|

|

Revisiting Kick Flares for Fall

There were so many good comments on the post about the kick flares for fall that I decided to write a follow-up, rather than try to reply to everyone.

For anyone just tuning in, here’s the outfit in question:

I happened to be shooting with my photographer, Alison, the day that post went live, and she was shocked to hear that most of you didn’t care for the outfit. She loved it and thought it really worked. (She also loved the gritty backdrop, for what it’s worth. 😉 That was on purpose.)

Her take on it was, this is supposed to be a relaxed, casual, almost sloppy look. Think casual-cool and laid-back (a messy bun would have probably helped…)

Now, keep in mind, she’s at least 10 years younger than I am, and definitely has a casual-cool personal style, but she thinks people just need time for their eye to adjust to a new silhouette.

I think she’s right to a point, but I also don’t think this outfit works for me — for the reasons many of you stated in the comments. The casual-cool, almost sloppy vibe doesn’t really jibe with my style aesthetic, and then there’s the bulky sweater with horizontal stripes that doesn’t do much for my short-waisted, larger busted figure.

So yeah, that’s why I felt like the outfit worked in theory, but it didn’t translate the way I wanted it to when I put it on.

The comments on the post were interesting, and I thought so many of you made valid points. A few of you actually liked the look, some of you hate kick flares altogether and think I should burn them (ha!), but most thought the pieces were all fine on their own — just not together.

Yes, these jeans are very casual due to the wash, the extra wide flare, and the raw hem; but I’m not ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater just yet, so I decided to try a few more top and shoe combos with them.

I also tried some outfits with two other pairs of crop flares, but before I share the new outfits I put together, I will address a question I’ve had a few times, and one I’m sure many of you are thinking:

Why try so hard? Maybe this trend is just not worth it.

I hear you, and I get it, but who remembers when skinny jeans were new? And the uproar . . . Oh, yes. There was an uproar, my friends!

People fought tooth and nail to hold onto their bootcuts, and many of us struggled with the new silhouette before we finally embraced it. I know I did!

(I am speaking in general terms here. Yes, I know not everyone embraced the skinny jean, but it definitely became the style du jour, and it has had a long reign in this ever-changing world of fast fashion.)

We transitioned slowly, first wearing straight leg jeans, then cigarette leg jeans, and finally legging jeans.

But the tops in our closets didn’t work with the new skinny jean trend, and neither did our shoes. We had to start thinking differently about how we put outfits together… What tops go with this new silhouette? Which length of jean works best with my shoes? And, ohmyword… what about ankle boots???

My blog post about how to wear ankle boots is was originally written back in 2015 or 16 (I’m not sure when because I update and republish it almost every year), and it was and still is the most highly trafficked post on my blog every fall and winter.

It was born because I was trying my darnedest to figure out how to pair skinny jeans and ankle boots. Oh, the angst . . . I remember it well!

Now that styling skinny jeans finally seems like second nature, they want me to start wearing straight leg jeans and flares!

And suddenly my tops don’t quite work, and I’m trying to figure out the shoe situation, and here we are again.

But that’s fashion, folks. And this is a fashion blog. So, to keep it relevant, I make it my job to figure out how to wear the current styles, and I don’t think this silhouette is going anywhere.

Granted, we should wear what looks best on us, but I don’t think ignoring trends is the way to do that. Oftentimes what seems trendy one day will seem mainstream in a few months.

Of course some trends come and go, but pant silhouettes have a way of evolving, and I predict that we will get used to this silhouette. Let’s revisit this post next fall, shall we? We may see it very differently.

So yes, I’m still experimenting with kick flares because I’m curious to see if I can make them work for me, and I’m bringing you along for the ride.

That doesn’t mean I will keep this exact pair of jeans, but the style in general is one I’m not giving up on just yet.

And now, with that lengthy preamble out of the way, I present to you . . .

Kick Flares: Take Two

I’m going to start with restyling the BlankNYC Varick kick flares. Yes, the wash and the cut hems make these very casual and almost sloppy, but that’s actually what drew me to them. I like that look to a point, but the casual/sloppy vibe isn’t the easiest look to pull off as we get older, so it really has to work with your personal style aesthetic or it can look try-hard.

With the chunky sweater and mules in Tuesday’s post, that outfit ventured into try-hard territory. As I said in that post, I couldn’t imagine actually wearing that outfit anywhere. That’s usually my gut-check signal that a look isn’t for me.

