I’m a Stylist and These are the Tops I Always Tell Clients to Pair With Trousers

As a stylist there are a number of questions I get asked by my peers over and over again. Things like, what’s really the best pair of jeans? Where can I find expensive-looking items on the high street? Or which shoes go with this outfit? One of the most common I’ve been asked a lot recently, though, is what to wear with trousers— especially since the trend for anything with legs shows no sign of abating.

We like to make it our mission as Who What Wear editors to help solve as many of these queries as possible, so I put my head down and started thinking about which top shapes I always turn to when pulling together winning trousers looks— whether that’s for myself, on shoots or for my styling clients.

Fortunately, finding perfect trouser-and-top combos is absolutely not rocket science. In fact, thinking about it, the styles I always rely on are wardrobe classics that you probably already own. All you really need is a few versatile basic tops that reliably look great with all your new favourite wide-leg trousers, or cargo pants, or leathers (you get the picture), and these will allow you to unlock so many easy but chic outfits for the seasons to come.

The general theory I stick to is: if you’re going loose on the bottom, keep it more streamlined up top. So, things like Arket’s merino roll neck and crew neck are going to be your heroes for wearing with wide-leg trousers. They work really well alone together or you can always layer over knitted vests or matching suit blazers— having a fitted base will just maintain that polish. In summer, switch roll-necks for ribbed vests which offer the same proportions, and for a more casual look, a simple, fresh T-shirt (Arket, again, do my favourite one) will always work.

Following those same principles, classic looser button down shirts look great with slimmer pant styles like tapered or skinnies, but they’re the one exception to the rule when it comes to wide-leg trousers. Since they’re so classic, you can afford to make more of a statement with proportion by tucking an oversized shirt into a looser pant for a very fashion-girl approved look. If in doubt, start with a classic shirt that doesn’t feel too baggy, like The Frankie Shop’s Everyday, over a ribbed vest under-layer.

Keep scrolling to see the simple but effective tops I always style with trousers…