You may have noticed me strutting a new pant style – the crop kick flare.
I’d seen this pant, here and there, circulating around the fringes of the fashion world, but when I saw it styled up on the fabulous Catherine of Not Dressed as a Lamb,
I had to pick up a pair for myself.
Mine is sold out, but there are similar pairs currently available, over at ASOS.
Left: HERE | Now on sale | $30.00. Right: HERE | $43.00
Lately, I’ve noticed this silhouette popping up with more frequency, so decided it deserved a shout-out, I’m thinking it’s going to be big – especially in denim.
Why?
The crop flare takes all of what makes a flare jean flattering – a slim fit through the butt, hip and thigh, tapering out to a flare at the lower calf – paired with an EASY to wear, everyday length. We all know, a flare jean is not the easiest style to wear. Flattering as it may be, it requires a platform shoe/heel to create a slimming silhouette (unless you are in your 20’s and want to wear it with a flip flop). As much as I love my wedge and platform shoes, I need to be in the mood to wear a heel over 2″ – not an every day kinda thing.
The crop flare can be worn with everything from slip-on sneakers and flip flops to pumps and wedges – only my boyfriend jeans are that versatile. Dress this style up or down- it’s perfect for showing off all of this years fabulous sandals and booties!
Speaking of spring shoes, you’ll find my sandal, and bootie picks in the following posts:
Get Your Kicks On: featuring lace up sandals and spring booties
Spring Forward with Wedges and Target Buys
In the crop flare, you’ll find many brands to choose from. I personally like the styles that look like a flare jean – chopped off. But for those of you who feel thats extreme, there are other options.
Here’s a look at a few I’m loving right now.
SALE ALERT! This style is currently on price-match over at Nordstrom.com. Now 30% off | sale price $185.50!
Current Elliott ‘Kick Crop’ | Bloomingdales | $198.00
For those of you who love NYDJ, with a more moderate flare,
‘Sofia’ Ankle Flare in regular and petite | Nordstrom | $114.00
You all know I love my Hudson ‘Mia’ Flares.
So much so, I own them in 2 washes!
The ‘Mia’ fit, is now available in a raw hem crop flare,
Yes, it’s on the wish list!
Left: Paige ‘Milo’ | Nordstrom | $209.00. RIght: Hudson ‘Mia’ Crop (Carve wash) | Nordstrom | $215.00
SALE ALERT! The ‘Mia’ is on price match over at Nordstrom.com, 30% off | sale price $150.50!
I’ve had a few of you ask me about culottes. Are they a must have for SS16? Honestly, I would invest in a pair of crop flares, before a culotte jean.
Why?
Take a look:
I like my culottes, sometimes. The wide leg and high waist make them difficult to style. They require the right top, shoe and belt- to work with the high waist styling. I question how flattering the wide leg cut really is. That’s all more thinking, than I want to take on most mornings.
What do you think of the crop flare style?
Do you have a pair or will you be checking these out this spring?
Do you like it in raw hem or destroyed?
How about culottes? Anyone else having a love/hate moment with theirs?
Before I go, there are some great Friends and Family sales happening this weekend.
If you love and follow Alexis Bittar, you know it rarely goes on sale. Thru 4/17 take 25% off your purchase over at Alexis Bittar, with code FRIENDS25.
Read more on Alexis Bittar in previous posts on the blog,
Take and extra 40% off sale items over at Anthropologie.
Have a great weekend Ladies!
XOXO
Suzanne
Linking up on Not Dressed As a Lamb| Fashion Should Be Fun| My Refined Style| Sheela Writes | Style Stories |Visible Monday|40 Plus Style
Suzanne! Great post and great selections. I love and own a Pair of flareS, buT i love this season’s cropped flares and haVe to have one. I love how you paired it with a long top. xx Zuma
http://www.splashofteal.com
Hi Zuma! I have to say, I really wanted a pair last year, but struggled to find a pair I liked the fit on. I love when a trend goes more mainstream as we have so many options to choose from when it comes to fit and pricing! Maybe I’ll see you styling a pair up on your blog soon! I plan to hit the stores and try a few on, I’ll be sure to share my discoveries! Hope you had a great weekend, Suzanne
I didn’t like crop flares when i first saw them, but they have been growing on me! 🙂 You look fabulous in them. and I also really liked catherine’s outfit! So, yes, I’m seeing them in my future!
