Ankle length pants are a hot trend for fall. They’re sort of perfect for this time of year– it’s still warm enough to show a little ankle and it’s not time to send your feet into hibernation into a pair of boots. Admittedly, it took me a little while to get use to this pant length and, as popular as they are, I’m not convinced they’re right for every body shape and size. However, I think with the right styling and figure flattering touches, ankle pants for work can give your wardrobe a fresh look and feel.
How to wear ankle pants in a figure flattering way
The first tip for wearing ankle pants successfully is that there shouldn’t be a break in the leg, meaning that (as you see in the photo above) the pants hang straight. Traditionally, classic trousers break at the ankle. The place where longer pants crease is called a break. You don’t want them with ankle pants. The line should be clean and break-free.
Secondly, the biggest fear of most women when it comes to ankle pants is that they won’t be figure flattering on the hips and thighs. Being larger in this area myself, this is a concern I completely understand. There are a few work-arounds you can do with these pants to make sure you don’t look like a lightbulb or chicken leg when you wear them.
First, make sure the leg opening of the pants aren’t too tight or pegged. This is what creates the dreaded lightbulb look on women who have larger hips and thighs. however, at the same time, make sure the leg opening isn’t too big either or else the pants will just look like regular pants that are hemmed too short or that you are expecting a flood. Additionally, shaping the waist when wearing these pants is important. By creating a waist, a woman with large hips and thighs looks curvy instead of bottom heavy. The last tip is to add length to the legs. If you have large hips and thighs and have noticed that you stand on your tip-toes when trying on pants. This is because any time you add vertical length to an area of the body that length also creates the optical illusion of slimness. If you have larger hips and thighs even the smallest kitten heel can make the legs look longer and the hips and thighs slimmer.
Now, let’s move on to styling these pants. To me, ankle pants have this retro 60′s feel, which I have really been digging a lot lately, and lends itself beautifully to a classic, yet updated, work look. Here are three looks for work using the ankle pant and additional tips on how to wear them.
Ankle pants for work
Look #1
Is there anything more classic than a pair of tan pants and navy blazer? Yet, to give this outfit a a fresh update, I used a pair of ankle pants from Boden. To create balance, and like my tip earlier, I wanted to create waist shaping for body balance and belted this Modcloth top with a Sperry belt. To keep that retro feel, and to add slimming leg length, I paired the outfit with a pair of mustard kitten heel pumps from Nine West and finished the outfit with a navy blazer from Mango, a Vince Camuto handbag and Wednesday Collection earrings.
Look #2
Before you run out and get this exact look, shape-wise, I’d say this sweater by Boden and these ankle pants from J. Crew would look best on someone with a straighter figure and not someone who has a defined waist and larger hips and thighs. While the look is very retro 60′s, the silhouette isn’t for everyone. However, if you have a straighter figure, or slight tummy, it’s a great look. Here, I paired the outfit with a pair of versatile nude Calvin Klein kitten heels, a statement animal print bag by Coach and a pair of earrings that picks up the teal and adds some complementary purple. Lastly, because the sweater has 3/4 sleeves I added a Stella & Dot bracelet.
Look #3
Just because your work environment is casual doesn’t mean you can’t embrace the ankle pants trend. Here, using a pair of Ann Klein jeans, I spruced up a basic turtleneck by Max Studio by adding a retro cardigan from Modcloth, a pair of leopard flats from MICHAEL Michael Kors and a gold belt, bangle bracelets and earrings. The look is finished with a black bag from Ivanka Trump.
