Each week on my Instagram stories I upload my “SAVED” moodboard, a collection of outfits I have added to my SAVED folder on Instagram to use for my own outfit inspiration.
Recently I shared this picture below and one of my lovely followers dropped into my DMs, she asked: “ARE PLEAT-FRONT PANTS FLATTERING? CAN I GET AWAY WITH THEM IF I AM SHORT?”
Image courtesy of Instagram User @thestylestalkercom
Generally speaking the pleat-front trouser is flattering on most body shapes. Traditionally a style of pant associated with menswear, the pleat-front pant was designed to conceal a belly. The thinking was that if he pants fastened above the belly, the pleats would allow room to fall over a rounded tummy unlike a flat-front pant style which would hug the tummy and accentuate it’s roundness.
However, when it comes to women’s pleat-front pants, the size and type of the pleat matters and there are styles and fits better suited to different body shapes.
In fact, one of my favourite pairs of pleat-front trousers are a vintage pair of men’s wool trousers. They suit my more pear-shaped figure because they sit super high on my waist, highlighting my narrowest part, and have a tapered leg which helps to create balance.
SO WHAT DO YOU WEAR YOUR PLEAT-FRONT TROUSERS WITH?
As I have shown above, fitted tops, shirts and tees tucked in look best with pleat-front trousers. If you are confident you could wear with cropped tops - either fitted or loose. The key is not to hide the waist. This style of pant is all about highlighting the waist. You can play with your footwear choice too. A pointed pump will always look sophisticated and help to elongate the leg line, but for a more edgy, urban vibe team with a heavy boot.
So if you are in the market for a pair, keep these tips and see my pics and shopping picks below for some ideas to get your hunt for the perfect pair underway.
PEAR / CURVY:
Choose high-waisted, pleat-front pants. The key to this style of pant being flattering is to make sure you highlight the narrowest part of your mid-section.
2. APPLE:
Choose a style with small pleats and cropped, tapered leg. This style of pant will add some volume to your tummy area, so small pleats will be most flattering and the tapered leg will create balance as it highlights your narrow bottom half.
3. RULER:
Take advantage of this curve-creating style of pant and opt for large and exaggerate pleats - particularly if you are tall as you will have the height to carry it off. Also consider a wide-leg style for a play on proportions.