Hi Andrea! I agree, when they first came out, the designers had some tweaking to do. Now, I’m thinking I need to add a pair to my denim collection. I cleaned out my closet and let go of some older denim styles. I’m ready for a new update! Hope you enjoyed the gorgeous weekend! XO Suzanne
So well done! You look fab in these trousers, and thanks for sharing with Vis Monday!
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
Thank you Patti! I loved your look, Monday on the blog – so much so, I am on the look out for a new fun skirt, to wear with my graphic tees! Have a great week!
XO Suzanne
I would not have even thought to try a pair of crop flares before seeing this post. They look so much better on than I had expected! Also, I really love the Vince Camuto Evel sandals you posted about recently. I would love to purchase a pair, but the reviews have me nervous about ordering my normal size. Do you mind me asking if you had to size up? THANks!
Hi Amie! A pair of crop flares would look really cute with the Vince Camuto Evel Sandal. I did not size up or down, I bought my true size. I find them comfortable, for a heel. One reader mentioned that she found the elastic on the sides to “dig in” and be uncomfortable. If you look at my most recent shoe posts, you will find a few other options available at Nordstrom, like the Vince Camuto ‘Emore’ and ‘Lavette’ That said, I am very happy with mine and am happy I bought them. Great price as well! On a side note, the shoe I did size down on was the DV ‘Linsey’. I found that shoe to run a full 1/2 size too big. Let me know if you have other questions and thanks for stopping by! xx
Great information, thank you! I just placed an order for the Evel sandals in my normal size. ? I agree, they would look great with crop flares. Hopefully they will work for me. Thanks again!
Hi Amie! I hope they work out for you! If not, perhaps try one of the others I listed. That said, I love my pair and wear them often. They look good with dresses and skirts as well as pants and denim!
I’m loving the look of the crop flare right now. I really need to head to the store and try on a pair for myself!!
-Karen
http://LadyinViolet.com
Hi Karen! I just ordered the Hudson ‘Mia’ crop as it went on promo over at Nordstrom this week. It should be here next week, and I’ll be sure to give it a review on the blog! Have a great weekend! xx
Itried a pair of wide cropped flares on at JCP the other day. I liked them, but then I felt kinda silly in them. They had the strings hanging down, and I wasn’t sure about the wide pant length. I then put them back, and I think I will DIY my own cropped flares by cutting off a pair of jeans I already own. A lot of women have done that and they look great!
Hi Amy! I’d love to see who your DIY pair turns out. I think that is a fabulous idea, in fact if you pop on over to Pinterest, there are lots of post on ladies doing just that! Why not take a pair of old jeans and repurpose them? Fun and saves $$ – and you know you already like the fit! There are even posts on how to let your hem down on your own, I linked the post at the bottom of this AskSuzanneBell post – if you are interested, https://asksuzannebell.com/let-out-the-hem-current-elliott-crop-straight-leg-jean/ and here is the direct Pinterest link, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/127226758201743182/
Have a great weekend! Suzanne
Hi Suzanne, I am Ada. Glad I found your blog today.
I love bell bottoms or flare jeans and own several. I wear them often and have done so in the past few months, especially. However, I am not so sure culottes work on me but I do love the trend of a wide pant. Great post and nice tips, too. =)
Please welcome by my blog as well. Also on Thursdays I run a linkup. linkup with me this Thursday and every Thursday. This outfit i so beautiful – it must be seen and shared! The new linkup is currently Live! Thanks and have a fabulous weekend!
http://eleganceandmommyhood.blogspot.com/2016/04/thursday-moda-8-and-festival-inspired.html
I LOVE the culottes, and own several pairs. But I agree, they are hard to style sometimes. I really like how you paired the long sweater with them – I am going to have to try that! I love the crop flare trend and need to find a pair!
Hi Heather! They are tricky little buggers to style! I did pick up a pair of crop flares after trying a few on, which I will be sharing on the blog soon. My favorite was the Hudson Mia (they have a new darker wash that I prefer over the light wash that was recently featured on the blog) They are a raw hem and I am having Nordstrom hem them clean for me as the way they were chopped at the bottom was almost uneven looking and I didn’t like it, plus they were too long. I think (but stay tuned) that the trick with the crop flares is to make sure some of your calf shows (hem to your most flattering point on your own leg) to be flattering. I think this will be a pant that many women will have to alter as we are all different in height and shape. The hemming on mine at Nordstrom was free, so thats a good place to buy them if you know they will need to be hemmed. I pick mine up next Thursday, fingers crossed! xx