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For a long time now we've been bemoaning the status of the skinny jean as the ONLY choice in denim at the moment (even those of us who love them can see that a little bit of variety wouldn't hurt every now and then), so when we heard that flares were destined to be one of the big looks of this winter, we knew right away that some of you would be ripping your skinnies off and dancing in the streets with gay abandon. Which is actually a kind of weird mental image, so moving on...
The return of the flare is, of course, part of the 70s revival that's currently hitting the fashion world, and it doesn't apply only to denim: we've spotted flared pants in almost all fabrics out there in the retail world over the past couple of weeks, and now we're wondering what you all think of them?
On the plus side, flares make your thighs look slimmer (let's face it, anything would look slim next to a giant bellbottom), are one of the least offensive of the 70s trends, and can look pretty cute with a tailored jacket and one of those big floppy hats. On the minus side, though, they can also make you a perfect target for the Foot Snatcher, and all that material flapping around the ankles could feel kinda weird after years of skinnies.
What's the verdict, then? Do you say YAY or NAY to the return of flares? You'll find some celebrity flare-wearers under the jump to help you decide...
Nicole Richie
Katie Holmes
Kate Moss
37 comments on “Flares make a comeback: will you be wearing them?”
i like flare jeans and i have them in my wardrobe. it`s true that i mostly wear skinny jeans but when i want to wear a sports shoe i wear flares or boot-cut jeans because skinny+sport shoes look weird.
I have never ever worn skinny jeans, because they have never suited me- it’s always been bootcut jeans. Even now that I’ve lost a lot of weight, I still wear a levis slim bootcut. So I am pretty okay about the flared jeans- if we’re going to have an extreme in either direction I prefer flares to super-skinnies.
NO NO NO! These are suited only for tall, skinny women. But mostly, they are kind of awful.
Yay. I hate skinnies.
No. Dear God, no. I despise flares. They hide my shoes, they look awful on short little me, and they remind me of elementary school. I’ll be stocking up on skinnies, thank you very much.
I don’t like them at all. I’ll stick to bootcut.
i still have my flares from the 2003 revival. actually i wore them today, they’re blue/purple shot and are light enough for a warm spring day, or even summer evenings
I don’t like them either. Maybe it’s because I am a child of the 70s and have seen them in living colour (and those colours were garish, let me tell you!) the first time around…
Anyway I would not wear them. Ever. Regardless of the colour or fabric.
Bootcut is okay, though.
I started to wear skinnies about 5 years ago and chucked out my horrible boot-cut jeans, (mainly because I was 12 and my mum started being a bit more relaxed on clothes)
I don’t care about fashion trends and I don’t care about whether they suit me, skinnies are comfortable and I just have a thing for tight clothes. I had flare type school trousers and I hate them with a passion, with their stupidly big bottoms and drafty-ness.
Your comment brings back memories of being in the exact opposite position when I was that age, which was…well, a few more years ago than that, lol. The thing to do was to cut the sides of your (in my case, hand-me-down and tragically tapered) jeans and sew in a triangle of fabric to make them into flares. I still have never bought a pair of skinny jeans because my inner middle-schooler screams “Nooooo!” at the thought.
I stopeed wearing skinnies for several months, already, because my calves couldn’t bear it anymore, they suffocated in them. So yeah, I’m glad flares are back, even though I barely wear jeans anymore, I’m a fan of the tunic+leggings combo.
i rarely wore skinny jeans, cos it makes my bum looks 3 times bigger than its actual size! So, bootcut would always works well. Flare is too much for me….
I love my shoes, so why would I want to hide them under so much denim? I much prefer my skinnies, so I can show off my shoes to their best advantage
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Skinny jeans always gave me the impression I was a very short person walking on stilts (IOW: They make my legs look ridiculous). I have, in the past, worn superflares that definitely hid my shoes, but I don’t think normal flares of a proper cut have to (although the ones in the pictures mostly do. I prefer them, anyway, but then I’m always been a bit of a 70s fangirl.
