SPECIAL SERIES: The Secret to the "Cool Girl" Silhouette: Mastering Barrel, Balloon, and Architectural Pants- Part 2- How to Style Voluminous Pants to Flatter Your Frame

Part one of our Blog Series focused on The A-Z of Architectural & Voluminous Pants. After all, we must first define the pants that we’re ready to style.

As a personal stylist for women, I’ve heard an endless stream of questions about styling these pants. Women are intrigued by the silhouettes, completely intimidated by them or somewhere in between. No need! The key with all personal style, is to know your filters so that you can make intentional choices that help you execute your authentic personal style with ease and simplicity.

Mastering the voluminous pant trend is totally do-able.

First- Remember your authentic personal style key words and use them as a filter when choosing your new pants. In our last blog post, I included personal style key words for each pant type to get you started. Of course, print, color, fabric and so on can alter the applicable key words. So, trust your instinct.

Just a quick review of the pant types and associated style key words. I’d include all of them on various Poplin Pinterest Boards. While we have over 50 Pinterest boards organized by personal style key word, body type, size range, values, season and more. To simplify things, I often refer to 5 archetypes for style (Creative, Edgy, Classic, Effortless, Boho, Minimalist) and another 5 archetypes for body type (Diamond, Hourglass, Rectangle, Triangle, Inverted Triangle). For your easy reference, I’ve listed the archetypal style boards along side each pant. Off we go!

Available in short or full lengths and multiple colors. Architectural leg pants. Independent designer. Ethically Sourced. Super soft sweatpants. I have these and am obsessed with them.

Curved Leg/ Architectural Leg: Intellectual, Avant-garde, Structural (Creative, Edgy, Minimalist, Fashion Forward)

Sarouels/ Architectural leg sweatpants. Available in multiple super hip color combinations and two lengths. I always like the short leg and here’s why. Ethically made. Independent designer. I have these and am obsessed with them. I especially love them with these red sneakers.

The Sarouel/ Saroual (Formerly Harem pants or Drop Crotch pants): Bohemian, Non-Conformist, Effortless (Boho, Creative, Effortless, Fashion Forward)

Balloon Pants: Romantic, Airy, Soft (Boho, Effortless, Creative)

Designed in London. Made in Italy. These Balloon Satin Trousers are available in multiple colors up to size 12.

Barrel Pants/ Horseshoe Jeans : Avant-garde, Architectural, Rugged (Edgy, Creative, Fashion Forward)

Extra Wide Leg Barrel Jeans: Edgy, Fashion Forward, Industrial (Edgy, Creative, Fashion Forward)

Available up to size 14. Super wide leg cropped barrel pants. I have these and am wearing them constantly!

Once you have the pants that communicate your authentic personal style, it’s time to create an outfit that flatters your frame. Here’s how.

Triangle Body Type

Draw the eye up to balance your frame. Opt for pants that are widest somewhere that you are not. For example, volume at your knees or below will make your waist and stomach feel smaller.

Do this with a voluminous top that gives the impression that you are the same size on the top as the bottom. You may need a larger top than the pants, but that’s unlikely since all of these styles are high drama and volume.
Layer it up on top. A boxy coat on top of a top and sweater pulls it all together. Consider a cropped coat or something longer. As long as your coat doesn’t hit at your widest point, you’ll feel good.
Alternatively, try a slim fitting top in a light or bright color that shows lots of skin.
Feeling frumpy? Add a platform, flatform or heel for a more streamlined look.

Try These Voluminous Pant Styles

Extra wide leg barrel jean with a high waist.

Inverted Triangle Body Type

Draw the eye down to balance your frame. Opt for styles that are widest at your hips or thighs to give the impression of an hourglass frame, balancing out your broad shoulders.

This style of pant is a dream for a woman with an Inverted Triangle body type. Feel free to wear a tighter top and enjoy the thrill of a balanced figure.
Alternatively, wear a voluminous top with a French tuck to show off your waistline and help avoid feeling like a football player simply due to unflattering styling.
You may enjoy a heel, platform or flatform, but more than any other body type- wearing these with a flat or sneaker is an easy pairing.
Try These Voluminous Pant Styles

Rectangle Body Type

Maintain your natural balance and create curves. Pants with volume at any point will work, as long as you are thoughtful about balancing your frame overall.

Because these pants create extreme volume on your bottom half, be sure to balance that volume on top so that you don’t appear top heavy.
A fitted top, especially with skin, can work, too. Importantly, you are looking to maintain that natural balance. If you want to slim things out, consider a heel.
Really, you’re looking to create curves and these styles do that for you. Consider the level of femininity that feels authentic to your style. If the entire look feels too masculine, add a more feminine shoe, print or fabric.
Try These Voluminous Pant Styles

Extra wide barrel pants with a high waist.

Diamond Body Type

Maintain your natural balance and draw the eye to your vertical middle while showing off your arms and legs. Choose pants with a widest point at the knee or below. Because you carry your weight in your stomach, a cut that is widest at your waist will only emphasize that, while volume at another location further down the leg will draw the eye from your widest point.

A voluminous top can work well with these bottoms plus try a French Tuck to give the impression of a smaller waistline. Ideally, this top is button down and/or has an open neckline. You’re drawing the eye to your vertical middle.
Pair with a cropped, boxy button up top to draw the eye to your vertical middle, maintain your natural balance and give you a waistline.
Add a jacket or cardigan to create a line down your vertical middle.
While you don’t want the pants to be tight across your stomach, you also don’t want a style that has lots of extra volume at the stomach, like the Saroul cut.
A slim leg is most flattering and will draw the eye to your slender legs.
Try These Voluminous Pant Styles

Hourglass Body Type

Maintain your natural balance and show off your curves, if you’d like to. Any of the styles will work well for you as long as you are thoughtful about ensuring that neither your top or bottom half is perceived as larger than the other. Use that Style Math!

A voluminous top with a French Tuck or cropped is ideal. It’s common for women with hourglass figures to prefer to show off their figures rather than wearing boxy styles, so be sure to show off your waist and hips.
Opt for a form fitting top with some skin and pair with any of the styles. This, too, will maintain your natural balance as the eye is drawn to skin as well as light colors, bright colors, texture and prints.
If you are going with a completely oversized outfit, just be sure that neither the top or bottom feels more dominant than the other.
Feeling frumpy? Add a heel or more feminine fabrics or styles to the mix.

Try These Voluminous Pant Styles

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