The short answer
- Rise sets the line. A high rise starts the leg higher, and a flare then reads as one long, uninterrupted shape.
- Hem in the shoes you wear most. The hem should clear the floor by about half an inch and cover most of the shoe.
- Flat shoes need a shorter hem or a cropped flare. A full-length flare with flats drags.
- Keep the top half neat. The hem is the drama, so a fitted or cropped top lets the leg do the work.
A flare looks simple, but it is the cut most affected by small changes in length. A quarter inch too long and it drags; an inch too short and the whole shape stops making sense. Trend coverage this year points toward the quieter versions: Who What Wear presents the high-rise slim flare as the polished alternative to more exaggerated shapes, and its cropped flare piece covers a shorter take. Whichever version you like, the same four decisions apply.
1. Rise: where the leg starts
Our women's Flare comes in high or ultra-high rise, with a 20.5" thigh, 14" knee and 22" leg opening on a 28" waist (finished garment, measured around). That is an 8" difference between knee and hem, and the whole effect depends on where the eye starts reading. A high rise lifts the start of the leg to your natural waist, so the fitted section and the flare together look long. A low rise starts the leg at the hip, and the flare then reads as width low on the body.
If you are not sure what rise suits your torso, what rise means in jeans explains how it is measured, and our women's flare jeans let you choose it.
2. The hem-to-shoe relationship
This is the rule that does most of the work: hem the jeans while standing in the shoe, and aim for about half an inch off the floor at the back. Because a flare is so wide, the hem also hides most of the shoe, which is why changing the shoe changes the whole outfit. A rough starting point for planning: each inch of heel height needs about an inch of extra length at the hem. That is a guide rather than a law, because a platform lifts the whole foot while a stiletto only lifts the back, so always check in the mirror.
| Shoe | Hem lands | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| Heeled boots, block heels | Covering most of the shoe, ½" off the floor | Only the toe or none of the shoe; the longest leg line |
| Platforms, wedges | Skimming the floor at the back, slightly higher at the toe | The platform edge peeks out; the most forgiving way to wear a full flare |
| Chunky sneakers | Covering the laces, ½" off the floor | The sole shows; a sporty flare |
| Flat loafers, ballet flats | At or just above the ankle bone (a cropped flare) | A bare ankle; keeps the hem off the ground |
| Flat sandals | Toes and some of the foot visible, hem off the floor | Hem for the flat sandal if you wear both heights |
If you own heels and flats, pick the pair you will wear on most days and hem for that, or have a second pair cut. Tell us the shoe in the notes for your tailor, and see the shoes matrix and the jeans length guide for the rest of the leg shapes.
3. Tops: balance the hem
The silhouette is a fitted leg to the knee, then a bell. To keep it balanced, keep the upper half either close or short.
- Fitted knit or tee, tucked: defines the waist and shows off the high rise.
- Cropped jacket or short cardigan: ends at the waistband, so the leg line is uninterrupted.
- Oversized shirt: works with a front tuck and sleeves pushed up; left loose it adds width above and below.
- Long coat: worn open, the coat and the flared leg make two vertical lines.
4. Seasons
Dark wash and heavier denim suit autumn and winter, worn with boots and knitwear. In spring and summer, a lighter wash and a cropped hem with a flat sandal or sneaker feel less heavy. Our fabrics range from the 13 oz Classic Rigid to the 8.5 oz Summer Lightweight, which also changes how much the flare swings.
When a flare is not the answer
- You want the shape but not the swing: a bootcut opens to 18.5" instead of 22".
- You live in flats and do not want a cropped hem: a straight or bootcut is easier to wear.
- You ride a bike or take the escalator every day: a 22" hem will catch.
Questions
What shoes go with flare jeans?
Heeled boots, block heels, platforms and wedges let a full-length flare sit at its best. With flats, choose a cropped flare, or hem the jeans for the flat.
How long should flare jeans be?
About half an inch off the floor at the back, measured while you are standing in the shoes you will wear most. Cover most of the shoe if you are wearing heels.
Are flare jeans still in style in 2026?
Who What Wear's 2026 coverage includes slim, high-rise flares and a cropped flare piece. The extreme versions are described as the less current option.
Can I wear flare jeans if I am short?
Yes. A high rise, a hem that nearly touches the floor in your shoe and a fitted or cropped top keep the leg looking long.