The short answer
The main types of pants for women are straight-leg, flare and kick flare, wide-leg, skinny and ankle, trousers, and joggers. They differ in three ways: rise (where the waist sits), leg shape (how the leg falls from hip to hem) and length (full, ankle or cropped). Pick the cut first, then the fabric, for the occasion.
Every pant cut comes down to three details. Rise is where the waistband sits: mid rise lands just below the belly button, while high rise sits at your natural waist and lengthens the leg. Leg shape is how the fabric falls from hip to hem, whether it hugs, drops straight or opens wide. Length is where the hem ends, from full length to ankle to cropped. Read those three on any tag and you will know how a pair will look before you try it on. Below, we walk through the types of pants you will see most often in our Pants collection, with a one-line definition for each, who it tends to flatter, and one easy way to style it for work, weekends and nights out. Start with three easy denim cuts below, then move on to straight twill trousers, corduroy wide-leg pants and faux leather joggers.
Start with denim: straight, flare, ankle
1. Straight-leg: the everyday all-rounder
Straight-leg pants fall in a clean line from hip to hem, neither hugging nor flaring. Because the leg drops straight from the hip, they balance curvy hips without adding volume and give a straight frame a neat, long line. For work, try the high-waisted Thinking About You Straight Fit Twill Pants in pink with a crisp blouse. On weekends, the white All of Me Mid Rise Slim Straight Jean works with a tee and sneakers.
Tip: Tuck your top in to show off a high waist.
2. Flare and kick flare: retro length
Flare pants fit close through the thigh, then widen from the knee to the hem. A full flare, like the dark-wash Always on My Mind High Rise Jeans, lengthens the leg when worn with heels for a night out. A kick flare opens only slightly and ends cropped, as on the mustard Always On My Mind High Rise Kick Flare Pants, so it shows off ankle boots or block heels.
Tip: A full flare should just graze the top of your shoe.
3. Wide-leg and palazzo: relaxed but polished
Wide-leg pants are roomy from hip to hem, giving a long, fluid line. Palazzo pants are the fullest, floatiest version. Both balance wider hips and add shape to a straight frame. The Rollin' With You Corduroy Wide Leg Pants pair a high waist with a cropped length in purple corduroy, so they look sharp with an ivory blouse and loafers at the office, and relaxed with a fitted tee on Saturday.
Tip: Keep your top fitted so the volume stays below the waist.
4. Skinny and ankle: sleek and close
Skinny pants hug the leg all the way down, and ankle styles stop just above the ankle bone. They flatter petite and slim frames and are the easiest cut to layer under long sweaters and boots. The Beautiful Day Mid Rise Ankle Jeans have a classic blue wash, stretch denim and soft distressing: wear them with a blazer and loafers on a casual Friday, a knit on weekends, and heels at night.
Tip: Balance a close leg with a looser, longer top.
5. Trousers and dress pants: the polished pick
Trousers are tailored pants with a flat front or pleats, a structured waistband and a pressed leg, usually straight or wide. They flatter most frames because the clean line skims rather than clings, and they are the go-to for offices and dressier events. Wear them with a tucked blouse and loafers for work, or a silky cami and heels for dinner. Twill pants like the pink straight pair above sit between jeans and trousers.
Tip: Choose a hem that touches the top of your shoe.
Joggers and paper-bag pants
Joggers are the cut that crosses from lounge to going out. They have a relaxed fit through the hip, a tapered leg and a gathered or cuffed hem that sits at the ankle. In faux leather, they stop looking sporty and start looking styled. The tapered leg shows off the ankle, which keeps a petite frame from looking swamped. The On My Way Jogger Pants are high waist faux leather joggers made for dinner-to-drinks nights, and they work just as well with a plain tee on a Saturday. Choose rose gold or caramel. Paper-bag pants add a gathered waistband that cinches at the waist and adds shape to a straighter frame. The Thinking Out Loud Paper-bag Jogger Pants combine a high-rise paper-bag waist with a tapered leg and elastic cuffs in black faux leather, so the shape stays sharp while the fit stays forgiving. Wear either pair with a fitted top, a cropped jacket and heeled boots, or keep it easy with sneakers and a chunky knit.
Care and keeping
Help every pair keep its shape: wash denim and twill inside out in cold water and hang to dry, which protects color and stretch. Spot-clean faux leather with a damp cloth unless its label says otherwise, and hang wide-leg and corduroy pants by the waistband so the legs stay crease-free.
Frequently asked questions
What are different pants called?
Pants are usually named for their leg shape or length. Straight-leg, flare, wide-leg, palazzo, skinny and tapered describe the leg, while ankle, cropped, capri and culotte describe where the hem ends. Joggers, cargo pants and trousers are named for their style, fabric or detailing.
What are the different styles of women's pants?
The main styles of women's pants are straight-leg, flare and kick flare, wide-leg and palazzo, skinny and ankle, trousers, joggers, cargo pants, culottes and capris. Each one is defined by its leg shape and length, so start with the silhouette you like best, then pick the fabric that suits the occasion.
What are the different types of fancy pants?
Fancy pants are the dressier cuts and fabrics you wear to events and nights out. Think tailored trousers, flowing wide-leg or palazzo pants, satin or sequin styles, and faux leather joggers. A full-length flare with heels also reads dressed-up. Pair any of them with a sleek top and statement accessories.
