The short answer
What to wear with flare pants: a fitted or cropped top, tucked in or ending at your waist, so the wide hem has balance. For shoes, pick heels, platforms or heeled ankle boots that lift the hem off the ground. Sneakers work with cropped kick flares or a casual pair. Add a hip-length blazer for work.
Flare pants are fitted through the hip and thigh, then widen from the knee to the hem. That shape is flattering, but it adds volume at your feet. The trick is balance: keep the top half neat, and choose shoes that stop the hem dragging. In this guide, we style one hero pair, our cream Just The Beginning Flare Jeans, from the office to a holiday party. Near the end, we show how the shoe rule shifts for black ponte flares and cropped kick flares. Find more cuts in our Pants collection.
What to wear with flare pants
1. Keep the top fitted or cropped
Because the flare adds width at the hem, the top should add very little. A bodysuit is the easiest choice. It stays tucked, so your waist looks defined and your legs look long. Our Not Afraid Ruffle Sleeve Square Neck Bodysuit has a fitted ribbed body and sheer ruffle shoulders. Cropped sweaters and tucked tees work too. Save loose, flowy blouses for a softer 70s look.
Tip: A black bodysuit with cream jeans gives a crisp contrast.
2. Pick shoes that lift the hem
A long flare should almost skim the floor. Heels, platforms and heeled ankle boots lift it just enough to stop it dragging. They also make your legs look longer. A pointed toe peeking out under the hem looks especially sharp. Our Skyler 2 Boots are silver glitter ankle boots with a heel, so they take your flares straight to a party. Save flats for cropped flares.
Tip: Try your flares on with your go-to shoes before you hem them.
3. Work: tucked bodysuit and a cream blazer
For the office, tuck the black Not Afraid bodysuit into the cream flare jeans. Then add the Make It Happen Blazer, a cream tweed double-breasted style with a classic lapel collar. It looks polished but still lets your waist show. Finish with pointed pumps or heeled ankle boots. Wear the blazer open to keep the line long.
Tip: For a more formal office, swap the jeans for black ponte flares.
4. Weekend: checked sweater and platform sneakers
On weekends, relax the top. The Checkmate Chic Knit Sweater has a bold black-and-white checkered knit, puff sleeves and a crew neck. Front-tuck it into the cream flare jeans so your waist still shows. Add platform sneakers: the extra height keeps a long hem off the ground. Save flat sneakers for cropped kick flares.
Tip: Platform sneakers give you height without the dressiness of a heel.
5. Holiday party: a sequin cami
For a holiday party, let the top shine. Our sequin tiered cami is a strapless crop top with rows of sequin fringe, in silver, pink and gold. Being cropped, it keeps the top half neat above the flare. Wear it with the cream flare jeans and the Skyler 2 Boots for an all-silver look. Drape the blazer over your shoulders on a cold night.
Tip: Gold sequins with cream denim look warm and festive.
Swap in dressy or kick flares
The same rules work with flare pants in other fabrics and lengths. The Lead From The Heart Low Rise V Shape Ponte Flare Pants are black, with a front slit hem. Ponte is a thick, stretchy knit, so they look smart enough for dinner or a dressy office. Wear them with heels or heeled boots and a fitted top. The Always On My Mind High Rise Kick Flare Pants work the other way. They are mustard yellow stretch denim, with a cropped kick flare and a raw cut hem. Because your shoes show, they are the easiest flares to wear with flats, loafers or sneakers. Whichever pair you choose, keep the top neat and match the shoe to the hem.
Care and keeping
Keep flares looking sharp: get the length right for the shoes you wear most, so the hem never drags on the ground. A dragging hem frays and picks up dirt fast. Hang ponte and dressy pants rather than folding them, and check each garment's care label for washing instructions.
Frequently asked questions
What top goes with flare pants?
A fitted or cropped top goes best with flare pants. Bodysuits, tucked tees, fitted knits and cropped sweaters all keep the top half neat, which balances the wide hem. A hip-length blazer adds polish for work. For a softer 70s look, a loose blouse can work, but tuck the front to show your waist.
What shoes do you wear with flare pants?
With long flare pants, wear heels, platforms, wedges or heeled ankle boots. They lift the hem off the floor and make your legs look longer. A pointed toe that peeks out from the hem looks especially polished. With cropped kick flares, you can wear flats or loafers, because the shoe shows anyway.
Can you wear sneakers with flare pants?
Yes, sneakers work with flare pants for a casual look. They are easiest with cropped kick flares, or with flare jeans hemmed for flat shoes so the hem does not drag. Choose clean, simple sneakers and keep the top fitted or short, like a cropped sweater or a tucked tee.
