Get More Leg Room

After a decade of tailored, slim and ultra-skinny fits, pants are finally getting wider. It's certainly good news for anyone who makes time for leg day at the gym or, you know, enjoys beer. It was probably time for a shift anyway. "Everybody is bored with the same silhouette," says Patrick Grant, the designer of E. Tautz, the London-based brand which, alongside such labels as RRL and Beams Plus, is loosening up in the legs. He says it's more enjoyable to wear clothes with "a bit of drape to them," and I'd have to agree. I enjoy the roominess and the opportunity to let the boys breathe a bit. But what's the difference between this fresh, relaxed style and your average sloppy, baggy pants? The key is all in how you wear them. Some fits are more cropped and tapered while others, like E. Tautz's, are straight-cut wide-leg trousers. But they both benefit from the right pairing. First, keep your waist defined by tucking in your shirt or wearing a top that's more tailored to the body. And secondly, you want footwear with some heft—be it sturdy sneakers, substantial lace-ups or heavy-duty boots—so your feet don't look like a child's poking out of these fuller pants. Herewith, some of the best new styles to try.