5 Different Types of Pants and How to Wear Them
Happy Wednesday, Ladies! Today’s post is about the 5 Different Types of Pants popular for 2024. We women wear pants without a thought all the time in the 21st century; pants of all kinds are now wardrobe staples. But it wasn’t that long ago when wearing pants in public was considered inappropriate and unfeminine.
Women have been wearing trousers as leisurewear in public regularly since the 1930s. But long before that, in the 1850s, women’s rights activist Elizabeth Smith Miller designed what she called the “Turkish Dress”. Her “dress” was actually Turkish-style pantaloons (akin to harem pants) under a knee-length skirt. Susan B. Anthony and other women activists in America adopted the style, calling the ensemble the “Freedom Dress”.
photo from Getty Images
In the 1890s, the bicycle was popularized in American and European society. The difficulty of riding a bicycle in skirts and restrictive Victorian clothing necessitated the popularization of Bloomers, the precursor to women’s pants. The bicycle craze afforded women transportation independence, social mobility, and amazingly, fashion freedom.
Throughout the beginning of the 20th century, women wore pants for a variety of activities and manual labor jobs. But it wasn’t until the 1950s, 60s and 70s that different types of pants styles for women really took off. Among the popular styles were Capri pants in the 50s, Yves Saint Laurent’s Le Smoking Tuxedo in 1966, and then the rise of flared leg pants and bell bottoms in the 1970s.
Flash-forward to the 21st century and the variety of pants styles is overwhelming; we’ve come a long way, baby! Today, investing in different types of pants allows you to enjoy a versatile wardrobe with endless outfit possibilities. With so many styles, colors, and fabrics to choose from, pants can make dressing up more fun and exciting. So today, I am sharing the 5 Different Types of Pants popular for 2024, and how to style them.
The Summary
Today, Beth shares 5 Different Types of Pants and How to Wear Them
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5 Different Types of Pants
5 Different Types of Pants and How to Wear Them
Straight Leg Pants
Always a classic, straight leg pants are a wardrobe essential. While other styles come in and out of fashion, straight leg pants will always be a mainstay. If you shy away from trending styles, rest assured you will always have a classic look if you go for straight leg pants – this goes for denim too! Swap out your skinny jeans for straight leg jeans, which are more wearable than skinny jeans, they’re more comfortable and flattering for all body types.
Cargo Pants of all types of fabrics have made a huge comeback in 2024. Cargo denim styles are especially popular right now because the side pockets have a streamlined design with interesting front seam details. The minimized bulk of the side pockets makes cargo pants of 2024 easy to wear and flattering for any body type.
Flare Leg Pants
Flare leg denim is one the best denim styles to dress up: go for a dark wash or pure white; look for a high waisted style with a longer length. Pair with a dress shirt, or an embellished top and accessorize for the occasion. Flare leg or bootcut denim styles are a lot easier to wear than bell bottoms, so be sure to look for styles that won’t overwhelm your shape.
Flare trousers are another classic style. They look fantastic dressed up for formal occasions with heels and a dress shirt. There are formal styles and casual styles that work for any body shape and stature. Flares are especially flattering for triangle and hourglass body shapes because they accentuate your curves and the flared leg creates balance to your shape.
Embracing flare pants is easy for all body shapes and sizes. For more inspiration for wearing Flare Leg Pants, especially if you’re petite, check out Kelly’s post on How to Wear Flare Pants.
Cropped Pants
Cropped pants styles are playful and very easy to wear. A cropped version of a wide leg or flared leg is sometimes more flattering than the full-length versions, especially for petite sizes because a voluminous wide leg can sometimes overwhelm your frame. An exaggerated flare can have the same effect. Style your cropped pants for a cool summertime look. In the fall and winter, cropped pants are great with ankle boots, because you can show off your cute boots!
Petite Sailor Slim Wide-Leg Chino Pant | Cashmere Blend Tank sizes limited, similar Here, and Here | Woven Leather Belt | Similar Espadrilles Here and, Here | Similar Black Raffia Clutch | Alternate Black Raffia Bag
Cropped straight leg pants are ever-present in fashion and vary from modern styles like the Cotton Crop Pant from Ann Taylor to vintage inspired slim silhouettes like the Slim Straight Perfect Pant from Spanx. Cropped straight leg pants are among the most versatile pants because they can dress up or down easily; they go beautifully with heels and flats; and you can wear virtually any top from flowy and oversized, to slim and form-fitting.
