The Best Pants for Your Body Type | And How to Style Them

When it comes to 2022 pants and jeans styles, almost anything goes this year! That’s great news, but it can make it tricky when it comes to determining the best pants for your body type! Today we’re running down the five major pants/jeans styles you’ll see out there right now and sharing styling tips.

Let me say up front that my favorite thing about this post is that I completely forgot that I was wearing a black bra underneath my favorite white tee until I looked at the photos! 😂 I was going to reshoot the photos (and the accompanying Reel on Instagram and Facebook), but I just decided that perfection was not the point of the post and my time was better spent elsewhere! We all make mistakes sometimes, and I’m no different! 😊Please enjoy a good laugh at my expense! 🤣

As always, click any image or pink text link for details.

Body Types

If you’re trying to figure out the best pants for your body type, it’s important to figure out exactly what body type you are. If you need a review, you can check out my recent post called Cocktail Dresses for Women Over 50 + The Best Style for Your Body Type. In it, I described each type thoroughly. I also shared styling tips to help you determine which special occasion dress style was best for your type.

General Pants and Jeans Trends

In 2022, pretty much anything goes, but there are a couple of general, but you’ll want to be familiar with these newer trends.

• High-waist
• Ankle-Length
• Cropped
• Full-length jeans turned into crops with one wide turned up cuff at the bottom.
• Button Fly

Best Pants for Your Body Type: Skinnies

Best-Selling Jetsetter Tee (See all available colors/patterns HERE.) | Skinny Jeans | Ruffle Back Cutout White Booties

Okay, if you love your skinnies, I get it. Me too! Sometimes that long, lean, close-to-the-body silhouette is just what a flowy top calls for! Despite the name, skinny pants have nothing to do with your body shape. It simply means that, compared to other styles, these pants are cut to be the slimmest at your ankle.

Styling Tips

Skinnies can be dressed up or down. They’re the perfect style to pair with loose, flowy tops, or create a sleek silhouette when paired with a fitted top. To create balance, select your top based on whether you’re petite, curvy, or have an athletic, straight build.

Body Type They’re Best For

Skinny-cut pants are a great style that can look amazing on anyone! Triangle and hourglass shapes will look best in dark wash jeans or darker colored pants, while rectangle and round-shaped gals should opt for a lighter wash.

Best Pants for Your Body Type: Straight

Best-Selling Jetsetter Tee (See all available colors/patterns HERE.) |Straight Leg Jeans with FUN Colored Thread Distressing | Ruffle Back Cutout White Booties

Straight-leg jeans or pants are a great alternative to skinnies! If you’re looking for a more laid-back, looser fit, you will love the straight-leg pant.

Styling Tips

Classic straight-leg jeans or colored pants can be paired with a simple tee and sandals, for a casual look. Pair them with a breezy blouse and pointed flats, or a classic sweater and ankle booties for a more formal look!

Body Type They’re Best For

Hourglass, rectangle, and round shapes can all rock a straight-legged pant or jean!

Best Pants for Your Body Type: Boyfriend

Best-Selling Jetsetter Tee (See all available colors/patterns HERE.) | Similar Boyfriend Jeans | Ruffle Back Cutout White Booties

Boyfriend jeans are meant to be worn relaxed and slouchy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have to look messy! These jeans are SO in right now and I love the versatility of this casual style. When it comes to fit, boyfriend jeans will vary a lot, and most pairs do come in a distressed style and feature a button fly. (BTW, women over 50 can definitely wear distressed jeans!)

Styling Tip

Boyfriend jeans with a looser fit will pair better with a fitted top. For a more structured look, opt for a pair of slim boyfriend jeans that are a bit more fitted. You can also dress this style up with short heels and a pretty top or classic button-down!

Body Type They’re Best For

Boyfriend jeans look especially amazing on round and rectangle shapes!

Best Pants for Your Body Type: Girlfriend

Best-Selling Jetsetter Tee (See all available colors/patterns HERE.) | So Slimming Super Soft Girlfriend Jeans (in a different wash) | Ruffle Back Cutout White Booties

Girlfriend jeans are similar to the boyfriend style, but sit a bit higher on the waistline and are cut for a closer fit and taper more in the leg. Think of them as a middle ground between fitted skinny jeans and slouchy boyfriend jeans. Girlfriend jeans are my favorites right now! I love the style because they still have an inch or so of room around the legs, which makes them super comfortable while still flattering your figure!

No-Stain White Girlfriend Ankle Jeans | Striped No-Iron Bow-Cuff Tunic | Navy Machine Washable Sneakers | NECKLACE STACK: Gold Link Necklace | Gold Open Frame Crystal Pendant Necklace | 18k Gold Pavé Diamond Initial Pendant Necklace

Right now, I’m especially in love with THIS slimming, no-stain white pair from Chico’s! They’re not see-through like so many white jeans can be, and the fabric is designed to repel water-based stains. (Which is great news for a spiller like me!)

Styling Tip

For a casual look, style your girlfriend jeans with a classic white tee, a camo utility jacket, and some cute sneakers! To dress up girlfriend jeans, pair them with a blazer and some short heels!

Body Type They’re Best For

Girlfriend jeans are great for petites, rectangle figures, and round-shaped gals.

Best Pants for Your Body Type: Bootcut/Flare

Best-Selling Jetsetter Tee (See all available colors/patterns HERE.) | Flare Jeans | Ruffle Back Cutout White Booties

Bootcut and flare pants and jeans are similar, but they have notable differences! Bootcut pants fit slim through the hip and thigh with a slight flare from knee to ankle. Flare pants or jeans typically have a looser and wider fit overall.

Flare Pants & Jeans

There are flare jeans and then there are FLARE jeans. 😂 Most of us are familiar with bell-bottoms, but subtle flares are much more wearable.

Styling Tip

Flares typically run longer, so make sure to choose an inseam (and shoe) that’s right for you. Play with proportions and consider a fitted top to create balance, or try an oversized top for a more laid-back, casual vibe. (As I did in the photo above.)

Bootcut Pants & Jeans

Bootcut pants and jeans are so wearable, which is why they keep coming back in style! These jeans do flare out at the bottom, but the flare is much more subtle than the true flare jean.

Styling Tip

Bootcut pants and jeans look great with a lowish heel. (Think 1.5″ or so.) They’re also super cute with pointed-toe flats or a cute bootie. With their inclusive silhouette, most tops will look amazing with bootcut pants or jeans!

Body Type They’re Best For

Bootcut and flare pants (THESE faux leather flares are so fun!) and jeans are especially flattering on triangle and hourglass shapes, as they help accentuate your shape! The flared-out leg makes your waist and hips look smaller. Crop flares are definitely having a fashion moment right now!

Styling Tip

If you’re petite, make sure that you don’t choose a flare that overwhelms your frame.

Other Trending Jeans & Pants Styles

• Dad Jeans – High waist, nonstretch jeans with a loose, vintage-inspired slouchy (but not sloppy) fit.
• Mom Jeans – Typically have a high waist, straight legs and cropped hems.
• Wedgie Jeans – No I am not even kidding. These are pretty much what you think they are! 😂 (Why, tho???) I recommend all women over 50 all women skip this style!
• Ribcage Jeans – Very high waist, low-stretch waist-defining jeans with straight legs.

I hope you learned a lot from this post and it helped you understand the best pants for your body type! In a season where pretty much any style goes, it might be a great time to try a style you hadn’t considered before today. Leave me a comment and let me know what pants styles you’re excited to try!

We’ve put together a boutique below to allow you to take a second look at all of the styles we featured in this post. For your convenience, we’ve divided the jeans and the pants!

Jeans

Pants