The Pencil Skirt: A must have for business, but great for a lunch with the gals or a night out. Wear it with button-ups and matching blazer for business formal, a blouse and cashmere cardigan for business casual. Dress it up with an embellished silky tank, statement heels and jewelry for a night out on the town. With a wider waistband like this one, you can wear it with a skinny belt or completely belt-less.
The Wide Leg: Can’t live without these! A nice wide leg is definitely worth the investment! Get it in a subtle plaid or textured wool, or choose a grey or brown hue to keep it different from your regular black work pants. They come in fun summer fabrics like linen and airy cotton, but I prefer a thicker wool or cotton for a more flattering fit. Make sure it skims the hips and the tops of the thighs so it doesn’t diminish your legs, and get them custom-hemmed to graze the ground at the back of your most commonly-worn heel height. Wider waistbands are generally the most flattering, and sailor buttons can add some detailed interest! See this Tog+Porter Blog post for more suggestions regarding the wide leg pant.
The Black Trouser: What closet isn’t complete with at least one pair of these versatile pants? They’re perfect for business casual or formal, and can also be worn about town! I love them with a wider waistband and a slimming bootcut or straight leg. Get them in a material that is wrinkle-free and easy to care for! You can really top these with anything!
The Ponte Pant: …or the Cafe pant, or the capri pant, or, as I prefer to call them, the “Audrey Hepburn” pant… I love this little staple pant! Make sure you get the right length for your body shape (have them custom hemmed if needed). These look awesome with ballet flats or fun heels! Pair them with wedges in the spring and summer! Dress it up with a boat-neck or cowl neck sweater or ruffle cardigan, or play it down with a flirty cotton blouse or tank!
Denim–Bootcut: No matter how many painted-on versions of denim come out, the basic bootcut will remain a timeless classic. The most flattering of denim, a great bootcut should hug your hips and thighs down to the mid knee, then subtly flare out from there. Play around with different flare widths; some prefer a wider opening, while others like a slimmer silhouette. I like to get a width that visually balances out my hips when worn with the right shoes. I also recommend getting a pair to wear with your heeled shoes and boots (around 2-3″) and a separate pair to wear with your flats. You don’t want your flare to flow over onto the floor when wearing flats, but you also don’t want more than half of your heel to show under the hem. If investing in a quality pair of denim, I recommend investing the $15 to have your tailor custom-hem them. I’ve found a good medium wash that fades to slightly lighter in the center of the leg looks the most flattering on every shape!
Denim: The Skinny: Yes, we know not every woman is going to feel comfortable wearing a pair of skinny jeans; but if you pair it with the right pieces, you might be pleasantly surprised! I prefer my skinny denim in a dark wash; this camouflages my less flattering areas! Layer a longer boyfriend sweater or flowing or ruffled cardigan if you’re self-conscious about your hips/ka-dunk-a-dunk… Boots of any height are a great combo with skinny jeans and can help you feel more visually balanced; if you’re feeling bold, a fun pump in a bright color can really add some pizazz. Just make sure the length is appropriate to your shoe! I love these easy-to-use temporary hemming fixes like hem tape from Bristols 6 or N*Jeanious or these adorable “hem gems” by Temporary Tailors.
A-Line Skirt: A nice alternative to the pencil skirt, a flowy A-line skirt can keep you feeling girly without the fuss. A basic A-line in a darker color (blue, grey or black) is a necessity; throw in some fun colors and patterns later if you want. I prefer my skirts a few inches over the knee, but knee length is great too. Tea length skirts look flattering on very few people. I love simple structured blouses tucked into these skirts and topped with a wide belt for a nicer tailored look. In the summer, pairing them with cotton tanks or draped short sleeves creates a cute and comfortable combo. Throw on a cardigan and textured tights with t-strap heels for fall and winter. This basic skirt is both fun and versatile!
