H&M's Wide-Leg Trousers Have Incredible Reviews, so I Tried Them All

by Emily Dawes

When a high-street item starts garnering a certain amount of hype, it seriously piques our interest here at Who What Wear. That’s what happened recently, anyway, when word got around about how great H&M’s wide-leg trousers were. Last year, we sold over 1000 pairs through the site, and after delving deeper, we realised that most styles were consistently receiving incredible reviews online. So of course, we had to see how good they were for ourselves.

I was tasked with trying on as many pairs as I could get my hands on (harder than it sounds when they fly out of stock as quickly as they do) to see whether they lived up to expectations and to figure out which styles, in particular, were worth spending money on. Turns out those reviewers weren’t wrong, and there were quite a few brilliant ones. The four pairs below really stood out to me for fit and design, and they looked and felt expensive despite their affordable price tags. Unsurprisingly, some are now running low in stock already, but if you keep scrolling, I've added links to very similar pairs made from the same materials that are brand new on-site.

I have to admit I used to think wide-leg trousers were a difficult trend to wear, especially since I’m only 5’2”, but H&M’s styles completely changed my opinion. Although they give that smart, tailored look, they were all surprisingly comfortable, and most even had elasticated waists or sections at the back—genius. I’ve taken to wearing them while working from home so I can still feel a bit polished, and they’ve definitely become a new staple in my wardrobe. (Sorry, jeans.) Plus, they’re surprisingly versatile when it comes to shoe pairings—I found they work with trainers, boots, loafers and even chunky sandals.

Below, you’ll find my favourite pairs and how I styled them as well as more impressive styles that are on my list to try next.

Photo:

@emilyjdawes

These were my favourite pair and were so comfy given the stretchy waistband. I loved them with my old Converse, so I think I’d take them up an inch for my petite height, but they were perfect with heeled boots.

H&M

Trousers

£20

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This inclusive style goes up to a size 4XL.

Photo:

@emilyjdawes

I loved that these had belt loops to add my favourite Totême belt, which made them feel even more polished. The cream hue might be dangerous around coloured liquids, but it makes them perfect for transitioning into spring.

Photo:

@emilyjdawes

These were probably the comfiest pair I tried, but the silky fabric balanced it out to keep them feeling super luxe. I loved that you could wear them with a knit like this in the day and add a blazer and heels for evenings out.

Photo:

@emilyjdawes

I loved these linen-mix trousers from H&M’s Conscious collection. I had so many compliments while wearing them, and the side-split detailing at the ankle meant they were really easy to wear with trainers. I paired them with leather to make them feel more wintry, but I can’t wait to wear them with vests come summer.

H&M

Tailored Linen-Blend Trousers

£80

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A more premium linen-blend pair perfect for spring.

H&M

Tailored Lyocell-Blend Trousers

£40

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Wide-leg-trouser suits are a great option if you're attending a wedding this year, but you could also just wear these trousers with a white T-shirt and converse.