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The style is ageless.
Wide-leg silhouettes have been trending for a few years now, and for good reason. That shape makes any basic outfit instantly more interesting while the roomy, slightly oversized fit is actually comfortable. And while wide-leg jeans are always an option, celebrities have been gravitating towards a more dressed-up style.
This week, Glenn Close, 77, appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show wearing a bright red blazer and matching wide-leg trousers. Although slacks have a history of being stuffy and serious, the oversized leg on these gave the pants a more casual-cool feel, with the exaggerated leg modernizing Close’s pantsuit.
Grapent Wide-Leg Pant
$35 at Amazon
But wide-leg trousers aren’t just for dressing up; the relaxed style looks just as good with something as casual as sneakers and a white T-shirt. That versatility is perhaps why they’ve become such a staple in Hollywood, with stars across every generation—from Elle Fanning and Ayo Edebiri to Katie Holmes and Demi Moore—reaching for them. They’re cool, chic, and can work in every situation, which is why I consider them a wardrobe essential. Below, shop the ageless style stars keep turning to, starting at $35.
8 Wide-Leg Trousers
- $35 Deal: Grapent Wide-Leg Pant, $35; amazon.com
- 58% Off: Madewell the Harlow Drapey Twill Wide-Leg Pant, $50 (Originally $118); madewell.com
- Gap 365 High-Rise Pleated Trousers, $49 (Originally $90); gap.com
- Banana Republic Ultra High-Rise Wide-Leg Flannel Trouser, $48 (Originally $120); bananarepublicfactory.gapfactory.com
- Beyond Yoga Status Trouser, $114; nordstrom.com
- Everlane the Buttersoft Trouser, $118; everlane.com
- Cos Tailored Wide-Leg Trouser, $135; nordstrom.com
- Sézane Aldo Trouser, $175; sezane.com
Beyond Yoga Status Trouser
$114 at Nordstrom
If comfort is your top priority, you’ll want to grab Beyond Yoga’s Status pants. These have all the details of a nice trouser—pleats, loops, a button-front—with one seriously practical detail: That elastic waistband. Shoppers report that they “look professional” enough for the office while secretly “feeling like [you’re] wearing sweatpants.”
Madewell the Harlow Drapey Twill Wide-Leg Pant
$118 $50 at Madewell.com
Madewell’s best-selling Harlow trousers are on sale for $50 right now, making them an obvious add-to-cart. These are lightweight and loose, which creates the perfect drape. But before expanding into that roomy leg, they sit high and fitted on the waist, with customers calling them “unbelievably flattering.”
Gap 365 High-Rise Pleated Trousers
$90 $49 at Gap.com
Ever since Elle Fanning stepped out in her ‘90s-inspired high-waisted trousers, I’ve been looking for a similar pair. This style from Gap, now on sale for $49, is pretty damn close. They too sit super high on the waist, feature pleated details at the front, and are ridiculously roomy. An added bonus is that elastic at the back of the waist, which creates a more comfortable fit.
Rather than adding yet another pair of jeans to your wardrobe this winter, consider grabbing yourself some wide-leg trousers. The trending style is ageless, versatile, and, IMO, knocks the former out of the park when it comes to comfort. Below, shop even more of the styles I’m loving.
Banana Republic Ultra High-Rise Wide-Leg Flannel Trouser
$120 $48 at Banana Republic
Everlane the Buttersoft Trouser
$118 at Everlane.com
Cos Tailored Wide-Leg Trouser
$135 at Nordstrom
Sézane Aldo Trouser
$175 at Sezane.com