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Tapered Pants Meaning are a versatile style of bottoms that have grown in popularity over the recent years. Characterized by their narrowing shape from the top of the waist down towards the ankle, tapered pants offer a sleek, modern look that complements various body types.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the meaning of Tapered Pants Meaning including their history and defining style elements. We’ll outline the differences between tapered pants and other bottom silhouettes along with providing styling tips to help you incorporate this fashionable silhouette into your everyday wardrobe.
What Are Tapered Pants Meaning?
Tapered Pants Meaning are closely fitted pants that gradually get narrower from the thigh down to the hem by the ankle. This creates a slim, streamlined silhouette on the leg. The defining style detail of tapered pants lies in their narrowing shape, providing a lean look compared to straight leg or wide leg pants.
Tapered pants typically have a loose, high waistband paired with leg portions that taper near the mid-thigh all the way down. This style of taper may start higher or lower on the leg depending on personal preference and fashion trends. More exaggerated styles have a very loose, billowy top block with closely fitted bottom halves.
A Brief History of Tapered Pants Meaning
Many fashion historians credit Marlon Brando’s character style in the 1951 film A Streetcar Named Desire for first popularizing the tapered trouser in mainstream America. The urban-inspired look caught on quickly with teens and young adults rebelling against the wide, stiff denim jeans of their parents’ generation in favor of edgier fashion.
However, tapered pants have roots tracing back much farther. Wide, loose trousers tapering at the ankle have long been a defining silhouette of traditional clothing across Asia and the Middle East for centuries. Styles like the shalwar of South Asia to the sarouel pants of Turkey and the Middle Eastern harem pants all utilize a baggy, tapered silhouette.
In the Western world, tapered style pants first took hold in the late 1930s and 1940s as part of military uniform. Paratrooper and mechanic uniforms sometimes implemented tapered styles to prevent fabric from getting caught in machinery. After WWII, an influx of returning veterans bringing back pieces of uniform wear gave the style greater fashion exposure. By the 50s and 60s, the narrow tapered pant had cemented itself as a stylish casual silhouette for younger generations.
Tapered vs Straight Leg vs Skinny Jeans
When browsing pants silhouettes, it’s easy to confuse the differences between tapered, straight, and skinny styles. To help distinguish, here’s a breakdown of their fits:
Tapered Jeans:
- Sit at the natural waist or higher
- Looser fit at the hip and thigh
- Tapers in from the knee to ankle
- Subtle narrow leg shape
Straight Leg Jeans:
- Sits at the waist
- Even, straight fit from thigh to ankle
- No narrowing or widening shape
- Relaxed leg with casual drape
Skinny Jeans:
- Sits below the waist at the hips
- Tight, body-hugging fit from thigh to ankle
- Exaggerated narrow leg
- Closely contours to body shape
So in summary: tapered pants have a medium-loose top block that tapers down the leg, straight leg pants maintain an even shape down the leg, and skinny jeans cling to the body all the way down for an exaggerated narrow look.
Defining Style Features of Tapered Pants Meaning
Tapered Pants Meaning stand out for their signature narrowing shape. But there are other key style indicators that distinguish this silhouette:
- Higher Waist – Tapered pants typically sit higher at the natural waist rather than low on the hips. A higher waist helps balance the narrow leg shape and gives a streamlined look to the body’s silhouette.
- Pleated Front – While not universal, many tapered trousers incorporate pleats at the waist front to provide extra room through the seat and thigh area. The billowy volume on top tapers down for an optimal lean shape.
- Cuffed Hems – Cuffs, pinrolling, or closely hemmed ankle areas help achieve the tapered effect towards the bottom of the leg. Cuffs also lend a refined finish which works well with casual to business-inspired tapered pants.
- Tailored Fit – Proper fit is important for the tapered shape to drape and fall correctly. A tailored fit ensures the thighs, knees, and calves nicely fill out the leg portions before narrowing.
Tapered Pants Styling Tips For Men and Women
From business casual offices to casual weekend wear, tapered bottoms offer modern versatility. Here are helpful tips for incorporating tapered pants and jeans into your wardrobe:
Women’s Tapered Pants Outfits
- Blazers & Heels – Pair tapered ankle trousers with a matching blazer and heels for the office or events. A streamlined jumpsuit effect flatters many body types.
- Flowy Tops – Balance the narrow leg shapes with relaxed fit peasant blouses, tunics, or flowy tanks. The billowy silhouette contrast creates flattering dimension.
- Ankle Boots & Loafers – Shorter hemlines work perfectly with all types of ankle booties. Pointed flats, mules, and menswear-inspired loafers also coordinate seamlessly.
Men’s Tapered Pants Outfits
- Knits & Sweaters – Soft knit tops help tone down narrow tapered pants in casual looks. Pair cuffed hem jeans with v-necks, cardigans, slim pullovers, and knit polos for easy style.
