Boots from New Look.

The long-awaited return of the flare

The last few weeks I have been experimenting with different trouser leg lengths and silhouettes. Being quite short, 5’3 and with a very short leg, I’ve always tended to just stick with either a skinny or tapered trouser and when it comes to jeans a straight leg is my go-to.

However, I just couldn’t ignore the fact that there was suddenly so many different styles to choose from and I was just going to have to bite the bullet and try on some different styles. Now I’m all for a wide leg culotte in summer but I find that easier to manage because of the slight crop. I never feel overly swamped in that style but how would I manage it in winter when the added complication of a longer length and what footwear to wear came into the equation.

Some of the styles out there are definitely way too long for us shorter folks and really it’s a case of getting out there and trying on lots of different styles until you find the right pair. I personally have found success in H&M when it comes to having just the right length and flare to the cut.

New Look also can do a good wide leg trouser that’s not too long and they do a good party trouser which are perfect for Christmas parties and the likes come the end of November. While I see many a tall friend rocking the wide leg trouser and trainer look, for me, that’s an impossibility unless I want frayed hems or worse again wet ones if it’s raining.

The perfect shoe for me with this look is a block heel ankle boot which gives me a bit of height and also fits perfectly underneath the trouser.

I’ve also gone wild and have started experimenting with a different style of jeans. Yes - I recently bought myself a pair of flared jeans.

I had a pair back when I was in my early 20’s and I loved them but then along came skinny jeans and it was just impossible to find any other leg shape for a while until recently. I had seen a pair on a friend of mine and loved the shape of them and the look so I went off in search of a pair. I came across a great pair in Zara.

For me a pair of flares have to be super high-waisted and these are probably the most high-waisted pair I own making them super comfortable but you should have seen the leg length on them. Like, I seriously don’t know who they were expecting to buy these and not have to alter them, which leads me on to the next point when it comes to flares.

Don’t be surprised if you have to get them altered. I loved everything about these jeans except the length and I knew I could take off some of the length and still keep the flared look so find a good seamstress is my advice to you.

The flared jean gives a kind of glamourous 70’s feel to a look so wear with your ankle boots, blouses and faux fur for day or go for a heel and sequins or a blazer for a night out.