I love me some paper bag waist pants or skirt. It’s such a fun detail and adds an edgy but classy fun touch. The only downside is figuring out what to wear with these bottoms. When I first saw them starting to pop up everywhere I wanted so bad to wear them, BUT I was so nervous and had such a hard time finding an outfit to put together with them. So I experimented, and begin to see the method of how to wear them and not look either frumpy or feel claustrophobic.
One word. SHAPE.
Because Paper bag waist bottoms draw attention to the waist, no matter your body shape when you wear paper bag waist pants you have to keep the focus of the outfit on the waist. (Read that back 2x lol.)
Your top plays a huge part in paper bag pants.
If it’s a tapered pair of pants you can either wear a fitted top tucked in OR a roomier top tucked it. HOWEVER, with a non-tapered pair wearing a fitted top is a must. If you wear an oversized top and have a flared hem pantleg it will seem baggy, busy, and over distracted. As for skirts of this type, it depends on the length as well as style. For sure tuck in but I do recommend wearing a fitted top. Or if it’s slightly roomy a more fitted cardigan over the top to keep that focal point. Also, a cardigan, vest, or shawl, can always definitely be worn over your top so as not to accentuate your shape. All that being said here’s a few examples of HOW TO wear them.
Here’s how NOT to wear them. Notice how the waist isn’t really defined, and the model’s shape isn’t there.
I hope this helps give the basics on how to wear these! I love this style as it’s such a fun but classy look. And the rest of it is your imagination. Mixing colors, patterns, and adding accessories is the best part.
xoxo, Shantel
