I originally covered this topic over two years ago. Wide leg pants have remained popular for good reason. They are comfortable and forgiving if worn correctly. Let’s take a look at Chic and Comfortable Wide Leg Pants for Women over 50, and the history behind them.
According to Wikipedia “Palazzo pants are long women’s pants cut with a loose, extremely wide leg that flares out from the waist”. “Culottes are an item of clothing worn on the lower half of the body, can refer to split skirts, historical men’s breeches, or women’s underpants.” Palazzo pants for women first became a popular trend in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The style was reminiscent of the wide-legged cuffed pants worn by some women fond of avant-garde fashions in the 1930s and 1940s, particularly actresses such as Katherine Hepburn, Greta Garbo, and Marlena Dietrich.
Chic and Comfortable Wide Leg Pants for Women over 50
Thanks to their flattering silhouette, these pants are great for women of all ages, heights and body shapes. Diane Keaton has rocked the look for years. Wide leg pants have been the signature of both Diane Keaton and Meg Ryan. Jane Fonda often sports a slimmer version and Helen Mirren has often been spotted in more of a palazzo look.
HOW TO WEAR CHIC AND COMFORTABLE WIDE LEG PANTS
Can ordinary over 50-year-olds pull it off? Sure we can. Thanks to their flattering silhouette, these pants are great for women of all ages, heights, and body shapes. They accentuate your waist and can hide a multitude of lower body sins, creating the illusion of an hourglass figure. If you are in your twenties or thirties you might be able to pull off the “pooled pant” look. For our age group, they should just skim the ground, unless they are cropped.
Our late friend, stylist, and mentor Brenda Kinsel was an ace at styling “well anything”. We miss her so. Here she is styling wide leg pants to perfection. You can read about how she styled wide leg pants here. If you weren’t lucky enough to know Brenda and you want to learn more about styling anything bookmark her website.
Brenda would often highlight an outfit she spotted on someone on the street in her anatomy of an outfit series. She was such a pro.
My friend Elizabeth (aka the Contessa) wouldn’t think of wearing anything but a wide-leg pant, and she wears them well. She is quite tall so she wears them beautifully. Elizabeth never wears heels and always looks chic.
Linda V Wright is rarely seen in anything but a wide-lelg pant. She just oozes style. Here she has a crisp white shirt (a trademark of her shop Crimson in Paris) tied at the waist with her signature wide leg pant. I have never seen Linda in a pair of heels.
Tamera Beardsley always styles the wide leg pant to perfection.She is a master at styling a column of color well. You can find her on Instagram here, and follow her blog here.
If you can still wear heels like Eugenia from Age of Grace, you can achieve this look. This column of color ensemble from Banana Republic creates the illusion of a long silhouette. It could be equally as stylish with flat sandals. This is a signature look for Eugenia. You can get many more ideas from her blog or you can follow her here on Instagram here.
SHOP EUGENIA’S LOOK
MY FAVORITE CHIC AND COMFORTABLE WIDE LEG PANTS
A lightweight cotton shirt with linen pants can be much cooler than a restrictive pair of shorts in a heavier weight. I am wearing my favorite Bryn Walker pants with a purple shirt from Aunti Oti. I wear an XS in Bryn Walker and a 1 in Aunti Oti. You can purchase from Maison Marianne online here. I have also listed similar options below the photo.
SHOP THE LOOK
These great linen wide legs are from J Jill.I am wearing an XS. I am wearing them with a Michael Stars tee in small, Olukai flip fops and price friendly accessories from Target.
SHOP THE LOOK
I am a huge fan of kut from the cloth jeans (size 2). Here I am wearing a wide leg jean with with an anthro top, dragon diffusion bag, similar sandals below and belt.
SHOP THE LOOK
I recently styled these great J Jill linen separates in my post Six Tips for Looking Chic and Confident in Color. I am wearing an XS in both.
SHOP THE LOOK
Here you can see more of the versatile separates in the Eileen Fisher capsule. I wear XS in anything Eileen Fisher. I am wearing a favorite necklace and bracelet from Parham and Company Studio
SHOP THE LOOK
I am wearing more separates from the Eileen Fisher capsule in this look.
SHOP THE LOOK
I love these Eileen Fisher separates. You can see all of them in my post How to Create Multiple Outfits from a Capsule Wardrobe here.
