The cropped wide-leg trouser — wide through the leg, ending at the ankle — is quietly one of the most universally-flattering shapes in fashion, showing the slimmest part of the leg while balancing volume above. The wide-leg edit: why it flatters almost everyone, how to style it, and how to get the proportions right.

Why It Flatters Almost Everyone

The universal flattery of the cropped wide-leg: the shows-the-slimmest-ankle (the the-crop showing the-slim-ankle from the wide-leg-proportion-and-tucking chapter — the the-ankle; the slim-ankle), the balances-volume (the the-wide-leg balancing volume-above from the wide-leg-proportion-and-tucking chapter — the the-balance; the balances-volume), the flatters-most-shapes (the the-cropped-wide-leg flattering most-bodies from the style-wide-leg-pants chapter — the the-flatter; the flatters-most), the the-universal-shape (the the-cropped-wide-leg as near-universal from the wide-leg-trousers-guide chapter — the the-universal; the universal), and the reframe (the cropped-wide-leg as a-slim-ankle-showing, volume-balancing, near-universally-flattering shape).

How to Style It

Styling the cropped wide-leg: the the-with-heels (the cropped-wide-legs with heels (elongate) from the wide-leg-shoe-pairings chapter — the the-heels; the with-heels), the the-with-flats-or-loafers (the cropped-wide-legs with flats-or-loafers from the wide-leg-shoe-pairings chapter — the the-flats; the with-flats), the the-tucked-top (the a-fitted or tucked top (balance) from the wide-leg-proportion-and-tucking chapter — the the-top; the tucked-top), the the-with-a-blazer (the cropped-wide-legs with a-blazer from the wide-leg-work-styling chapter — the the-blazer; the with-a-blazer), the the-summer-fabrics (the linen/light cropped-wide-legs for summer from the wide-leg-summer-fabrics chapter — the the-summer; the summer-fabric), the the-show-the-ankle (the showing the-ankle (the point) from the wide-leg-proportion-and-tucking chapter — the the-ankle; the show-ankle), the the-workwear-styling (the cropped-wide-legs for work from the wide-leg-work-styling chapter — the the-work; the workwear), and the the-bold-trouser (the a-bold cropped-wide-leg from the bold-trouser-styling chapter — the the-bold; the bold-version).

How to Get the Proportions Right

Getting the cropped-wide-leg proportions right: the the-right-crop-length (the the-right ankle-crop-length from the wide-leg-proportion-and-tucking chapter — the the-length; the crop-length), the the-tuck-the-top (the tucking to define the-waist from the wide-leg-proportion-and-tucking chapter — the the-tuck; the tuck-it), the the-fitted-on-top (the a-fitted top balancing the-volume from the wide-leg-proportion-and-tucking chapter — the the-fitted; the fitted-top), the the-shoe-and-hem (the the-shoe-and-hem working-together from the wide-leg-shoe-pairings chapter — the the-shoe-hem; the shoe-and-hem), the the-heels-for-elongation (the heels elongating with the-crop from the wide-leg-shoe-pairings chapter — the the-heels; the heels-elongate), the the-petite-adjustments (the cropped-wide-leg for petites from the how-to-wear-wide-leg-petite chapter — the the-petite; the petite-note), the the-balanced-silhouette (the a-balanced overall-silhouette from the wide-leg-proportion-and-tucking chapter — the the-balance; the balanced), and the frame (the cropped-wide-leg as a-slim-ankle-showing shape styled-with-a-tucked-fitted-top-and-the-right-shoes — flatters almost everyone. Style the cropped wide-leg — with heels (elongate) or flats-or-loafers, a fitted or tucked top, a blazer, or in summer fabrics — getting the proportions right through the right crop length (showing the ankle), a tucked top to define the waist, and shoe-and-hem harmony: the trouser shape that flatters almost everyone.

The cropped wide-leg trouser — wide through the leg, ending at the ankle — is quietly one of the most universally-flattering shapes, showing the slimmest part of the leg while balancing volume above. Style it — with heels (elongate) or flats-or-loafers, a fitted or tucked top, a blazer, or in summer fabrics, showing the ankle, for work or bold. Get the proportions right — the right ankle-crop length, a tucked top to define the waist, a fitted top to balance the volume, shoe-and-hem harmony, and heels for elongation (with petite adjustments). How to wear the trouser shape that flatters almost everyone.