14 best wide leg trousers: Enviably chic pairs for every occasion

Channelling officecore elegance are these gorgeous floor-sweeping trousers from Ghost. With a high cinched waist and billowing legs that were both flattering and feminine, the satin crepe material has a slight weight to it which makes this pair feel even more luxurious. We thought they looked incredible paired with a cropped silk-look shirt with the button and mock pocket detailing left in view (the pièce de résistance), but they would team just as well with sweater vests, tucked oversized satin shirts and knitwear for the office too.

No doubt an investment, this slouchy pair from Reformation offers a relaxed take on power suiting. We were most struck by the quality of the lightweight Tencel fabric which flutters as you walk and sweeps the floor. Borrowing tropes from tailoring with their mock back pockets (and real pockets at the front), tortoiseshell-esque button and belt loops to cinch at the waist, we love the mushroom hue for verstaility. If the earthy tone isn’t for you though, these trousers are available in a wide range of colours including sunny yellow and plaid brown. They are also available in size petite if trousers tend to come on long for you (£200, Thereformation.com).

Even when it comes to jeans, we’re reliving our youth as wide leg is back, and we’re saying goodbye to the skinny style which reigned for years. Baukjen, who we love for great designs and plenty of sustainable thinking, has created these wide leg jeans which are a modern and relaxed take on a classic style. Made from premium organic cotton, they’re non-stretch and feel very good quality denim that we think will last a really long time.

We love the dark indigo colour, which is certainly having a moment again, and we’ve had plenty of compliments while wearing them. But don’t worry about the colour not lasting, as they’ve washed well for us every time, with no noticeable colour fading.

We love injecting some colour into our wardrobe during winter – just because it’s cold doesn’t mean we should stick to navy, grey and black shades. These trousers also mean business and can be made into a colour block power suit with the matching jacket. Warehouse has some really strong tailoring at the moment, which is also evident in these trousers, which feature belt loops, a pressed front seam to make them look super smart, plus a lovely wide and long leg that’s very flattering. Although they’re good in length, we advise sizing up for a comfier fit.

We were initially drawn to these trousers for the wearability of corduroy, but it was the flattering fit we loved most. Yes, this vintage-inspired pair is clearly wide in the leg but also relatively snug in the hips and bum area, which creates a flattering A-line silhouette. This is highlighted by the rather wide-set waistband and, finished off with white/almost tortoiseshell button and handy belt loop, it all feels wonderfully Seventies. Be warned though – indecisive shoppers might have trouble choosing a pair as there are nine different colours available including orange, an electric blue and purple grape.

There’s wide, and then there’s really wide, like this aptly named “super wide” trousers. These sandy coloured trousers are made from super soft organic cotton that feels brushed to the touch and feature a contracting white stitch all over. We think they’re perfect for autumn as they’re designed to be a take on chinos, but without the heaviness. We really love the look of the front pleats, which create a really interesting wide leg structure that softly drapes down and isn’t too harsh. There’s double belt loops, side pockets and the buttons (on the front fastening and back slim pockets) are tortoiseshell look.

We were immediately taken by these Nineties and Seventies-inspired trousers from Yorkshire-based brand Lucy & Yak. Channeling skater style with a baggy and slighty flared leg, we love the ultra deep pocket detailing which stretches down the thigh and bum. Finding jeans online that fit can be notoriously difficult, but we really appreciated the step by step questions the brand used to determine which size was best. The fact that they’re vegan and made with GOTS certified organic cotton denim, which ensures more ethical and sustainable production, is also a huge bonus – and we we’re not complaining about the price tag either.

Black and satin-look anything go hand in hand, especially for the upcoming party season. Although they’re so universal, we’re wearing ours to work matched with a white shirt and oversized cardi, and causally at weekends too with trainers. But to really show them off, wear them with a sparkly top and a red lip for a full festive glam look.

We really like the fit, especially the high waist which has a wide band across it and side zip, which gives us a flattering silhouette. They’re a good length, with a nice flare and they’ve even got little side pockets too. Match them with the co-ordinating oversized shirt for a statement look.

Premium brand Karen Millen is known for elegant designs, which these high waist trousers have in abundance. The pièce de résistance is the ultra wide, high waistband which rests comfortably above the waist – it’s quite an unusual feature that not only flatters but feels fashion forward and timeless all at once. Made from partially recycled polyester, the A-line silhouette cascades to the floor rather dramatically, and we love how sharp presses on the thigh accentuate this effect. There is a choice of blush pink, khaki green, navy and white, and it is worth noting that they are on the longer side at 33in which lends them well to heels. We recommend pairing with a tucked shirt for the office or camisole top and contrasting suit jacket for a winter wedding.

Relaxed but chic with their pull-on fit and elasticated waist, we’re adding these straight to our workwear rotation. With the illusion of a tie-up front owing to the aforementioned elasticated waist, these trousers are made from breezy, silky soft Tencel – which is a more environmentally friendly alternative to other fabrics – and feature tailored pleats for a more “put together” feel. We dressed them up with slim-heeled brown boots and a lightweight knit, but their casual aethetic is made for pairing with white trainers and flats.

Giving us an easy to wear modern grunge look are these pinstripe trousers from Monki. Made from recycled polyester, these trousers are lightweight and have a simple wide leg cut that fits really nicely, so it’s easy to see why they’re one of the brand’s best-selling trousers. We’re wearing them with a big woolly jumper and chunky loafers for a really easy autumnal look. We usually find we need to size down in Monki, but these run true to size. If pinstripe isn’t for you, there’s also 13 other colours to choose from.

Embrace pattern in your wardrobe with these Seventies-inspired culottes. The graphic twist on florals contrasts with the bold pattern on the hem which, admittedly, sounds like a lot, but the orange uplifts while we found the unusual pattern combination refreshing. At their best teamed with long slim-heeled boots (we would pair them with strappy heels in the warmer weather), the fit flutters loosely above the ankles in a super wide leg which adds to their retro appeal. And for those who prioritise comfort these are deceptively comfortable around the waist, owing to secret elasticated band at the back.

Leather-look trousers are a bold but popular choice this season, so go all in with this oversized pair from River Island. The material is faux leather which feels buttery soft and luxe to the touch, and quite stretchy too which means more give than genuine leather. One thing we would say about these trousers is that they are quite baggy and come up quite long which lends them to heels and chunky shoes with a bit of height. The subtle pleats do compliment the oversized silhouette though, and if the slouchy leather-look is what you’re gunning for, you will get just that with this pair.

You can count on Marks and Sparks for affordable basics and these drawstring trousers didn’t leave us dissapointed. Made from a swishy crepe material that feels like good bang for your buck, mock pockets on the bum bring suit-style detailing while the adjustable drawstring and elasticated waist ensure the fit stays super comfortable. Perfect for everyday workwear and lazy days at home, this pair is also available in punchy postbox red, turquoise, navy and beige. We were pleased to see sizes extra short up to extra long – music to your ears when it comes to finding just the right length for you.