SHOP THE LOOK
In this look, I am wearing an older Ralph Lauren jean jacket ( personalized and embroidered by Mermade Brooklyn here). The pants are Bryn Walker size XS, tee Michael Stars S.
SHOP THE LOOK
CHEAP CHIC WIDE LEG PANTS
There are plenty of inexpensive options at Zara. I popped into the store with my daughter and checked out the options below.FYI I find the Zara sizing to be more consistent than it has been in the past. All of the pants I ordered were a size small and fit beautifully.
SHOP ZARA WIDE LEGS
ROW 1
Patchwork, Stripe, Oatmeal, Black and White
ROW 2
Black Linen, Black and Blue, White and Black, Blue/White
ROW 3
Yellow Print, Pink Embroidered, Green & White, White Linen
CAN YOU WEAR WIDE LEG PANTS AFTER 50?
The beauty of being “a certain age” is that we can wear whatever we feel comfortable and stylish in. I have been wearing wide leg pants on this blog since 2018. I am happy that they are once again considered stylish. They have always been comfortable. I am often asked if shorter women can wear wide leg pants. It can be more difficult. I have short legs and a long torso.Don’t wear a large unfitted top with the wide leg pants. Tuck your top into the high-waisted wide-legged pants or jeans. If you have a longer top, the horizontal line cuts off the body creating the effect of shorter legs. If you have a belly try a cropped top that stops at the waist. I like my wide legs to just graze the ankle or barely above. I don’t want to trip on them.
You can shop all of Zara’s wide leg pants here
I apologize for the lengthy post. Thanks for reading Chic and Comfortable Wide Leg Pants for Women over 50. You might also enjoy How to Rock a Jean Jacket After 50, or 10 Ways to Casually Style White Jeans after 50. Do you wear wide leg pants? How do you like to style yours? We have been a little heavy on fashion here on the blog due to scheduling issues. I will be back on Thursday with some blogging buddies with tips on how to refresh your home for summer.
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- Six Tips for Looking Chic and Confident in Color after 50
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As an enthusiast in fashion and style, I have been actively engaged in fashion blogging and styling for several years. My expertise lies in analyzing trends, providing fashion advice, and exploring various clothing styles for different age groups and body types. I've extensively researched and covered topics related to women's fashion, including the evolution of specific clothing items, such as wide leg pants.
Regarding the article on "Chic and Comfortable Wide Leg Pants for Women over 50," the piece delves into the history, styling tips, and recommendations for wearing wide leg pants. Here's an analysis of the concepts covered:
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Wide Leg Pants: Wide leg pants, including palazzo pants and culottes, are defined as loose-fitting trousers with a wide leg opening. Palazzo pants, introduced in the late 1960s and early 1970s, became popular for their resemblance to avant-garde fashions worn by iconic actresses in the 1930s and 1940s, like Katherine Hepburn, Greta Garbo, and Marlena Dietrich.
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Styling Tips:
- Wide leg pants are flattering for women of all ages, body shapes, and heights.
- They create an illusion of an hourglass figure by accentuating the waist and concealing lower body imperfections.
- Recommendations for different age groups in terms of pant length and styling.
- Emphasis on styling icons like Diane Keaton, Meg Ryan, Jane Fonda, Helen Mirren, and others who have embraced wide leg pants.
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Individual Stylists:
- Mentions of stylist Brenda Kinsel's expertise in styling wide leg pants and referencing her website for more fashion insights.
- Highlights of other individuals like Elizabeth, Linda V Wright, Tamera Beardsley, and Eugenia showcasing their unique approaches to wearing wide leg pants.
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Outfit Examples:
- Detailed descriptions of outfits worn by the author, including brands, sizes, and accessories paired with wide leg pants.
- Recommendations for purchasing similar styles from different brands and retailers.
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Zara's Wide Leg Pants:
- Recommendations for affordable wide leg pants from Zara, showcasing different styles and patterns available.
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Fashion Advice for Over 50:
- Addresses concerns about wearing wide leg pants after 50, offering tips on styling, top length, and pant length for different body types.
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Engagement and Conclusion:
- Engages readers by asking for their opinions and sharing related articles to encourage further exploration of fashion styles for women over 50.
- Provides links to other fashion-related content for readers' interest.
In summary, the article not only explores the history and versatility of wide leg pants but also offers personalized insights, stylist recommendations, and practical tips on wearing and styling this fashion staple for women over 50.
