Paperbag waist pants are great for work! They look chic, professional, and they are super flattering. I styled them with a camisole, blazer and some pumps for a chic work outfit.
You'll also want to measure your "natural waist," or the slimmest part of your torso, not necessarily your actual waist where your pants rest. Women's clothing usually use hip measurements more often—or the size around the fullest part of your body at the top of the leg, around and across your seat.
Tucking in your shirts, tees, vests or blouses is best with these trousers, to help retain the shape and avoid a swamped look. Adding a body-conscious element to your top, whether sheer, cropped or nipped at the waist, will make these trousers perfect for an evening look too.
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A plain shirt would go best with a blue and white striped pant. You could go with orange, green, white, creamy, off-white, blue, navy, Bordeaux, yellow, grey, brown since they all look good with blue. White could be your safest go-to shirt if you don't want a very bold look.
Styling Tips
- White linen drawstring pants look great with tropical shirts or other prints.
- Natural linen pants can be worn with just about anything in your closet.
- Pair your black drawstring pants with a crisp white button down shirt and a pair of black sandals and you are ready for a dinner out while on vacation.
Style Glossary: The Paper Bag Waist. A paper bag cut generally means a garment features extra fabric at the waist – making it perfect for belting! Typically worn high at the waist, it creates a feminine silhouette that adds shape to an outfit, making it chic, but not overdone.
Paperbag waist leather pants feel modern and cool. Pair vinyl with more traditional pieces like a blazer and a turtleneck. A looser-fitting leather pant lends a polished feel to a fall look. Make a classic look feel cool by swapping in shiny vinyl for a traditional trouser.
How to Wear High Waisted Pants & Jeans – 21 Dos and Don'ts
- Wear with a Tucked-In Top.
- Avoid Overly Blousy Tops.
- Wear with Crop Tops.
- Avoid Bras or Crop Tops That Are Too Revealing.
- Wear with Long Jackets.
- Avoid Short, Bulky Jackets.
- Wear in a Flared Style.
- Avoid Overly Flared Legs.
You can go for a tank top, short sleeve, or long sleeve top. You can pick a casual t-shirt like my last example, a dressy lace camisole or blouse for date night, or somewhere in between like my other options.
Wear a long-sleeve button-up shirt with your pants.
- Pair a crisp red button-down with black cigarette pants for a pop of color.
- Go monochrome with a black button-down and black cigarette pants for a sophisticated vibe.
A paper bag skirt can easily be dressed down when paired with a t-shirt, tank top, or crop top. For shoes try wearing sandals or sneakers and add in a crossbody purse or belt bag to complete the look. This skirt can also be dressed up for work, church, or a date night. Try pairing it with a blouse, blazer, or sweater.
Paper bag waist pants are pants that have a scrunchy waist that reminds one of a paper bag. They usually scrunch at the waist and are tied together with a ribbon/belt. They're chic, elegant, and probably not the pair of pants you choose when you're running errands or just trying to be casual.
Cigarette trousers were first seen back in the 1950s. The style was made famous by the Queen of gamine charm Audrey Hepburn. Dark cigarette trousers worn high on her waist and ending right on the ankle. It's no surprise that such elegant tailored pieces in a simple colour palette are still in style today.
Balance Loose Pants with a Tighter Top
Paper-bag pants can be incredibly flattering (hello, defined waist) depending on what you wear them with. Make the most of the aforementioned waist-showcasing effect by choosing a snug top (tucked in, always) to go with your voluminous pants.Keep scrolling to see my edit of stylish shoes to wear with trousers.
- CROPPED CULOTTES.
- OPTION 1: Strappy Sandals.
- OPTION 2: Loafers.
- OPTION 3: Mules.
- STRAIGHT-LEG JEANS.
- OPTION #1: Courts.
- OPTION 3: Chunky Trainers.
- WIDE-LEG STRIDES.
Shoes For Jeans
They suit formal wear much better. Go for shoes with a more textured feel like suede or canvas. If you're wearing some classic blue jeans then generally speaking tanned or brown leather shoes work best. These are less formal than black leather shoes and will suit the more casual look of the jeans.So here's a look at the best shoes to wear with both dressy and casual cropped wide-leg pants.
- High Heels. I'm not going to lie.
- Backless Loafer Mule.
- Low-Medium Block Heel.
- Mules or Slides.
- Flat Sandals.
- Sneakers.
- Booties.
Pair clean sneakers with chinos for a stylish casual or smart casual look. Chinos and loafers make a great go-to option that can suit several styles. Try making your chinos more appropriate for semi-formal events with lace-up shoes.
Light brown is an acceptable color shoe to wear with navy trousers, though our preference is for a darker brown. Your navy trousers will still look good with these shoes, just make sure your belt or suspenders coordinate well.
