Wide-leg trousers are not a new concept but recently they have gained more of a foothold in modern menswear collections and for good reason: as our collective dressing has become more casual and influenced by sportswear, our tailored garments have followed suit. Suits have become more like extensions of our casualwear, so it only figures that wide-leg trousers would make a comeback.
Oxford bags were some of the first wide-leg styles to gain prominence in the 20th century. They originated at the University of Oxford in the early 1920s in direct response to the university's ban on knickerbockers, which were a type of knee-length trouser often worn with long socks. In defiance, students began wearing wide-leg trousers that could be easily slipped over their knickerbockers, hence the term Oxford bags. They soon became a fashion trend all across Britain, symbolizing youthful rebellion and a break from traditional, conservative clothing styles.
Reversible Sweatshirt Ruddock Aubergine
Reversible Sweatshirt Ruddock Aubergine
Today's wide-leg trousers are less of a fashion statement and more of a shift towards a fluid and dynamic silhouette, which is why we decided to create our Orsman trousers. They've got nothing on the width of the original Oxford bags, but they are nevertheless wide, requiring single pleats to gather the excess fabric about the waist. Oli referenced some vintage images of Northern Soul gigs in the 1970s, where wide-leg trousers once again found favour. Our Orsman trousers have been cut in a variety of different fabrics and weights, making them a really versatile option for modern autumnal fits.
How We're Styling Wide-Leg Trousers
Obviously the main draw of wide-leg trousers is the voluminous silhouette they give your legs, which you can experiment with in one of two ways. The first is to accentuate and really define their unique shape by opting a fitted look on your torso. That could be a regular tee with a slim knitted vest layered over it, or a fine-gauge rollneck sweater that fits close to the body. This way, you create a dramatic juxtaposition and a degree of separation between your top and bottom halves. Even a nicely fitted blazer will do a great job at this, plus gives you the option to wear it either buttoned or undone for a more fluid look.
Which brings us on to the second styling option, which is to complement the trousers with equally baggy tops. This is harder to pull off because you risk looking like you're drowning in clothes so we would always opt for jackets with a cropped finish so you still get a degree of separation at the waist. A really boxy tailored jacket worn with a simple fitted tee and our Orsman wide-leg trousers makes for a very contemporary look. Similarly, a cropped style such as our suede Hardwick jacket offers a good degree of separation while still creating a big silhouette.
The other great thing about our Orsman trousers is that they work with just about every style of shoe, from chunky derbies and boots to lo-fi sneakers and loafers. We've loved styling them with our new Solovair styles for Autumn 24, as well as French brand Paraboot's iconic Michael shoe, but really, you can bookend them with contemporary hi-tops just as effectively - whatever suits your personal style. At the end of the day, being comfortable and confident are the defining elements to a great look.
