Many people often misquote Mark Twain as saying "The coldest winter I ever spent, was a Summer in San Francisco." The author of this quip is unknown, but it doesn't make it any less true. Summertime can be a cruel joke in our fair city. How do you remedy this paradox with summertime style? This season, Megan and I are finding the answer in wide leg pants, culottes, and gauchos.

If your skinny and boyfriend jeans are feeling a little stale, add a silhouette change to your wardrobe mix. The wide leg pant has been creeping its way back into fashion for the past three years and we are predicting it will be a key player for at least the next two years. Now is a good time to invest or bring your old friends to the front of your wardrobe! Don't miss our selection below on some of our favorite versions at a mix of price points.

Stay Stylish,

K&M

Find A Wide Leg Designed For You

Everyone has a unique set of proportions. Finding a wide leg pant that flatters your natural shape is key. When shopping for a wide leg pant keep these points in mind:

If you have a longer rise or torso choose a higher rise pant to balance your height and improve seat fit.
Select a thicker fabric with body to keep the cut crisp.
If you opt for a flowy wide leg pant, chose a fabric with drape for movement (no puffy pants) and a waist detail with a tie.
Look for wide leg pants that slightly flare at the hem, this will accentuate your waist for a more feminine look.
Consider tailoring so the pant hem hits at the most flattering point of your leg.

Balance Out A Wide Leg Pant With A Tailored Top or Sweater

Great dressing is centered around a little tension, balance and finding harmony in geometry. Wide leg pants are designed to add a pop of volume to a look.

Whether you are tall or petite the trick to pulling off the look well is balancing that volume with the other components of the ensemble. If you think of Da Vinci's Virtruvian man the center of the composition is the waistline.

To add focus to my waistline I paired my wide leg pants with a horizontal striped sweater that has a tailored banded waist. This top not only helps to visually balance me vertically but horizontally too. A tie in the back of the sweater adds a focal point and the open back is perfect for a summer day in SF.

ProTip: If you have longer legs you can move that horizontal midsection lower (think drop waist top). If you have shorter legs you can move the waistline up (high waist pant and crop top) to add vertical balance.

Pair Your Wide Leg Pants With Accessories That Elongate Your Look

Keeping with the theme of balance, accessories play an important role in pulling off a wide leg pant look. Shoes are the one thing that often stumps our clients. To elongate your legs try a wedge, heeled sandal, or low cut flat. I particularly like spectators with a wide leg pant for a Annie Hall look. For flat shoes try a nude shade to avoid breaking up your leg line further.

For your earrings, if you are wearing a crewneck top help elongate your neckline with a drop earring. If you pair your wide leg pants with a v-neck or wrap top, top off your look with studs or hoops to soften the angles.