I just don’t understand why they can’t all be in fashion at once? They’re just jeans! Surely it would be better to have something to suit everybody?
>> I just don’t understand why they can’t all be in fashion at once? They’re just jeans! Surely it would be better to have something to suit everybody?>>
Took the words right out of my mouth!
I AGREE! i own several pairs of skinny jeans, and a very nice pair of bootcut jeans, because they look good on my body shape.
Different people have different styles!
I think I’d sooner wear flares than skinnies (I don’t own a single pair of skinnies, still). But my forever allegiance is to simple straight-leg boot-cuts. Nice ‘n easy. No fuss.
Yes!!! Yeeeeeeeeeeeessssss!!!
I’m really tall, and my tighs are huge – so I simply cant wear skinnies! Its great to know that I’ll finally get jeans that look good on me!
i don’t really care for flares, but i have been wearing wide high-waisted pants (tight in the waist and start to flare at the widest part of the hips) and i wouldn’t go back to skinnies anymore. they are super comfortable and flattering, and they make me look a lot taller! (my brother asked if i was wearing very high heels and got surprised when he saw i was on flats)
I definitely prefer bootcut or trouser cut jeans to full-on flares or bell-bottoms. I don’t find wide flares or super-skinnies to be very flattering.
I much prefer skinnies — I started wearing them last year and realized they look a good deal better on me than flares do. I wear bootcut jeans sometimes, but I like to show off my shoes
I like straight leg cuts, so that includes skinnies to anything larger. Flares, I find weird and unfitting with my personal style. So no, not for me.
I only ever wear bootcut and flares, but i dont usually wear what’s “in”, so this doesnt really change anything for me.
Um, nay.
Flares make me look clumsy for some reason. I prefer to wear relaxed skinnies, straight cut and boot cut jeans.
Well, I for one am glad that there will be more choices now. And while I agree that bootcut is my favourite of the given choices, I like both skinny and flare jeans. I do, however, wish that they would finally start raising the waist lines on them. Not only is it rather inappropriate to see underwear and more every time a girl bends, it also gets quite cold around that area now that summer is gone. And they still all insist on making the shirts and jackets short
YES! Something other than skinny jeans, I was getting sick of walking into a store only to find the only style of jeans they stock are skinnies, which look awful on me as I have a tummy and my calves are kinda big.
I don’t mind a little flare, but a full bell bottom just makes you look stupid.
YAY! Skinny jeans are only truly flattering on like, 10-20% of the population, and for those of us who feel extremely uncomfortable in them its nice to see a more comfy version making a comeback.Besides, foot-snatching is only a problem if you buy pants that don’t fit right or wear the wrong shoes.
Thank you! Thank you! I find skinny jeans so uncomfortable and have had trouble finding anything BUT them.
And I love flared jeans so even better.
*dances around*
Seems I’m with a lot of people on this one: tired of having trouble finding anything but skinny jeans. I tend to wear bootcut (or maybe straight) unless the jeans are being tucked into boots, which for me is the sole purpose of skinnies.
Flares though? Like Serinde I’m fond of the earlu 2000′s version, and hope it’s that which comes back, rather than the scarily coloured “swing your pants” original…
I own 2 flares and I love them. They’re comfortable, make you look thiner and I can wear my comfy skechers with them without looking like a clown!
I already have been…since 2007.
I have been hunting for a pair of super tight legged, wide flare jeans, just because I fancied some now I’ve not the the baby weight, now they’re in fashion, I may find some! Yay!
‘not GOT the baby weight’
I am pretty okay about the flared jeans- if we’re going to have an extreme in either direction I prefer flares to super-skinnies.
I wear them; and I think they look really good on me. I am not super bulky, either. I mean, I suppose I am toned; but I am definitely far from bulky and huge, haha. I am sure it will be fine.
Yes, yes, yes. i love 70s fashion. bring on the flares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!