I bought a few pairs of Everlane’s Wide Leg Crop pants last year, so this review is long overdue. My thinking at the time was that I could use a pair of thicker pants that weren’t skinny jeans. After all, it was only relatively recently that I figured out how to wear this silhouette for my petite frame. Initially, I had dismissed wide leg pants as a no-go for short people. But I saw that under the right circumstances, they could work.

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So, I ordered the Wide Leg Crop Pant in my regular size, a 4, and one size down, a 2. The weight of the package that arrived surprised me. These pants are made out of a heavy cotton twill that’s 97% cotton and 3% elastane. They’re similar to denim in feel. While they’re thick, they’re also quite stretchy. The fabric has a washed-in look that lends it a casual vibe. (Everlane also makes a similar pant in a lighter weight fabric, the Lightweight Wide Leg Crop Chino.)

Everlane calls these high-waisted pants, “Our most flattering pant — ever.” (The rise is about 11.5″) This is what they looked like on a 5′ 10″ model. Is this supposed to be flattering? I wasn’t so sure.

And here’s what they look like on 5′ 4″ me. I’m wearing my regular size in the short inseam. (The short inseam is 24.5″ while the regular inseam runs 2″ longer.)

My first impressions: not bad, but I did’t feel sure about them. They looked cuter when I stood with my legs apart. But, uh, I don’t stand like that all the time.

With a more normal stance, the silhouette seemed a bit much on me. Even with the short inseam, these pants ran too long on me. I turned to Instagram for feedback and many people agreed that they needed to be shortened and that I should try sizing down.

Reviews on the Everlane site had advised to size down, but when I first tried the 2, I found them super snug. I couldn’t possibly wear the size 2, I’d thought. But it turns out the reviews were right. As you wear the pants, they stretch out a whole size. Here I am trying size 2.

This pair was regular length, so I folded the hem up in the second photo to see how it’d look above the ankle. I could see how a size down looked better. The wide leg wasn’t so overwhelming for my petite frame. While they were better proportioned, I still didn’t love them.

Oh women’s pockets, why are you so hard to get right?

For one, I had some some quibbles about the pockets. Oh women’s pockets, why are you so hard to get right? Usually when it comes to women’s clothes and pockets, I complain about the lack of them. These pockets are actually deep, but they bulged out a little as you can see above. You could sew them shut to keep them flat, but I’m a person who uses pant pockets. I also didn’t love the back pockets. They’re just so big.

In the end, I returned both pairs. Then I read this article in the Hairpin, “Please Stop Trying to Make the High-Rise Wide-Leg Crop Happen” and felt good about my decision. To be honest, I got swept up momentarily in the trend after seeing these pants everywhere online and in real life the last few years.

I’m usually good about resisting trends. In fact, I’m so rigid about sticking to what I know that it can take some serious finagling sometimes to get me to try a new style. This was a good reminder, though, that if you feel unsure about something when you first try it, maybe it’s not right for you.

So meh, I say, to the Wide Leg Crop. I’m going back to my skinnier leg.

If you like the thick fabric, but not the wide leg look, Everlane makes a straight leg version of these pants and a slim leg version too. (BTW, the straight ones come in tall lengths as well.)

I visited a store to try the Straight Leg Crop. (The slim ones were not stocked in store.) Here I am trying the sandstone color. I’ve gained some weight over the winter, so I’m wearing a size 4 here.

Note that the pockets are the same as on the Wide Leg Crop. Again, they pucker a little bit (at least on me.) Also, I don’t know if it’s because of the light color or the size of my thighs, but you can see the outline of the pockets on these pants. Overall, I don’t find these flattering on me either. I don’t think I’ll even bother trying on the Slim Leg Crop since this material and pocket situation doesn’t work for me. So, yeah, no. These pants are a pass for me. But I’ve seen these look good on other people, so YMMV.

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