It’s spring, and it’s time to think about freshening up your wardrobe. Sailor pants are a summer classic — but how do you style them?

Elizabeth and James Lucien Trousers, $225, Saks Fifth Avenue

Let’s start with basics: if you’re a pear shape, skip the sailor pants — they’ll just make your hips look wider. If you’re an apple, or an hourglass, sailor pants will help balance your figure. And if you’re a celery stalk, you can wear anything. Go for it.

Choose sailor pants that fall from the widest part of your hips; skip any tapered varieties. A higher waist will make your legs look longer, and will prevent the buttons from highlighting your hips. Tuck woven shirts in; leave tees and knit tops untucked.

Pair your sailor pants with something feminine — a ruffled blouse or embellished tee — to balance the essentially masculine line of the trousers. Unless you are very very slim, choose a top with sleeves, for balance. Short sleeves are fine, but a bracelet-length sleeve is a cool classic look.

What about shoes? You can wear your sailor pants with any shoes you would wear with your boot-cut jeans or wide-leg pants. For a more casual look, hem the pants for flats and go with a espadrilles or loafers; hem them slightly shorter — to the ankle bone — and wear them with ballet flats. Or opt for a longer hem with peep toes or wedges.

Would you wear sailor pants? How are you styling them?

Subscribe to blog via RSS