How to Style Trousers

Denim tends to be one of those go-to pieces in my wardrobe, that I reach for without fail when I don’t know what to wear. Working from home makes it just that much easier to take a relaxed approach to getting dressed – and wearing denim every day of the week. While I like to stay within my comfort zone, I like to push the boundaries of my day-to-day outfits, so I’ve been challenging myself to reach for a great pair of trousers over denim more days than not. As part of a new series on my YouTube Channel, I thought it would be fun to share how to style trousers five different ways. You can watch the whole video and see how I style these trousers in action below.

Wearing Grana silk cami, Forcast check trousers, Isabel Marant heels (also love these), Cuyana leather tote (alternative here), Daniel Wellington watch, Pandora jewellery

The most recent addition to my wardrobe are this high-waisted check pair from Forcast; what drew me to them was how they nipped in at the waist, but had a relaxed loose fit through the leg (plus they’re cropped !!). It’s the kind of trouser that can easily juggle the transition from work to play. The cropped length makes these a little bit playful – you could pair them with some converse and a white tee for an easy weekend outfit, or cocktails with the girls, when worn with a basic silk cami and some pointed toe pumps.

The Tailored Trousers

This is the trouser that you wear for the office, have saved for a special occasion, or that you wear dressed down for day-to-day. Personally, I love how these pair with a little cashmere knit sweater and some low heeled pumps for something a bit more relaxed, or for work, I’ll throw on a lovely silk or cotton blouse, and a well cut blazer for a more professional feel. During the cooler months, I’ll usually reach for an oversized sweater and some sneakers for a bit of juxtaposition.

The Silk Trousers

Silk trousers are the one pair that I think can be the most difficult to get right – especially if you don’t want to look like you’ve left the house in your pyjamas. For a sleek look, I opted for this washed black pair from Grana which cut off at the ankle. My favourite styling idea is one that I pinched from a friend, which is to wear them with a thin knitted sweater tucked in. For shoes, I’d go for a classic ballet flat or even a beat up pair of converse.

The Statement Trousers

Despite having a fairly monochromatic wardrobe, one of my favourite wardrobe items has to be this petal pink pair of trousers from Topshop. These have a tie at the waist which cinches you in and gives you a little bit more shape, but also means that there’s quite a bit going on. While a simple white tee and some pointed toe flats are usually the obvious way to go, so that the trousers can be the hero, I think it’s also a great opportunity to do a little bit of colour blocking. I’ll go for one accent colour, and centre all the complementing pieces around it.

The Linen Trousers

Linen is the one fabric I really want to live in as soon as it heats up. It has a beautiful soft raw feel, and it is one of the few fabrics I find that’ll keep me cool during those warmer months here in Sydney. As it’s a fabric that is prone to creasing, I tend to look for linen fabrics that have a washed lived in feel, as I find as the material softens over time, it also creases less. Failing that, anything with a busy print will be enough to hide a few creases! Linen lends itself well to straight leg or wide leg styles, so I find it’s best to balance out those proportions with something a little more fitted on top. My current go-to is a square-neck tank (something like this), with a faux leather jacket thrown over my shoulders for good measure.

The Skinny Leg/Legging Trousers

The final pair of trousers I wanted to mention are the skinny leg trouser or leggings. I’m aware that the latter is a contentious fashion choice for some, but I think depending on how you style it, they can look incredibly chic. I have these pants from J. Crew which are incredibly comfortable, but resemble leggings over all else. The way I tend to wear them is with a long oversized sweater on top (something like this one is a great choice), or alternatively, a tunic style floaty blouse (think #ChloeGirls vibes). If the trousers aren’t quite so fitted, I’d opt for just a simple tee, or a little v-neck cami, and a nice pair of pumps.