Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Are there any real rules on how to wear flared jeans

35 replies

Liz1tummypain · 05/02/2023 18:16

When I grew up flared jeans were just about going our of fashion ( late 70's) so I've always thought of them as cheesy but sometimes I see them and think they look fab. So who sells affordable ( I mean under say £60 ) , not-too-wildly flared , comfortable jeans and what are the basic rules about tops etc to go with them?

Thanks for all ideas etc.

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 05/02/2023 19:40

Look at M&S. They are pretty good for jeans.

LimeCheesecake · 05/02/2023 20:18

I have dipped a toe in with bootcut jeans from M&S and also their wide leg jeans - which are annoyingly a tiny bit too long so think I’ll have to have them turned up as realistically I won’t wear them with heels all that much.

from my not very fashionable point of view -
top half needs to be tucked in and not too billowy / too baggy or you are just big all over - so far have worn with thin knits tucked in or shorter cardie that ends at my waist, with at least the bottom couple of buttons done up.

I think they look better with trainers as flat boots and boot cuts make me look like a pensioner.

Arcadia · 05/02/2023 20:22

@LimeCheesecake I have the m and s bootcuts too! I wear the short size even though I am not that short (5 foot 4.5!) and they just skim the ground for me. I have them in two different shades. My 13yo DD also has them!

Arcadia · 05/02/2023 20:22

I just wear hoodies or jumpers - but it is winter obviously!

LimeCheesecake · 05/02/2023 20:36

For coats over the top - I’ve worn either short jackets that end at the waist or longer coat to the knee / full length, but when I wore them with a coat with the length that just covers my bum, it looked really frumpy.

LimeCheesecake · 05/02/2023 20:39

@Arcadia - M&S jeans seem to be oddly long this year! I am a petite and the bootcuts in short are fine for me, but the wide legs are far too long.

although it could be they are having sizing issues as a colleague ordered the same pair of trousers in size 10 short in two different colour ways, one was several inches longer than the other.

Original poster
Liz1tummypain · 05/02/2023 22:06

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all of your help.

@LimeCheesecake thanks for those tips. Yes I get what you're saying there. I don't have many tops that aren't billowy or loose really so I'll have to have a go through my cupboards to find some suitable tops.

The footwear side I see too, many thanks.

Maybe I'll have to wear these clothes in to M&S and just go through theirs first. I need a personal style adviser to help me with all this.

OP posts:
pursudebyablackdog · 05/02/2023 22:16

I think the main thing with flares or bootcut is a heel, I don't mean a stiletto, but a boot or shoe with chunky heel / platform, as it helps 'slim' the leg, otherwise it can give an 'elephant' leg appearance.

Fingerlimes · 05/02/2023 22:17

I’m wearing M&S wide legs and bootlegs. Love them but have to be careful to avoid looking bottom heavy… only trainers working for me so far and shortish jackets / body warmers on top… when I get my colours right I look fab ! ( size 16 )

Niftythrifter · 06/02/2023 07:40

If you check out Trinny on her YT channel you will find her latest Closet Confessions on Modern Classics and her first out fit is flared jeans which you might want to check out OP.

Plantagenette · 06/02/2023 16:36

Rules are a bit old hat aren't they? I would be wary of anyone stating the actually know any rules with regards to casual wear. I doubt there are any, outside of the frightened middle age club Grin

There's something about feeling comfortable, when everything balances out just so and you feel really good. Go for that! It took me years to realise this, it's life changing tbh.

Plantagenette · 06/02/2023 16:38

Oh, and whilst we're on the subject, I wouldn't touch anything 'Trinny' suggests, which just goes to show we are all so very different in our approach. Keep to what makes sense to 'you'.

Geneticsbunny · 06/02/2023 20:23

LimeCheesecake · 05/02/2023 20:39

@Arcadia - M&S jeans seem to be oddly long this year! I am a petite and the bootcuts in short are fine for me, but the wide legs are far too long.

although it could be they are having sizing issues as a colleague ordered the same pair of trousers in size 10 short in two different colour ways, one was several inches longer than the other.

M and s have changed their sizing for length. If you were a regular, you are now short.

