Most of us have a ride-or-die style of jeans. You might be loyal to a high-rise or favor a wide leg instead. But does it work when you combine the two? Depending on your body type, it could be the ultimate combination for you.
Gen Z on TikTok officially canceled skinny jeans, with wide-leg jeans being their distant cousin. They’re the ultimate non-skinny jeans that offer you both comfort and style.
High-waisted wide-leg jeans are a versatile piece that can be dressed up or down
With these jeans, you don’t have to worry about feeling like your denim is squeezing you. The one thing that puts people off wide-leg jeans is the idea of how to style them. If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place!
Read on to learn everything you need about wearing high-rise wide-leg jeans, along with our answers to some of the most popular questions about this jean style.
Exploring the Appeal of High-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans
Picture the skinny jeans you wore as a teenager and then go in the opposite direction. These jeans have a full-length wide leg and a high-rise silhouette that gives them a distinctive silhouette.
Elevate your style with high-rise jeans featuring a full-length, wide-leg silhouette
The benefit of the high rise is that it hugs your curves in all the right places and helps to accentuate your natural figure. It tucks you in without leaving you feeling like you’ve been stuffed into jeans that are a size too small.
As fashion continues prioritizing comfort and size-inclusive silhouettes, high-rise wide-leg jeans are almost universally flattering.
Do High-Rise and Wide-Leg Jeans Look Good on Taller People?
Absolutely! If you’re lucky enough to be taller, you can take full advantage of this jeans style. High-rise and wide-leg jeans can look very flattering on taller people as they accentuate the length of the legs and create a balanced silhouette.
Do High-Rise and Wide-Leg Jeans Make You Look Fat?
It all depends on your body type. If you’re short and curvy, you may find that this isn’t the jeans style for you. Wide legs will always create the illusion of a larger silhouette and won’t give your legs a slimmer appearance.
However, high-rise jeans will help to pull in your waist. If you carry most of your weight around your hips, you might find that these jeans will still work for you.
Styling 101: Mastering the High-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans Look
The good news is that there’s no shortage of styling options for your high-rise, wide-leg jeans. They’re a closet staple that will help you transition your outfits from season to season.
These denim jeans work with everything from kitten heels and mules to sneakers and slides. It’s all about how you style them.
We’re rounding up a few of our favorite styling tips for wide-leg jeans to help you see how easily this style can be incorporated into your closet.
1. The Quintessential Casual: Sneakers with a Tee
One of our favorite ways to style high-rise wide-leg jeans is to keep it simple and casual with a white t-shirt and sneakers.
It’s a timeless look and the perfect go-to when you don’t know what to wear. You can choose platform sneakers to help add an extra dimension to your look.
Casual chic: Distressed high-waist jeans paired with a cotton-jersey tee and leather sneakers
2. Elevating with an Oversized Blazer
You can have fun with dimensions and proportions when styling wide-leg jeans. For example, you could wear a fitted top for contrast or play up the wider silhouette by adding an oversized blazer.
The blazer and jeans combo is a classic option that can take you from a day at the office to drinks with friends.
Sophisticated edge: High-rise wide-leg jeans with an oversized blazer and croc-embossed booties
3. The Timeless Elegance of a Button-Up Shirt
When in doubt, go with a button-up shirt. This shirt will help you take full advantage of the high-rise silhouette of these jeans. You can tuck in your shirt for a more defined waistline and let your jeans take center stage.
Choose a button-up shirt in a shade contrasting with your denim to help them pop. This elevated option is perfect for everyday wear as a transitional outfit.
Elevated simplicity: Wide-leg jeans complemented by a classic dobby shirt and suede sandals
4. Embracing the Comfort: Going Baggy from Head-to-Toe
Do you wish you could slip back into your loungewear? If you prefer a more laid-back and comfortable style, look for wide-leg jeans with a bagger silhouette.
You can fully embrace the look head-to-toe with oversized silhouettes, avoiding anything too fitted. You aim to make it look like you stole your outfit from your boyfriend’s closet.
Relaxed and rugged: Destroyed high-waist jeans with an oversized tee and chunky sneakers
5. Seasonal Sophistication: Pairing with a Long Trench Coat
Did we mention that wide-leg jeans work for every season? They’re the perfect style to invest in if you’re looking for designer jeans. We like to style wide-leg jeans with a long coat in winter to help layer up against the cold.
You want to consider your height when using this styling tip, as your coat should finish before the hem of your jeans. You can finish your look off with low-top sneakers or Chelsea boots.
Layered elegance: Frame Le Hardy high-rise wide-leg jeans paired with a Boss trench coat, a Lilla P ribbed turtleneck, and Nine West boots for a polished ensemble
6. Sharp Silhouettes: The Padded Shoulder Vest
One of the biggest trends of summer was the padded shoulder vest tee. What we love about this look is its simplicity – making it work hand-in-hand with wide-leg jeans. The padded shoulders of the sleeveless top help to balance your proportions for a more even silhouette.
This styling tip will help you get the most out of your wide-leg jeans in summer. You can throw on a blazer to help carry this look through to fall and winter.
Retro chic meets modern flair: Re/Done 70s ultra high-rise wide-leg jeans with Sam Edelman ankle strap sandals and a Federica Tosi vest boasting statement shoulder pads for a bold, fashionable statement
7. Textured Charm: Embracing Statement Knitwear
If there’s one thing we love to do with jeans, it’s to style them with another textured fabric. Knitwear is the perfect choice for the colder months and helps to add an extra dimension to your outfit.
You can keep it simple with a classic knit or go all out with an oversized baggy cable knit. We also love to use knitwear as a layering piece for a casual streetwear look with wide-leg jeans.
Tuck your knitwear into the front of these high-rise jeans and keep it baggy at the back for an effortlessly chic look.
Cozy yet chic: AG Adriano Goldschmied high-rise ultra wide-leg jeans paired with a plush Saks Fifth Avenue cable-knit wool-cashmere fisherman sweater and UGG waterproof leather boots for a stylish, weather-ready look
What do you think of high-rise, wide-leg jeans?