That said, I do work at home and dress pretty casually most of the time, and I love my ripped jeans, so I think I can wear these jeans if I keep them uber casual.

In that vein, many of you suggested wearing them with a graphic tee and sneakers. Take a look.

Much better, right? I can actually imagine wearing this outfit somewhere.

I tried a few more variations with these jeans before moving on to a different pair . . .

While the white sneakers play nicely with the lettering on the tee, they still contrast with the dark outfit and draw a lot of attention to my feet, so I tried a darker shoe.

I like this look, but I think a more casual dark sneaker would be better. Unfortunately I don’t happen to have one at the moment to show you. #holeinmycloset

So I went the other direction and tried a plain black tee with these leopard slip-on sneakers because it’s a bit more polished and makes more sense with the shoes, and I think this works.

I’d wear this to run errands or to meet up with a friend for coffee.

Then I tried these snake print mules. They have a bit of a wedge, which some suggested might help with the kick flares, and they’re okay . . . but I like the sneakers better, I think.

Then I thought perhaps a grey tee would work better with the white sneakers, so I tried that. I like this but I think the lower vamp on the snake print sneakers is more flattering because it shows more skin. Did anyone else notice that?

So yeah, all in all, I like the graphic tee and sneaker combos. Are they polished and sophisticated?

No, but that’s not the point.

This is just a fun, playful look that can be appropriate for certain casual situations . . . hanging out with friends on the weekends, working at home during the day, running errands, a fair or music festival on the weekend, a ball game, or a kid’s band performance in the football stadium. (I’m a #bandmom, can’t you tell?)

So What About Booties?

A lot of people said they prefer kick flares with booties. The issue with booties is, you need to find the right silhouette and right shaft height to work with the jeans. You don’t want too much skin showing, but you don’t want the jeans getting caught on the shaft of the boot either.

I think these Sofft booties are about the right style/height, but I don’t love them with the graphic tee. I think they need a sweater on top.

So I tried a different top — one that’s still casual, but long sleeved for cooler weather.

This thermal is more fitted than the striped Madewell sweater and has a more fitted silhouette, but it doesn’t quite work with the jeans because they both flare out.

A better option is a top or sweater with a more traditional silhouette, and if it’s too long, you can front tuck it . . . like in the case of this camo sweater.

I wish I’d tried this with the grey booties, because I actually think it would work, but I only have a picture of this combo with sock booties.

Sock booties are always my answer to the question: “But what do I wear with cropped jeans in the wintertime?”

I think this look has potential, but these jeans are probably too casual for these booties. The grey ones would probably look better style-wise and color-wise, and I also think the jeans should be an inch longer to work with these sock booties.

AG Jodi Try-Ons

So let’s try some other kick flares and see if they work any better.

I picked up these AG Jodi crop flares when I saw them on sale at Bloomies because AG never steers me wrong . . . or so I thought.

First of all, they run suuuuper small, despite what the website indicates. I am wearing the 29 and I could barely button them. I definitely need a 30, and I often wear 28 in AG, so I don’t know what gives there.

I’m also not loving the contrast in the wash — the distressing is too severe for the dark wash, in my opinion; but I tried them since I had them.

To compare, the AG Jodi has a 9.25″ rise, 26″ inseam, and 16″ leg opening. The BlankNYC Varick (styled above) has 8″ rise, 25″ inseam, and 16″ leg opening.

First up, I tried the AG Jodi crop flares with a grey tee and white sneaks. It’s fine, but I like the Varick better, mainly because I like the wash better.

Next, I swapped out the sneakers for the snake print mules to elevate the look a bit, but I’m meh on this one.

Let’s try the sock booties and a sweater. I like this silhouette better, but the distressing on the jeans is still distracting to me.

That said, note how the extra inch in the inseam looks so much better with these booties!

And one more option… a less chunky sweater with a slightly shorter length. This actually works really well, except for that awful wash on the jeans. If they were more uniform with the darker wash, I think I’d like this outfit.

Mother Insider Try-Ons

Okay, last pair! I decided to try the whole round of outfits again with these Mother Insiders. These have a 9.75″ rise, 26″ inseam, and 15.5″ leg opening, but they seem slimmer than the two above.

These also have a lighter wash, so I think they look best paired with lighter shoes and tops. They’d definitely work with the grey tee but I tried them with this navy one for variety’s sake.