Add a fun and modern flair to your look with cropped flares. Cropped flare pants are very on trend for 2024, and it’s easy to see why with their kicky flared leg opening, they can be dressed up or down; and they go great with heels and flats. for the most flattering fit, opt for a low-key kick flare rather than an exaggerated flare when it comes to the cropped version of flare leg pants.
Barrel Leg Pants
The barrel leg pants trend has been simmering for a couple of years, but it’s made its way from the back burner to the forefront with a lot of chic styles that are flattering for most body types. Part of this popularity is the architectural style of barrel pants, which is really having a moment in 2024 with exaggerated silhouettes.
Another part of their popularity is comfort, like wide leg pants, barrel leg pants are meant to be roomy through the leg. Particularly flattering for pear and hourglass body shapes, the narrower leg opening brings balance to the wider shaft of the pant leg, for a put-together, fashion-forward look. If you’re new to barrel pants, try the High Rise Barrel Tencel Linen Pant from Banana Republic, which has a less-exaggerated barrel shape to the leg. They also come in petite!
Similar Barrel Pants | Similar High Neck Tank Top | Similar Belt Bag (convertible) | Similar Toe Ring Sandals
Wide Leg Pants
Wide Leg pants are really having a moment in 2024, but I think they are always a chic and fashionable option. Their loose fitting leg is forgiving and comfortable to wear – especially if you like extra room for your hips and thighs. Avoid the baggy pants look by selecting structured styles that feature a high waist, pleats, or front crease for a tailored, chic look. See how I have dressed wide leg pants up and down in my post about How to Style Wide Leg Pants.
Pinstripe Linen Pants | Contrast Ribbed Tee (limited sizes, similar here, here, and here) | Wedge Platform Slide Sandals (similar here) | Bamboo Handle Handbag (old, similar here, here, and here)
Wide Leg Trousers are a classic style that you can easily dress up for semi formal occasions or dress down with a tee and sneakers for a chic, laid-back look. In the summer, wide leg linen trousers can be the perfect blend of styles; giving you a put-together look, but still keeping you comfortable in the heat. If you’re petite and hesitant to try wide leg pants, look for slim fit wide leg pants, like Madewell’s Emmet Wide Leg Pants or J.Crew’s Sailor Slim Wide Leg Chinos.
If you embrace trends, look for vintage inspired wide leg pants with a tall cuff, like the Colette Wide Leg Cuffed Denim. Or the vintage inspired Sienna Wide Leg Italian Wool Pant for an old-Hollywood, Katherine Hepburn look.
Shop The Different Types of Pants Featured
Wide Leg Pants, top to bottom: Wide Leg Essential Pant | Talbots Greenwich Pants | High Rise Pleated Wide-Leg Trouser
Cropped Pants, top to bottom: ‘Ab’Solution Skyrise Ankle Pleated Straight Leg Pants | Delaney Kickout Sweater Pants | Colette Cropped Wide Leg Pants
Flare Pants, top to bottom: Carolina Flare Pants | Jayne Trouser Pant | Pintucked Sutton Flare Pants
Barrel Pants, top to bottom: Avila Barrel-Leg Pants | Utility Barrel Pant | Relaxed Pull-On Barrel Pants
Straight Leg Pants, top to bottom: Seaside Cargo Pant | Hampshire Ankle Pants | High Rise Eva Ankle Pant
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Really enjoyed today’s post, Beth! I love a long vest! So classy. You took me down memory lane. My paternal grandmother born in the late 1800’s resisted wearing pants until well in the 70’s. My other grandmother, a young woman in the 1920’s had no issue with pants ever. Thank you!
Hi Beth,
Interesting how fashion has evolved. More women wear pants than skirts nowadays. In the early 60’s at Eastern Michigan University we were only allowed to wear pants on Saturdays and Sunday evenings. Short skirts and knee socks were the prevailing fashion so there were a lot of cold knees in those cold snowy winters. Now look at the clothes you see on college campuses.
Thank you for discussing the many styles of pants
I’m glad there are cropped pants because I don’t have to shorten them. At 4’11” I even have to shorten petites
Right?! It wasn’t until Junior High that I was able to wear pants to school. Not even on the coldest, snowiest day!
Hi Beth,
Did you find that the Mother straight leg jeans ran TTS or did you go down a size?. The reviews state that they run large.
Thanks, Ade
You could definitely go down one size, although it just depends on how you like your pants to fit. I never like mine too tight. There always needs to be wiggle room for dessert!
I must say I am really starting to live the wide leg pant
I LOVE the wide leg pants. It’s a great option!
I mean love….haha
I’ve lived long enough to have owned and worn every style! I like flair and straight leg pants best