposed in your pants. If you are not, look to the next tip.
4. Wear a Belt over a Blazer
If you are not comfortable with your lower belly being exposed in your pants, wear a blazer and put a belt at your waist over it. Not only is this a chic look, but you can have multiple scoops of gelato at the end of dinner without sucking anything in.
5. Avoid Tops that Cut Off Below Mid Hip
A mid-hip crop is okay. But something that covers your whole hip and beyond would make your torso look extra long, and your legs short in comparison. So stay away from that unless it’s a certain look you’re going for.
Let me know if these tips on how to wear flared pants if you have short legs help!