I think this is a pleasing blend of styles, fit, and colors; and I like how the jeans don’t seem as wide at the bottom as the BlankNYC pair. They don’t feel like they will be as much “work” to style . . . but let’s see. One outfit does not a new pair of jeans justify! 😂

It was also suggested that I throw a cardigan on top, and I like this okay, but I think it makes me look bigger on top — and that along with the width on the bottom isn’t as flattering as the tee worn alone.

Next, I kept the sneakers and tried a sweater. Last winter I got into the cashmere sweater with jeans and sneakers look. I like the juxtaposition of luxe and casual.

I dunno… what do you think? I think I’d like this better with my navy hooded sweater, but I didn’t think to try it. I’m not loving the rust with the white sneakers.

Next, I swapped out the sneakers for the snake print mules to elevate the look a bit. Since they’re a lighter print, they don’t contrast too much against the light denim, extending the line of the leg. Plus the small heel helps too, but I still can’t say I love this look.

For comparison’s sake, I asked myself which of my go-to jeans would I probably reach for if I were going to wear this sweater and mules together right now . . . and I grabbed the Rag & Bone Cate — dark wash skinnies with a raw hem.

So much better, right??? Maybe it’s partly the darker wash, but I think the extra length of the jeans, and the slimmer silhouette clearly creates a more pleasing balance.

And to take it one step further, I swapped out the mules (which I have not yet committed to keeping) for my beloved snake print booties that I’ve worn several times already, including last night and this morning.

Now we have an outfit I want to go put on right now and wear somewhere. But… I’m persistent.

Thinking a lighter color sweater might work better with the Mother jeans and snake mules, I tried on this ivory link stitch sweater from Everlane.

It’s okay, but I decided I just don’t love these mules with these jeans. Everyone keeps saying booties is the way to go with cropped flares, and they’re more practical as it gets colder, so I tried the Lucky Brand suede wedge booties in sesame.

Tell me what you think. The colors definitely work, and you can see just about an inch of skin between the booties and the jeans, which supposedly works, but I don’t love it.

I told you I’m persistent… Next I tried grey booties with a higher shaft. These aren’t as snug to the ankle as a sock bootie, but they have a streamlined silhouette and a higher shaft so there is no skin showing between the jeans and booties. I could even wear socks with these for warmth.

What say you? I think this is the best one yet… except for the navy tee and white sneakers above. I like that outfit too.

Since I like the boot and jeans combo, I tried another top — this J.Crew rollneck cotton sweater. It’s too long with cropped jeans, though; now I’m cut in half.

But that is the problem with new denim silhouettes. Suddenly tops you thought were effortless to style don’t quite work, and this is why we’re seeing so many shorter tops right now.

See how much better the AG Prima look with this sweater and booties?

I did try one more thing — cuffing the AG Primas and front-tucking the sweater.

I’m not really a fan of front tucking sweaters, but it seems to be what everyone is doing, especially with the longer ones. And I noticed they had this sweater front-tucked on the website.

So yeah, it’s a work in progress! I’m not sold on kick flares just yet, but I like a few of these looks, so maybe I’ll venture out wearing a pair one of these days.

Meanwhile I’m going to keep trying different styles and watching how other influencers wear them, and when I’m in areas that are a little more fashion-forward than my area of the ‘burbs, I’ll be looking around to see which silhouettes are taking hold in the mainstream.

I will keep you posted, and feel free to let me know if you have suggestions on improving any of these outfits. I’m open!

Did you like this post? 

Subscribe to get email updates! In addition to my most recent blog posts, you’ll receive exclusive newsletter content like special sales, my newest favorite finds, and an occasional peek behind the scenes — all delivered right to your inbox. PLUS you’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win a $100 gift card each month!

This post contains affiliate links. When you shop through my links, it helps support my business (at no additional cost to you) so thank you!

Join The Conversation

67 Responses

  1. I don’t think I’ll get used to kick flares…all I could think was frumpy and I don’t know why because you are far from frumpy 😬. Perhaps if I was taller they might be more appealing.

  2. Wow! You are such an expert at this! Thank you for trying so many looks on! I loved so many of the pieces you chose! My favorite was the beautiful Rust colored Cashmere Sweater and the Rag and Bone jeans with the snakeskin booties. So cute! 