SparkleBrows · 06/02/2023 20:40

I love a flared or wide leg jean but have no idea what shoes. Trainers or sandals in summer but I haven't found a pair of boots that work?

SparkleBrows · 06/02/2023 20:41

Geneticsbunny · 06/02/2023 20:23

M and s have changed their sizing for length. If you were a regular, you are now short.

Show quote history

Everywhere seems to have done this. I'm 5'7", for most of my life regular was going to be short if anything, now all of a sudden I need petite trousers. I don't know what actual short people buy.

Fingerlimes · 06/02/2023 21:57

@SparkleBrows
trainers can work in winter too. Boots seem too heavy with wide legs. If you want to wear boots, go with skinnies?

tobee · 06/02/2023 22:16

As mentioned on a previous thread M&S seem to have gone a bit barmy deciding average height women should be labelled "short". Not a very flattering descriptor Confused

It's annoying because if you go for short they are a totally different fit in my normal size. And only some items are available in short as far as I can tell.

What's going on? Are their designers and buyers suddenly all giant?

Anyway, sorry to digress.

Geneticsbunny · 07/02/2023 08:43

SparkleBrows · 06/02/2023 20:41

Everywhere seems to have done this. I'm 5'7", for most of my life regular was going to be short if anything, now all of a sudden I need petite trousers. I don't know what actual short people buy.

Show quote history

I think they now have XShort for those who were previously short! I am 5ft 5 and always thoight of myself as average but apparently not now!

DuchessOfSausage · 07/02/2023 14:36

@tobee, what's wrong with the description 'short'?
I find it a bit strange when people call me short as I am average height, but petite is awful.

TooMinty · 07/02/2023 14:41

I just bought jeans from French Connection for £65 but I haven't worn them yet as I'm only 5ft so need them altered...

Do I need a cropped jumper to look balanced? Anyone seen something like that isn't too teenaged (I'm early 40s, don't believe in age cut offs for clothes but you know what I mean!)

BooseysMom · 07/02/2023 14:49

tobee · 06/02/2023 22:16

As mentioned on a previous thread M&S seem to have gone a bit barmy deciding average height women should be labelled "short". Not a very flattering descriptor Confused

It's annoying because if you go for short they are a totally different fit in my normal size. And only some items are available in short as far as I can tell.

What's going on? Are their designers and buyers suddenly all giant?

Anyway, sorry to digress.

I'm 5 ft 2 and recently bought m&s short black trousers for work. They have an elasticated waist so I feel like my dad! But they fit perfectly and are the most comfy trousers ever! I previously bought regular length and they literally swamped me and the legs dragged along the floor!

JackieDaws · 07/02/2023 15:07

Fingerlimes · 06/02/2023 21:57

@SparkleBrows
trainers can work in winter too. Boots seem too heavy with wide legs. If you want to wear boots, go with skinnies?

Sock boots work well with flares. I got a pair with a medium chunky heel from Stradivarius to go with my flared jeans.

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 07/02/2023 15:31

For summer

Flip flops
Pumps
Trainers
Wedges
Chucky healed sandle

Winter
Chunky trainer
Doc marten

tobee · 07/02/2023 16:39

DuchessOfSausage · 07/02/2023 14:36

@tobee, what's wrong with the description 'short'?
I find it a bit strange when people call me short as I am average height, but petite is awful.

I don't know, to me it's like people using the word "skinny" as opposed to "slim"? Different adjectives have subtly different meanings but not everyone agrees. There's also "plus sized" or "curve" used and customers will react differently to each.

Also, there was a previous thread, the use of the word "short" at M&S the consensus appeared to think "short" was not an appealing term. Presumably though M&S will have researched this and people don't mind.

DuchessOfSausage · 07/02/2023 17:14

@tobee, I'm not keen on curvy used to mean plus-sized, unless the plus-sized person is curvy. It means that if you have an hourglass figure and someone describes you as curvy, it sounds like they're calling you plus-sized even if you are a size 8 or something.

I was always a Regular in M&S, so I might be a Short now.

The term petite used to describe a man gives me the ick. It makes me think of a tiny mouse-like woman.

Really annoying is slim people moaning that they are so skinny. looking at you, colleague, shut the eff up, you're just slim and too pretty for your own good