Feeling The Flares & A Few Style Rules For Wearing Flares

The Look:

Top:  Ann Taylor Striped Tie Neck Blouse; Ann Taylor Chunky Knit Sweater

Bottom:  The Limited High Waist Modern Trouser Pants

Belt:  Ann Taylor Wide Ringed Leather Belt

Shoes: BR Studded Strappy Pumps (Old); Similar here and here

Bag:  Zac Posen East/West Satchel (Old); Similar here

Sunglasses:  Kate Spade Gala Sleek Wayfarers

Flare pants are back in a big way, and they are quickly making their way to the top of my fashion favorites list.  I’m truly feeling the flares these days, because they’re not only feminine and chic, but they can also make any outfit look cool, classy and even elegant.

For this outfit, I paired these off white High Waist Modern Trouser Pants from The Limited, with my Ann Taylor Striped Tie Neck Blouse, layered under my black Ann Taylor Chunky Knit Sweater.  I added my Ann Taylor Wide Ringed Leather Belt, my black BR Studded Strappy Pumps, and my Zac Posen East/West Satchel, and finished off the look with my Kate Spade Gala Sleek Wayfarer sunnies.  For me, these pieces represent a more polished and refined casual look with a little on trend coolness thrown in with the wide leg trousers.  Although when putting my outfits together, I usually just let my eye and gut be the judge, every know and then, it’s helpful to have a guide for putting pieces together to ensure balance in proportions, and overall style.   Flare pants can sometimes be a challenge to style because it can be easy to get carried away with the nostalgia of the 70’s feel and appear overdone, and because their signature wide legs need to be balanced to ensure the look is not overbearing.  So, in today’s “Style Guide”, I’m sharing a few style rules for wearing flares, that will have you quickly styling your flare pant looks with style and ease.

Style Guide:  A Few Style Rules For Wearing Flares

Pick The Perfect Length – Wearing  flare pants that are too short or too long is a common mistake.  When wearing your flares make sure the hem lightly skims the heel of your shoe, but does not sweep the ground.

Strike The Perfect Balance – The overall rule of balancing any outfit is to have one flowing piece, and keep the rest of the outfit more tailored.  So, when flaunting your flare trousers, the pants are the flowing part of the look, so be sure to keep the top somewhat fitted.

Avoid An Overdone Retro Look – When styling your flares, there may be a natural instinct to go full on hippie, but unless you are attending a retro themed event, it’s important to keep the outfit contemporary even when styling a bohemian look.  Keep the look simple with only one or two 70’s vibe pieces, and maintain a more subtle look throughout the rest of the outfit.

Find The Perfect Fit – Flares come in a variety of fits including high waist and low rise styles.  Although, flares are flattering for almost every body type, the right fit is key to being fully comfortable in your flares.  If you have curvy hips, opt for a style that is low rise, and sits just below the belly button.  This helps to balance the hips and the wide legs on the pants.  If you have a more straight figure, go for the high waist variety.  They will accentuate the waist, and add a little curve in all of the right places.

I hope these “Style Guide” tips will help you easily flaunt your flares .

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Thanks so much for reading, and have a great weekend!