The reign of the skinny jean is over, and the new guy in town is the wide pant.
Story by Liam Alteneder
Photo Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Though the Kanye inspired look composed of a baggy tee and fitted distressed jeans is still very much in power, there’s a new wave of men in wide pants that is permeating the street style scene.
The early to mid 1900s go-to pant is making its way back into popular culture with a fury. Take a look at the Balenciaga F/W 17 show and you can’t escape them, but it doesn’t stop there. Household fashion houses like Gucci and Louis Vuitton are incorporating wide cut pants into every season.
The last thing anyone wants is to take a risk with are their pants —especially men. It’s the equivalent to a hermit crab and its shell. If they don’t fit “right” or don’t taper correctly, it’s something that can loom over your consciousness all day. Well it’s time to drop the one dimensional perspective on legwear and look toward the horizon. It’s time to let what’s below the waist do the talking. (We’re talking about pants here.)
Photo Courtesy of GQ
We’re not talking the extremities of JNCO jeans, but if menswear shows are any indication, it seems as though there’s no escaping the the wide pants wave soon to come.
With that being said, you have to go about embracing the trend without looking like you’re on the set of Mad Men. Trousers and pleated pants are fair game but pairing them with something too formal on top have you looking like a #menswear connoisseur without a tailor. Instead, pair them with something more casual on top to make the outfit say that you’re intentionally choosing to wear something with a looser fit.
A new trend of pants means another opportunity to take a risk with your personal style and who wants to stay stagnant with what they wear.
