I’m reluctant to start this by saying something like “It’s true! Skinny trousers are back!” Mainly because we’re keen not to encourage throwaway ‘in’ and ‘out’ attitudes towards our wardrobes here at Who What Wear. Our general mantra is if you love it, wear it (and on repeat). But I also can’t ignore the fact that looser, wide-leg silhouettes have clearly overtaken tighter, slim-fit trousers in the fashion zeitgeist over the last five years. And while the wide-leg trouser obsession continues, I’m here today to talk about how the tides *may* be starting to turn back to those faithful skinnies.
In truth, slim-fit trousers have never actually gone away. Okay, skinny jeans may have very much taken a back seat in the denim department, but you only need to look at the rise in popularity in leggings outfits to see that the desire for a more streamlined silhouette still exists. In fact, cropped cigarette pants have always been a workwear staple, and they’re a style I’ve started to see more and more on the fashion crowd recently—especially the French. It’s not a coincidence that they pair perfectly with ballet flats and loafers; this season’s most popular shoes.
My interest in this subject was piqued even more so when, during a recent data deep dive, I noticed Who What Wear readers have been keenly adding slimmer-leg pants to their baskets lately. This set me off on some thorough market research, and I found slim-fit trousers in the new-in sections everywhere from H&M to Toteme. I’m now wholly convinced that there’s something inherently chic about the slimmer-legged style (and you’re talking to a wide-leg disciple), and that there’s a new-wave of slim-fit trouser appreciation coming our way in 2023.
So, if you’ve always been a skinny trouser fan, or if like me you’re suddenly reconsidering your stance on them, keep scrolling to shop 16 of the best pairs to suit every budget…
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