- Desert & Chukka Boots – The lean leg line of Tapered Pants Meaning works well with ankle-height boots. Desert and chukka boots complement everything from dressy casual to streetwear inspired outfits.
- Sports Coats & Blazers – Dress up everyday tapered trousers with tailored sport coats, blazers, and longline jacket layers. This makes an easy business casual uniform for the office or events.
Which Body Shapes Suit Tapered Pants Meaning?
A common misconception about tapered pants is that only tall, slender body types can pull them off. In fact, the flattering silhouette works well with oval, rectangle, apple, pear, and inverted triangle shapes.
The key is choosing tapered pants with appropriate fit and balance. For example, curvier figures can opt for trousers with a very voluminous, high waistband tapered down to ankle-grazing hems. Meanwhile rectangle or oval figures typically look best in styles with less dramatic volume contrast from hip to leg opening.
In general, Tapered Pants Meaning elongate the body’s vertical line for a more proportionate silhouette. The taper also draws the eye down away from wider hip and waist areas. For best results, pay attention to the specific style of tapered pants and where they begin narrowing. Rise, pleats, and exact taper placement all make big differences.
How to Choose Flattering Tapered Pants Meaning
When shopping for tapered bottoms, use these fitting tips for your body type:
Inverted Triangles
Look for:
- High exaggerated waist volume
- Deep or double pleats
- Strong taper starts above knee
Goal is adding fullness while showing your strong shoulders and slim lower body.
Ovals & Rectangles
Look for:
- Medium to high rise waists
- Subtle taper near mid-thigh
- Straight hip line with slight narrow leg
The goal is a bit of streamlining while maintaining balance in your straighter silhouette.
Pears & Spoon Shapes
Look for:
- Medium rise height
- Gentle taper begins below knee
- Straight shape through hips & thighs
Goal is drawing eyes down past curvier upper thigh areas.
No matter your figure, the most flattering Tapered Pants Meaning offer just enough volume contrast from hip to ankle without looking overly billowy or tight. Getting the right rise height and taper placement takes experimenting until discovering your perfect pair!
Where to Shop For Stylish Tapered Pants Meaning
Today both menswear and womenswear brands offer many stylish takes on the classic tapered silhouette. From streetwear inspired to upscale tailored, you can discover tasteful tapered pants across all budgets.
Here are some recommended stores that regularly stock tapered pants styles:
Entry Level Retailers ($)
- H&M – Trendy casual styles for men and women
- Zara – Contemporary office and weekend tapered pants
- ASOS – Great selection under the ASOS Design line
- Uniqlo – Affordable Japanese basics with tapered chinos & denim
Contemporary Brands ($$)
- Everlane – Known for their modern yet minimalist tapered trousers
- Madewell – Many on-trend women’s jeans and ankle pants options
- Banana Republic – Refined dressy to casual tapered pants & suits
- Topman – Fashionable tapered pants and jeans for younger guys
Designer Labels ($$$)
- Helmut Lang – Luxe fabrics and silhouette innovation
- Vince – Elevated casual tapered pants cut with fine details
- Alexander Wang – Downtown cool with unique zippered tapered denim and leather
- Hugo Boss – Sophisticated men’s suits and trousers with crisp tapered legs
The rise of athleisure wear has also brought on a wave of tapered joggers and track pants. Brands like Outdoor Voices, Gymshark, and Reigning Champ offer tapered sweatpants perfect for sporty casual style.
How to Care For Your Tapered Pants Meaning
Caring for your Tapered Pants Meaning comes down to reading fabric care labels and following some basic guidelines:
- Wash cold and hang dry when possible – High heat can damage stretch fabrics while air drying preserves shape
- Invest in a fabric steamer – Steaming helps refresh tapered pants prone to lose structure like linen or wool
- Don’t overwash jeans – Spot clean denim when possible and wash every 10-20 wears max to reduce fading
- Use protective wash bags for delicates – Bags keep zippers, delicate fabrics, and shape intact through the wash
For pleated Tapered Pants Meaning, be extra careful about heat drying or overwashing. The shape of crisp pleats easily becomes damaged and relaxed with too much handling. Follow dry clean only instructions when needed to maximize the lifespan of your trousers. With some basic care, high quality tapered pants can maintain their structure for many seasons.
Do Tapered Pants Flatter All Body Types?
Tapered pants stand out as one of the most versatile modern bottoms. The signature narrowing shape flatters all figures by elongating legs and streamlining silhouettes. By balancing volume, rise heights, and understanding where leg tapering should start, this iconic casual style works on most bodies. Part of tapered pants widespread appeal comes from their ability to properly flatter curves, skinny legs, tall and petite frames alike. Once considered rebellious wear, Tapered Pants Meaning now serve as fashion-forward classics suitable for all.
