Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail
The question
I love the Katharine Hepburn-inspired wide-leg trousers designers showed for spring. Can any body type pull these off?
The answer
I will answer this question carefully to avoid the vitriol hurled at former Lululemon chairman Chip Wilson back in November when he claimed on Bloomberg TV that some women's bodies "don't work" for the brand's workout pants. Mastering the wide-leg trend has nothing to do with thinness or curves; it's a question of proportion. Fuller dress trousers create a wider silhouette and, if you happen to have long legs, that might not be an issue. If not, you shouldn't rule them out entirely.
You can try to create the illusion of litheness by finding a fuller, longer pant with a higher waist or, going one step further, by pairing the pant with a heel that is just high enough for the cuff to graze the ground. Give yourself some time to search out – and try on – lots of different options, and remember that we look best when we choose clothes that fit and flatter our body, not when we buy into the latest trend. If the pants aren't working for you, another look will inspire soon enough. In the meantime, let's all catch up on our Hepburn movies; I'm thinking of starting with Bringing Up Baby.
Amy Verner is The Globe and Mail's Paris-based style reporter. Have a fashion question? E-mail style@globeandmail.com. Follow her on Twitter: @amyverner.