What trousers should we be wearing this season, a trend-savvy friend asked with some despair the other day.
I understand her quandary. Until recently, we knew what trousers (or jeans) to wear because one style was achingly on-trend while all the rest were “just clothes.” But this season there are many equally on-trend options.
Alongside wide-leg, straight-leg, slim-fit, flared and kick-flare tailored trousers, we have cargoes, track-pants, jeans and, of course, leggings.
And while leather and faux leather are hogging the fashion headlines, they have covetable cousins at all price-points in all fabrics, including wool, tweed, corduroy, velvet, even silk.
Leather-look high-waisted leggings, M&S £25
Plus, of course, denim crafted into jeans in many cuts including the season’s newbie, a super-wide baggy jean.
All leggings are important, but the season’s VIPs (Very Important Pairs) are in faux leather from Spanx, Zara and many brands including M&S, where they’re available in silver alongside wearable, quotidian shades at £25.
We probably all know our best trouser shape and all these options mean we can keep wearing it if we want to, with almost no risk of looking, heaven forfend, off-trend.
Plush jersey cargoes, £25.99 Zara
Plush jersey cargoes, £25.99 Zara
But if we want to elevate our look by road-testing a new silhouette, the trick is to keep volume to just one half of the body: pairing wide-leg trousers with a narrow, shortish (possibly cropped or tucked in) top half, and pairing narrow trousers or leggings with an overlong, slouchy top half.
