If You Want to Dress Elegantly Like an Olsen Twin, Give This Trouser Style a Try

I've always been a pants person. Rather than floaty skirts, you'll always catch me in the latest denim trend or polished floor-grazing bottoms. These days, however, the most worn items in my wardrobe are my wide-leg trousers.

Lately, I've noticed that every single one of my outfits revolved around the classic and cool wardrobe staple—whether I was dressing up and adding kitten heels and a blazer or down with boots and a waisted top, it's become a defining piece of my daily uniform. There's no denying that all of the above are fail-safe capsule wardrobe formulas, meaning that with one powerful piece, I can look polished and inject my look with a more trendier style like a polka dot top or suede boat shoes.

Why my recent fixation with this smart tailored counterpart? It's a combination of the explosion of wide-leg trousers as a trend across both the luxury and high street markets and also a craving for my day-to-day looks to feel more elevated since I turned thirty.

Ask any of my fellow Who What Wear editors and they'll tell you that a pair of chic wide-leg trousers—paired with trainers, flats or heels—has become my go-to. So much so that I've spent the last few years curating a rather extensive collection of the best wide-leg trousers around, trialling and testing styles from across my favourite affordable brands as well as some investment styles.

Not to toot my own horn, but this has made me somewhat of an expert in the field of wide-leg trousers. My colleagues and friends often come to me for suggestions on which pairs to buy. The answer to their questions isn't always straightforward, however. Finding the perfect pair of wide-leg trousers to suit your body, budget, style and your dressing needs can be a search akin to finding your favourite pair of jeans—a tough process.

That's why I thought I'd collect all the data I've gathered and provide you with the ultimate guide to the very best wide-leg trousers available for all budgets. Yes, The Frankie Shop's trousers are impeccable, with a timeless quality and design that makes them a worthy investment. But, not all of our budgets stretch that far.

At the mid-range price point, I personally think Reformation is the brand to beat. I have their best-selling Mason Pants in three colours and they also have options available in petite lengths and extended sizes. COS's wide-leg trousers are famously the best on the high street, with adjustable waist tabs in most designs that mean they fit perfectly. But Arket's are a close runner-up, with H&M and M&S offering the finest affordable versions. That's just scratching the surface.

Keep scrolling, and you'll find my poured-over list of the best wide-leg trousers to buy in 2025—from the perfect classic black style to summer-ready linen and cargo options—and there are styles to suit all body shapes and all budgets. You'll also find plenty of ideas on how the best-dressed influencers are styling their wide-leg trousers below, too.

The 21 Best Wide-Leg Trousers of 2025

• The Best Overall Wide-Leg Trousers: COS Wide-Leg Tailored Twill Trousers, £95
• The Best High-Street Wide-Leg Trousers: Arket Linen Drawstring Trousers, £47
• The Best Designer Wide-Leg Trousers: The Row Lilas Pleated Wool-Blend Twill Tapered Pants, £1340
• The Best Wide-Leg Trousers for Petites: Reformation Petites Mason Pant, £188
• The Best Pleated Wide-Leg Trousers: COS Pleated Cotton Wide-Leg Trousers, £95

The Best Overall Wide-Leg Trousers: COS Wide-Leg Tailored Twill Trousers

Best Wide-Leg Trousers for Curves: Abercrombie & Fitch Curve Love Sloane Tailored Pant

Best Wide-Leg Trousers for Petites: Reformation Petites Mason Pant

Best Silk Wide-Leg Trousers: Toteme Embroidered Silk-Twill Wide-Leg Pants

Best Linen Wide-Leg Trousers: Reformation Olina Linen Pant

Best Plus-Size Wide-Leg Trousers: Reformation Alex Linen Pant Es

Best Designer Wide-Leg Trousers: The Row Lilas Pleated Wool-Blend Twill Tapered Pants

Best Cropped Wide-Leg Trousers: COS Voluminous Culottes

Best Budget Wide-Leg Trousers: H&M Wide Trousers

Best Striped Wide-Leg Trousers: Nobody's Child Black Pinstripe Jerrow Wide Leg Trousers

Best High-Street Wide-Leg Trousers: Arket Linen Drawstring Trousers

Best Pleated Wide-Leg Trouser: COS Pleated Cotton Wide-Leg Trousers

Shop More of the Best Wide-Leg Trousers:

Wide-Leg Trouser Outfit Ideas

Style Notes: If you want to dress like an Olsen Twin, wide-leg trousers are an essential purchase. Here, Mary-Kate wears a pair from The Row in a rare appearance to the CFDA Awards.

Style Notes: I haven't been able to get this image of Kendall Jenner looking oh-so-chic in her wide-leg trouser outfit out of my head since she wore in all the way back in 2021.

Style Notes: Taupe hues make for a great alternative to black trousers. Dress this rich-looking shade down with trending trainers and a casual waistcoast.

Style Notes: Don't be afraid of wide-leg trousers looking too "stuffy" or "buttoned up". They pair equally well with denim jackets as they do with more formal coats.

Style Notes: It's not all about structured woollen pants—lightweight cotton or softer linens also make for the best wide-leg trousers.

Style Notes: As the French have proven time and time again, striped pants are always chic.

Style Notes: Perfect for styling with sleek trainers like the Adidas Sambas.

Style Notes: I love how these spring green wide-leg trousers are paired with a fresh white waistcoat. Truly a perfect warm weather colour combination.

Style Notes: Wide legs work so well as part of a suit. For a more casual look, pair with chunkier fisherman sandals.

Style Notes: Or, if your wide-leg trousers are a bit more of a slouchier fit, dress them up with heels.

Style Notes: We've said it once and we'll say it again—flip flops are a fashion insider's best friend.

What are the Best Wide-Leg Trousers?

As wide-leg trousers are a crucial shape for so many designers, there are endless iterations of the silhouette. From linen styles to cropped iterations, how can one determine which wide-leg trousers is the best? One thing I always recommend is starting with fit and fabric.

Are you after something that sits on your waist or cuts low across your waist? Do you want to expose your ankles or have them glide along the ground. As wide-leg trousers taper at the top and extend along the hemline, beginning with these iterations will ensure you choose the best wide-leg trousers for your needs.

Can Petite Women Wear Wide-Leg Trousers?

Given that wide-leg trousers can be quite spacious, one would think that the sizable fabric can swallow small figures. Fear not, there are so many options available for petite women from the dedicated ranges at brands like Reformation and M&S to cropped shapes littered across affordable labels.

What Tops Look Great With Wide-Leg Trousers?

To balance out a billowing hem, the best tops that go with wide-leg trousers are the ones that either counter this airy shape by being tight to your body or lean into the floaty effect. Think: slouchy button-down shirts, romantic waisted tops or cinching vests.