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), firstly to see whether they lived up to expectations, and secondly which styles in particular were worth spending money on. Turns out those reviewers weren’t wrong, and there were quite a few brilliant ones. But the four pairs below really stood out to me for fit and design, as well as looking and feeling expensive despite their affordable price tags.
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 these H&M styles completely changed my opinion. Although they give that smart, tailored look, they were all surprisingly comfortable and most even had elasticated waists. 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, heeled boots, chunky sandals and even loafers.
Keep scrolling and you’ll find my favourite pairs and how I styled them; as well as some handy links in case you want to try a pair for yourselves…
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.
I loved that these had belt loops to add my favourite Totême belt which made them feel even more polished. The cream might be dangerous around coloured liquids but it makes them perfect for transitioning into spring.
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.
From H&M’s Conscious collection, I loved these linen-mix trousers. 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 wintery but I can’t wait to wear them with vests come summer.
Up Next: The Most Expensive-Looking Pieces on the High Street This Week
