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personal stylist

Roksanda’s pleat-front, high-waisted pants make a perfect foil to a voluminous printed top.

High-waisted trousers seem to be back in vogue, but I always associate them with a retro look. What are some modern ways to wear them now?

If you associate high-rise trousers with a bygone era, you're not alone. But, you are missing out on some fresh, contemporary takes on this wardrobe classic.

Wilfred's trim, tapered trousers come in a variety of colours and would look sharp paired with a classic button-down. Connolly's wider-legged pants are a robust wool-blend fabrication and are trimmed with silk-satin side seams, making them an ideal option for going from the office to an evening occasion. And speaking of work-appropriate, they're a simple enough style to wear with a blazer. Topshop Boutique's pants have a "paperbag" waist, meaning they're gathered up top and held with a bow belt. The narrowness of this effect is off-set by the pants' cropped wide-leg.

Connolly Barathea high-rise wide trousers, $660 through matchesfashion.com.

Wilfred Jallade pant, $125 at Aritzia (aritzia.com).

Paperbag trouser by Boutique, $150 at Topshop at Hudson’s Bay (thebay.com).

Pay mind to proportions when you're attempting to pull off this type of trouser; keep blouses neat and make sure to tuck in any top you choose to wear. Avoid wearing anything with too much volume, unless it's in the sleeves (see Roksanda's lovely look from the spring 2018 show) and again, the top is tucked.

While several of these styles come with their own belts, those that don't open up a world of options for accessorizing. You could go for one with an outsized buckle, or perhaps in a bold colour, but you could also try tying your favourite long silk scarves around your waist instead – adding emphasis to the look along with an extra bit of flair.

Have a style query that needs solving? Send your questions to oparker@globeandmail.com.


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