  3. Cropped kick flares in a dark wash with a dark thin sweater and  sock booties is what I wore on our one cool day here. I got about 50 compliments. I think that with a light wash it’s harder. The ones you write with the gray boots are good for “ retraining” the eye re how pretty  and flattering the look can be. 

  4. Wow! Impressive effort. I’ve been asking myself if my negative reaction is a comfort zone thing, and I’m sure that’s it to some extent. Also, I will be honest and say that I don’t like bootcut jeans and never did, even when they were basically all you could find. That being said, I like kick flares better than traditional bootcuts (I also don’t like long jeans), and I get the appeal of them (they’re edgy in a fun way). I liked the white version you had for summer. Of the outfits you tried, I think I most liked the rust sweater, mother jeans and the snake mules that you might not keep (they’re cute, but similar to what you have). I also liked the same outfit with the white sweater (did you decide to keep that one? I like it a lot on you). I don’t love kick flares with booties….I prefer seeing a smaller ankle at the end of the flare, and the bootie takes that away. I agree with you about the wash on the AGs – too extreme for my taste. I still don’t like the original outfit. I find it sloppy, and that’s just not you. I doubt you’d ever feel comfortable wearing it. I’d be curious to see the sweater in an XS, but even then I suspect I’d think other things (colors, style, pattern) look better on you.

    1. I wasn’t going to keep the white sweater, but I got it out to try on with the kick flares, and I got makeup on it. URGH! So maybe it’s meant to be mind… haha! I can’t return it now. I agree about the original outfit, and funny that you never liked bootcut. I still love a good full length bootcut, and of course everyone keeps saying they’re trending again, but I never see them around here… or when I go to King of Prussia or Philly.

  5. Whew! Pour yourself a glass of wine this afternoon for happy hour. You’ve earned it for this thorough review of cropped flares! Personally, I like the look and agree that our eyes will eventually adjust to this new silhouette. I can totally see this look in all it’s forms on my 30-something daughter and DIL, and even for old 63 yo me, I’m thinking they will be the perfect  voice with a tee and sneakers for comfy weekend vibe. Thanks for your persistence and hard work. 🍷

  6. I agree, you’re favorites are also mine. I don’t think I’ll be wearing kick jeans and I don’t think they’ll be as loved as skinny jeans which I am so over. I’m tired of the tight calves look.  I’m buying more cigarette and straight lately. Better for over 55 ladies.  Thanks for trying so many options, I enjoyed the post. 

  7. Thanks for doing all of these try-one! Your favorites are my favorites too. Kick flares aren’t for me. I especially love the rust sweater with the Rag and Bone Cate jeans. So cute!!  

  8. I love the Mother jeans with the white sweater.  I think all three booties work really well with those jeans, especially the grey.
    Great post!

  9. Great post!  I love seeing all the different options. I actually love the JCrew sweater with the cropped jeans and the Primas even though you thought it cut you in half!  I have enjoyed wearing cropped flares with sandals all summer, but I am 5’7” with long legs.  Love them now with ankle boots.  Thanks for being persistent!! 

  10. Much better with the plain Black tee! It actually shows your figure better than the sweaters. How about wearing Tory Burch sandals? That would look cute as well, they go with everything! 

  11. This is a great post! Thanks for taking the time to do this. It put words to all those times I’ve gotten dressed and switched an item because something just wasn’t right…so many things to consider! I like the kick flares and wide leg crops. I think they’re a fun change. Mine would need to be a darker wash for a more polished look. But they are a challenge, and you’ve given us lots of things to look for on the check list! 

  12. Thank you for putting so much effort into this post. It really helps to see the different ways kick flares can work. The black tees and sneakers are definitely my favorites. I also like the red sweater with the black boots. Although, I’m not sure I could pull that off personally. I live in Minnesota and my crop pants will be packed away within the next few weeks. It is in the upper 80’s today though. I may give the flares a try in the Spring?

  13. Wow! Great effort to take another stab at it!! I prefer the looks with the graffic tees & white tennis shoes. That’s my own style & I also work from home. Not saying the other styles are bad, just not my style & don’t see myself wearing. 

  14. Thanks for all the helpful info! I just fell in love with this trend thanks to you. You are the best at guiding me through the latest stuff. I have said it before,but I am a far more confident woman because of your blog. 🧡🧡🧡

  15. Great post! Thanks for all the try ons. It’s amazing how little changes, length, width & rise of the jeans make such a difference. This is very helpful. I like the cropped kick flares. I love that’s it something different than all the skinny jeans that everyone wears.

