Skinny, or slim, pants are the opposite of wide-leg or flare pants. To begin with, skinnies have a tapered, narrow opening at the end of the pant leg, whereas wide-legs and flares have a generous amount of material through which to put your feet. Skinny pants are also typically fitted through the whole leg. So from waist to ankle, they are pretty much skintight. Other types of trousers tend to have a more forgiving silhouette, and may be fitted only through part of the waist, hips, and legs, or not at all.
While it may seem like skinnies are a more recent trend, the truth is that the skinny pant has been around for centuries. Like many favorite women’s fashions, they started out as menswear. First, in the 17th century, as knee-length breeches, which got longer as the centuries passed, until they went out of style in the late 1800s in favor of looser fitting trousers. But it wasn’t until the 1950s that the revived skinny found its place in women’s wardrobes. Over time, the style has waxed and waned in popularity, but today we can pretty much declare it a classic women’s pant silhouette.
The ubiquitous skinny jean is just one style of slim fitting pant. But if your experience with skinnies has been limited to stretch denim, may we recommend that you branch out and try a more classic take on the look? You may find that a skinny trouser provides you with a great alternative to skinny jeans or leggings, thanks to the quality tailoring and fabrics you have to choose from. Skinny pants usually feature zipper and button closures, and pockets, though pull-on styles are popular as well. As far as fabrics go, you have many choices, including the thick and durable ponte knit, as well as lightweight stretch cottons and chinos. And, of course, you can’t go wrong with leather or faux leather skinny trousers!
The great thing about skinnies is that they are super versatile, in that they can be worn almost anywhere, with almost anything. For casual outings, skinny pants look great with a basic tee, flats and a tote. Dress up your skinnies for the office with a blouse, blazer, heels and a satchel. Experiment with different colors (basic black is a must) and prints to change your look.
Shop skinny pants on sale in your size from Michael Kors, LOFT, J Brand, Ralph Lauren, and 7 For All Mankind.
