TROUSERS - it's all wide legs and flares - or is it?

[goldenlockets]

Well?

Looking at websites lately and it seems that trousers are now very wide, very floppy and anything straight (although they do exist) are confined to the bottom on the list.

And don't get me on about barrel legs- the John Wayne of Jeans.

I try to keep vaguely fashionable at my ancient age but I also resent being cynically driven to ditch the old and in with the new.
That's fashion, I know.

I do have some boyfriend jeans and some wide leg cords and linen trousers but I also have more straight legs and cigarette style.

What are you wearing, oh lovely posters in your 50s?

I’m in my sixties and mostly wear wide legged trousers.

How tall are you? I'm just 5 4" and sometimes I think they make me look more dumpy (I'm a size 8 - 10.)

In my late 60s and I wear every shape except skinnies. For trousers I love a wide leg. My current favourite jeans are straight leg but before that I loved barrel leg best. I also like flares when the weather is right.

I think the range of choice is the best thing about fashion at the moment, although I’m noticing wide leg jeans coming out on top now, at least where I live.

I’m also 5 ft 4. I am pretty slim though if that makes a difference? Size 6/8 trousers.

Sorry, edited as can see you are also slim. You maybe need to get used to it?

Wide, barrel occasionally straight, but I really mean loose straight not a smidge looser than skinny. Cigarette look dated right now, but that’s likely to change again. I’m in my 50s, but am not sure what age has to do with anything.

I’m wearing your despised barrel legs and really like them!
I am quite tall and reasonably slim, I have shorter friends who can look a bit square in wide legs if I am being honest if they are not bird like.

I’m mid fifties I am just under five 7 and wear wide leg. I’ve kept my skinnies, but they look so dated now I can’t bring myself to wear them. I’ve long legs however. The trick is to get them fitted over the waist and back side and then flaring out. Hugely flattering and unbelievably comfy.

According to all the trend reports, wide legged jeans are out for 2026 and straight legs in. Skinnies still not back. Trousers didn’t really change - anything goes. The most fashion forward wearing big parachutey cuffed things!

I'm 5'5 and about a size 12. Wide trousers make me look like a sack of potatoes, they are just so unflattering.

Just to add ‘leggings’ are apparently back for 2026, with knee high boots (riding look).

I wear wide leg or flares. Barrel leg and straight leg don't suit me. Skinnies don't suit me (and they also feel dated to me).

The straight legs I’ve seen in the shops for spring are still pretty wide - they’re like wide legs were a couple of years ago.

I don’t like wide leg jeans or trousers and they don’t suit me either. I suit slim straight legged jeans and trousers and that’s what I wear. My favourite style of trousers are ankle length with a small vent on the outside hem.

i just don’t see the point wearing styles that don’t flatter me.

I’m 70, size 8/10, 5’2”.

I hate the current baggy, barrel and carrot shapes.

I'm still wearing skinny jeans and leggings as I won't wear something I think is hideous just because it's fashionable.

I've said this before on here, but it's probably not a desperately perceptive point of mine, I've found that one brand's wide leg/flare/straight/barrel is not the same as another's. So a flare or a wide leg that you don't like in one might be good in another. Or whatever.

For example I've found some wide leg jeans are too loose and baggy round the waist and not flattering. Others are more shaping.

Looser styles are having their moment, definitely. But you don’t have to follow mainstream fashion. It’s not obligatory.

I wear what I think suits me, which is a limited number of styles discovered through trying loads of trousers on and the majority looking shockingly shit on me:

I like:

-High-waisted, tailored wide leg trousers, not in cheap/thin material, preferably with darts or a pleat at the waist. Casual styles don’t suit me. Mid or low rise looks hideous on me.
-High waisted, Slim or straight jeans (occasionally, as not a huge jeans fan) - hate all other styles.

Hard no to flares, bootcut, carrot, barrel, ‘Mom’ or skinny jeans or trousers.. They just don’t suit ny shape.

This knowledge has been hard won! 😉

I'm not a fan, I feel like I look dumpy in them, so unflattering unless you're under a size 10 imo. I just wear what I like, what makes me feel comfortable.

50s
I have one pair of wide flares that I like.

Otherwise I tend to wear straight ones, rolled up with boots. I really don’t like the look of straight ones unrolled.

Barrel look horrible on me.

Overall though, I find I’m wearing jeans less.

I thought that only just went away! Shows how fashionable I am 🤣.

I love wide and straight leg trousers at the minute. I also bought some bootcut jeans just before Christmas and wore them with some ankle boots, just like my late 90’s/early 2000’s self! Love them!

I’m too large in the stomach to wear skinnies with anything other than a tunic type top and I feel that’s a very dated look so I’ll stick with what I like.

Just about to turn 50!

I have also found the definition of wide leg and straight leg has moved. Wide leg tends to be very wide indeed, more palazzo and straight is not slim straight but wide straight, if that makes sense,

I suspect it’d here to stay, as these things don’t change fast, so will be a few years yet, this is really it taking hold.

but you can still buy all styles now, you pretty much always have been able to, and no one should wear clothes that don’t suit them and they don’t feel good in.

I'm reasonably tall so I can carry off wide leg trousers. My favourite pair atm is a pair of kick flares.

The John Wayne of jeans 😅
I like bootcut and straight leg trousers. Extravagant shapes and ankle flappers are not for me.
I have one pair of leopard wide leg trousers which are nice to wear as they hang well. They are Puma tracksuit bottoms but there is far too much material in wide leg jeans. Id look like a ship in full sail.
I particularly like M&S boot cut jeggings.

I like a stove pipe Jean (straight leg 🙄), also like the M & S carrot leg, and I’ve just bought some leopard wide leg joggers with a side stripe

I've tried and tried to wear wide leg, they don't suit me. Or maybe they do but I can't see it.

I love the M&S carrot leg too. I've just ordered the dark indigo which I haven't seen before. I also have a couple of pairs of wide leg which are so comfortable. I'm mid 50s, 5'7" and size 12 or 14 depending which colour I order