What to know | Relaxed autumn denim: comparing low waists, flares and wide legs

The loose feeling of denim in autumn does not need to be understood only in terms of the bigger the trouser legs, the better. Recent shows and street shots have seen styles that are closer to the legs but relaxed from the waistline, such as Puddle Fit with fabric pooling over shoes, as well as flared and wide jeans. They each change the distance between the body and the fabric, and also make the relationship between the top, waist and shoes need to be looked at together.

Cover image: Launchmetrics Spotlight

Look at the waist position first, then look at the leg lines

The loose feeling in a pair of pants may come from a lower waistline, or there may be more room in the hips, legs or hem. Even if the leg profile is not very wide, after the waistband position is changed, the exposed proportions of shirts, T-shirts and jackets will still be different. It is not advisable to determine the size just by looking at the product being labeled as straight or wide pants.

When trying it on, you can first use the usual top length, observe whether the waistband is stable, whether there is enough space to sit down, and then look at the trouser legs. Deliberately buying a larger size may not necessarily achieve the same effect, because the original waist and hip structure, pockets and crotch positions will also move together.

The pleats of Puddle Fit and the trousers dragging on the ground are two different things

The accumulation of creases on the trouser legs near the upper is a common visual feature of Puddle Fit. This effect will be affected by the length of the pants, the thickness of the fabric and the height of the shoe upper. After changing shoes for the same pants, the original crease position may also change.

In actual use, you still need to confirm the condition of walking, stairs and road surfaces. Just because the pleats in the photo look good, excessive length and wear should not be regarded as necessary conditions. You can first compare with the shoes you usually wear, and then decide whether to adjust the length of the pants so that the look and activities can be achieved at the same time.

Flared pants and wide pants provide different centers of gravity for the lower body

The flared silhouette puts changes in the lower half, making it easier for the trousers to become dynamic when walking; wide trousers distribute fabric volume from a higher position. Both may have a sense of weight, but the arrangement of the shoulder line, length and waist is different, and the center of gravity of the whole outfit is also different.

If the tops and pants are loose, you can first tuck in the top, lengthen the inner layer, or open and close the jacket to create a discernible junction between the waist and the body. This doesn't necessarily need to be tight, but rather maintain a position that allows one to understand how the upper and lower body connect.

Change a variable first, it will be easier to know what you like

If you want to try a new denim ratio, you can keep the original shoes and tops and just compare two different pants types; then switch to the same pair of pants and two jacket lengths. When you change too many materials, colors, and sizes at once, it’s often difficult to distinguish what makes the shape work.

The stiffness and softness of denim will also change the silhouette, so it cannot be judged by just looking at the front photo. When walking around, look at the sides and back to confirm the relationship between pockets, trouser legs and uppers, which is closer to actual wear than just using a popular name.

This season's loose denim offers multiple paths without everyone chasing the same maximum size. By separating the waistline, fabric volume and upper, and then returning to the overall proportions, you can create new combinations with familiar items, instead of treating trends as multiple-choice questions with only one answer.