  16. Thank you for doing all the work for us and for teaching us the the details of the process of styling an outfit.  I learned from your thought process 🙂  I have to say that the style of the kick flares is not to my liking, for myself. 

  17. Wow… you really put a lot of thought and effort into that post.  I appreciate your expertise and guidance toward this new trend.  I totally agree with Allison in regards to the background and the casual laid back feel of the original outfit.
    I think you look amazing in all of them and think the eye will adjust as we see it more and figure out all the details.
    Thank you!

  18. I like kick flares, and flares in general, more than skinny jeans, so there’s my bias upfront.  That being said–I’m with the reader who says you deserve a glass of wine for this post–wow you worked hard!!  
    I like the sock booties, the greys and the tans booties with the last set that you tried.  The sneaks work for some of the earlier ones, but I think you are right about just getting used to the look.  I just bought a pair of kick flares with a higher waist for fall, and expect to wear them with my sock booties and a couple other shoes.  Not a big flat mule fan, but I have some block heeled mules I think I’ll try to see.  Thanks for the hard work!!!

  19. I love this type post because I learn so much from all your commentary! Sometimes I get as much out of the outfits that don’t work as the ones you post that do work. I will get dressed and think, “What would Jo-Lynn think of this.” lol

  20. Wow! You really put together an impressive post. I don’t know if kick flares are for me but I really liked the graphic tee and sneakers. It’s kind of like boyfriend jeans, they need the right pieces together to look good. 

  21. This is the 3rd time I’ve tried to comment as your website keeps deleting my comments and closing out. I’ll try again.

    I am late to the party here! I just read yesterday’s post and today’s and I have to say that while in theory all the pieces of your outfit are cute and should work together, yesterday’s outfit wasn’t very flattering on you. YOU didn’t look comfortable in it and I really believe that if we don’t like how we feel in clothing, we shouldn’t wear it (ie: Marie Kondo).

    My favorite outfit was the lighter wash denim and the navy “mom amour” tee and sneakers. You could wear that on the weekend to the Farmer’s Market or to run errands. I do not like the skin showing between the denim and the ankle boot; looks like “Erkle” to me. 😀
    I agree that it sometimes takes awhile for us to get used to new styles, but I totally embraced the skinny jeans when they came out (andat the time I was lovin and rockin my “7 For All Mankind” straight legs with the red/gold swoosh on the back pocket!) But I loved the low rise straight legs and then the low rise skinnies worn with a big belt!! I bet you rocked the low rise Jo-Lynne with you being short-waisted it was a perfect silhouette for you!
    Honestly we NEVER thought “mom jeans” would be in style, right?

    But here’s the thing, I don’t see a lot of women 50 and older wearing the super high rise jeans with everything tucked in or cropped flares with cropped tops……I see the teens and 20-30 somethings wearing these styles. My friends with daughters are buying this for them. Don’t your daughters wear these crop flares and bodysuits and all?

    I’m still waiting to see how this trend will be tweaked for older women. I have never really thought about my age and have always tried to dress according to current trends, but all of a sudden I’ve reached the point where I’m a lot more selective now about what I buy and wear. I think now, “Is that age appropriate?” “Do I want that much cleavage showing?” “Can I wear comfortable shoes with that?” etc….. I think I want a more classic fashion style with just a little edge.

    1. I hear ya, girl. That’s why I’m still kind of watching and waiting with this one.

      I really think it depends largely on where we live and what we are seeing — judging by other comments.

      Funny thing, my girls are not wearing those looks. They are still 100% in skinny jeans. I think our area is a bit behind the times, though. I know I live in the suburbs of Philly, but we are pretty far out, and styles here are slower to change than they are even 30 min closer to the city.

  22. I love this post, and your persistence! Thank you for showing us so many options, I know that was a lot of work! I really like the kick flares for a casual look, and I think they were flattering on you. The Mothers were my favorite, with the tennies. I think they could transition into colder weather with your cute leopard slip-ons and your rust sweater or thermal top. I don’t care for them with mules or booties, but I think I am in the minority. A pulled together casual is my daily go to, and the right kick flares fit that vibe. Great post!

