Spring Style How To Find Perfect Pants

Long or cropped, wide-leg or skinny? Knowing how to choose the perfect pants for your silhouette can prove to be a pain in the bottom. Use this guide to help you find the fit that flatters you most.

Classic
With their flat front, slightly flared legs and overall streamlined silhouette, classic pants are unshakably chic. Play up their masculine appeal with a tuxedo shirt, or counter it with a femme blouse. High-quality lined wool will smooth over any problem areas better than a cheaper fabric. Hips should be your first fit consideration; pants should just skim, not cling, where you're widest.
Cropped
Dressier than shorts, more relaxed than classic trousers, cropped pants have a whimsical but modern attitude. They work with a drapey top or a short, fitted jacket. A pair with a bit of stretch and a straight—not wide—leg is flattering for most body types. Heels make a big difference with this style in lengthening the look of legs; petites should hem the pants just below midcalf and skip cuffed versions.
Wide-Leg
Pants with this kind of flare can look casually chic or dramatic; they're a fashion-conscious choice that requires a bit of attitude and shoes with some heft. They also work to recast your proportions and can be great on curvy girls because the volume at the bottom creates a perfect balance to the hips and behind. Who might not want to wear these trousers? Petites (too much volume) or those who are especially low-waisted.
Skinny
The right pair of skinny pants has the elegance and impact of an exclamation point. Find nonchalant glamour with an oversize slouchy top, or look razor-sharp with a matching jacket. No surprise here: These are most becoming on slim, petite or coltish frames. They also tend to accentuate a round posterior for better or worse, so proceed with caution. The toughest skinny pants look to pull off? A cropped pair with flats. Credit to : iVillage