Assessing the Wide Leg Pant

Remember these?

Spring 11, Raf Simons

Ah yes, the super wide pants from Raf Simons last season. While they didn’t quite make it into Fashion Snoops’ Key Item report (baggy pants did instead), the wide leg pant is one of the strongest pant directions on the Fall 11 runways. There’s just 1 problem. Wide pants for men = hard sell. However I think it can work in some ways. While we’re phasing out of the industrial theme, I think a strong tie could still be made to worker-inspired shapes in casual materials like twill. As for the more tailored (and often pleated) wide leg trouser, it’s a little more complicated. There are a few instances – cue Dior Homme – that incorporate a wide silhouette with fluid materials that add a nice drape. So my advice on the wide leg pant, proceed with caution.. I don’t think we’ll see these flooding retail anytime soon, although more modest wide styles will likely emerge.

Fall 11 – Mugler, Dior Homme, Lanvin, Yohji Yamamoto, Raf Simons