  23. I love the Mother Insiders on you! Especially with a sweater and booties. Lots of women wear flares here in California and they wear with booties showing a bit of skin between shoe and jeans. I think your eye just needs to adjust. But I agree with you, this trend is not going away. Young women here don’t wear skinnies any more so I think it’s good for the rest of us to update our style. Great post! 

  24. You almost had me sold on kick flares until the very end when you showed a pair of skinnies and I immediately thought “ahh, so much better!” I just think they cut off leg length and aren’t very flattering, and I already have a long torso with short legs so I try to avoid that. Good work and persistence though.

  25. Wow! I went back and read some of the comments from the last blog. So many people had such strong opinions. I actually like the kick flare , just in a darker wash and with a less voluminous top to balance out the bigness of the bottom silhouette.  I’m 51, 5’4” and 140 pounds with a larger bottom half, so I prefer the darker color denim to help make me look slimmer.  I think the flare crop denim, with tee and sneaker or mules combo is really cute and wearable.  

    I’m living outside of London now and find a lot of fashionable women in town wear this wider leg silhouette while the suburbs where I am it is mostly skinny jeans still. I agree it will trickle down to us eventually and people’s eyes will adjust to the new look. It is aggravating however, that so many of my favorite tops and shoes won’t work with the new look. Fashion is a roller coaster that is ever changing.   

  26. I still love the jeans and thank you for your effort in showing all those styles 🙂 I disagree about the AG cropped flares, I really like them and love the look you did with the shorter burgandy sweater. I still like the first pair as well and LOVE the paring with the graphic tee. I think it comes down to body style and preference. For me cropped flared (and even the wide leg crops) look best on me and I feel most comfortable in those. Skinny jeans always seemed like an effort to me and I hated wearing them for that reason. You rock your skinnies ! Thanks again for all the looks, always inspiring me to try something new.

  27. Thanks for all the options! I definitely think all of the jeans you have at the bottom look better than the top one. The top one reminds me of Huckleberry Finn for some reason. 🙁

  28. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you – for taking the time and showing us all the different styles. You must be exhausted…and how in the world do you keep your hair so nice after trying on so many tops? I also think you are great at showcasing items that may not be your favorite but shows your followers trends and options. I so appreciate it.

  29. After all the looks (thanks so much for all those looks! You must be sore from trying on clothes!) I think I like the lighter wash jeans with the sneaks (either pair) but it might just be because the legs were slimmer and the jeans were hemmed. I’m not very adventurous!

  30. Wow!  What a difference a different top and/or shoes make!  I kind of like the BlankNYC flares with the tee and sneakers.  I don’t really like them with the booties though – something about how high the booties are that starts making them look too wide.  🤷‍♀️ And I’m with yo I don’t like the AG Jodi cropped flares.  The coloring just looks off but the first pic with the gray tee and sneakers is my favorite of this jean.  The Mother Insider crop flares are my favorite of all – they just don’t see “so” flared. But not with the cardigan.  I do like it with the sweaters too but the wash might need to be a tad darker.  

    Let me just say wow!  Kudos to you for trying so hard.  You’re really taking all the hard work out of it for us.  😊  I hope you have a great weekend!   You deserve it after all this!  Ha. 

  31. You look fabulous in skinnies, but I like the looks you showed us today! I have a pair of kick flares and like them when it’s hot rather than wearing tight jeans. You have given me many ideas how to wear them. I love your blog and love your look! You put a lot of effort into everything and it shows! Keep up the great work….you are definitely a favorite! 

  32. I love that you tried so many looks! You’re a trooper, Jo-Lynne. Your favorite looks were my favorite looks as well. My absolute favorite being your skinnies w/the rust sweater and snake print shoes! lol Thanks for showing us so many different styles. I won’t be buying kick flares in the near future that I can foresee, but, I’m going to keep an open mind and watch how they get styled over the next season. 

  33. Wow.  What a great post!  I am  not sure the cropped flare will ever work for me because I’m so short, but I do agree that it may just take some time for our eyes to adjust to a new shape.  All I wore for the longest time was bootcut jeans, and I really never even considered a skinny.  I ended up with a pair of moderate skinnies on clearance one time and then got another pair that were true skinnies, and then I was hooked.  Now I put on my bootcuts and they feel and look unnatural to me.  A lot of it is in what we get used to.  And finding the right tops to go with them.  I loved seeing all your tryons and what you thought about each one.  Thanks for all your hard work!  And for keeping us in the know!

  34. Loved this post. Not only did you show us some choices we have with flares, but the process of deciding what look we prefer and why. I definitely think I’m getting a pair of kick flares. The word “fun” keeps coming to me when I see the new silhouette.

  35. Thank you for your thorough post and not giving up. I, personally, love a good cropped kick flare and I’m in the suburbs of Philly too – Bucks County. I have any hour glass/curvier figure and the kick flares provide me balance as opposed to the struggle that I have with skinny jeans. So, I welcome the new silhouette. I have to agree that I like a darker wash with booties and mules. Sneakers with a lighter wash. Have a great weekend!

  36. What a good, thorough, informative post.  I wonder if the reason you don’t like the snakeskin mules is that the vamp is so high?  That’s what I see.  
    I like the looks you like, as many have commented.  
    I don’t love the kick flares for now.  My ankles/shins would be too cold in the winter but I think they’ll be nice for spring and summer next year.  

    Don’t be too sad about getting make up on that white sweater; it really does look good on you!

  37. Great post! Thanks for showing us so many options. I like the kick flares with t-shirts and sneakers. Not so much with booties or mules.  The last outfit is my fave with the cuff and smaller flare of the mother jeans and the mules look great with it. I actually tried a pair of kick flares on just for fun and found I loved them. I’ll be wearing them with Shorelines, neutral loafers or neutral 

  38. I definitely like the kick flares with the sneakers and graphic t much better. I actually saw a woman here at the mall today wearing a pair… first time I’ve seen this trend in my part of the woods sort of speak lol…if the trend is around next spring/ summer I may try it then … we shall see😉

  39. All the outfits in this post are much better than the original post! I feel you are getting there with styling the kick flares and don’t give up on them just yet. The fitted tops are the way to go with the kick flares. We learned that when styling boot cut or flare jeans the top should be more fitted and that with skinny jeans, jeggings, or leggings, a looser top looks best. I think this is true with the kick flares too. The problem with the original post is the awful and baggy striped sweater, which look sloppy with the jeans and did not flatter you at all. The outfits in this post flatter you and look like outfits you would wear.

  40. Well dang it, once again I cannot see all of your photos on my iPad or my iPhone.  This happens quite often and I have no idea why.  I am wondering if the flare jeans are fitted below your backside or I’d they are flared all the way down.  I hope you had a great day!

  41. I like the Mother Insider jeans the best. I think it is because they appear narrower at the bottom of the leg and they don’t cut off your leg length. I really like them with the ivory sweater and the Lucky Brand booties. Thanks for showing us all of these outfits…it really helps!

  42. Great job pushing yourself on this one. My two favorites are the 1st casual look with black t-shirt with white lettering and white sneakers and then the shorter rust turtleneck with sock booties that don’t show any skin which looks totally like your style and aesthetic. Did you notice as the posts went on you flare jeans got longer with a smaller flare where they almost didn’t even look like a flare and you began to like the look better??….perhaps getting back to where you eye was more comfortable? I don’t like the mules with any of the outfits. I have a pair of kick flares that I hardly every wear because I just can’t get the right look but this post has helped A LOT. Thank you:)

  43. Wow! You must have been exhausted after this try on session. I really appreciate seeing all of the different outfits and your thoughts behind them- extremely helpful. This is one of your best posts IMO. The less flared flares with almost any of the booties looked best on you. I’m not a fan of the snakeskin mules (or any mules). 

  44. Wow!  So many options! I love that you are willing to try on so many different options and explain why you like or don’t like each one.  I liked the summer outfits earlier this year.  The silhouette seemed to work. Full fall styles, it’s just not comfortable to the eye yet.  Maybe next year! Loved that you said that. LOL! 

  45. Hi – I hear what you say about familiarising oneself with trends – a very valid observation.  Having see your latest try-on featuring kick-flares it seems you have cracked the look!! Especially like them with trainers and the darker wash and T.
    Well done you – I really didn’t think there was any hope but happy to be proved completely wrong with a lesson of how not to be a Stick in the mud’ !!
    Happy Sunday! Jane

  46. I’ve been following you for years and have never commented, but just really want to say that I really enjoyed this post. I actually read it all! Honestly I think the kick flares look ridiculous and can’t see myself ever wearing them, but like you said about skinny jeans….. I did, however, appreciate you sharing the process of figuring out how to wear them. I think the t-shirt and sneaker look was the best. Thanks for all your hard work!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *