Because the pants are only half the outfit.

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I recently wrote about boho pants for plus-size women after 60, and while putting that post together, something occurred to me.

The pants aren’t usually the problem.

It’s figuring out what the hell to wear on top of them.

Wide-leg pants, palazzo pants and those wonderfully flowy boho pants I love can be comfortable as hell. But put the wrong top with them and suddenly you’ve got fabric happening everywhere.

And as a plus-size woman, I’ve learned that I don’t necessarily want to “hide” my body — but I also don’t want my clothes swallowing me whole.

There is a difference.

So consider this Part Two of my boho pants conversation.

If you’ve got the pants, here are the tops I’d wear with them.

First, My Rule for Wide-Leg Pants

I’m not big on fashion rules.

At 68, I’ve spent enough years being told what women my age — and women my size — supposedly shouldn’t wear.

But I do have one little guideline when I’m putting an outfit together:

If I’ve got volume on the bottom, I pay attention to what’s happening on top.

That doesn’t mean the top has to be tight.

Lord knows that’s not happening every day.

It just means I want some kind of shape, structure, neckline, tuck, drape or detail that keeps the whole outfit from becoming one giant rectangle of fabric.

Here are ten styles that do that beautifully.

1. The Easy V-Neck Boho Blouse

This might be the easiest place to start.

A V-neck opens up the neckline and gives a flowy outfit a little visual structure without requiring anything fitted or uncomfortable.

Look for:

• a relaxed fit
• soft draping fabric
• a V-neck or split neckline
• a hem that doesn’t fall too far below your hips
• subtle boho details like pleating, embroidery or a print

Pair one with solid wide-leg pants, turquoise jewelry and sandals and you’re basically dressed.

This is also one of the places I’d look at Zeagoo. They carry relaxed V-neck, floral and tunic-style blouses that fit naturally into this kind of easy boho outfit.

2. The Slightly Shorter Flowy Top

Notice I said shorter.

I did not say crop top.

There’s a sweet spot where a top hits around the hip instead of halfway down your thighs.

That little difference can completely change wide-leg pants.

You’ve still got ease and movement, but you can actually see where your legs begin.

For those of us with curves, that’s often much more flattering than pairing an extra-long, extra-wide tunic with extra-wide pants.

3. The Peasant Blouse

This one speaks directly to my hippie heart.

Give me a soft peasant blouse with flowy pants, a stack of bracelets and some great earrings and I’m happy.

The trick is choosing one that has movement without massive amounts of fabric.

I especially like:

• V-neck peasant tops
• softly gathered necklines
• 3/4 sleeves
• embroidered details
• earthy florals
• rust, turquoise, olive, cream and warm brown

And yes, this is another category where Zeagoo makes sense because they have floral and relaxed boho blouse styles.

4. The Simple Tank Top

Sometimes the best thing to wear with a statement pant is almost nothing.

Not literally.

Behave.

I mean a simple tank.

If your pants have a gorgeous print, dramatic leg or lots of movement, you don’t necessarily need another big fashion moment happening above the waist.

A black, cream, rust, olive or brown tank lets the pants do their thing.

Then add your personality with jewelry, sandals, a kimono or a great bag.

This is one of those pieces I would probably keep Amazon-focused because we’re looking for inexpensive basics in multiple colors and sizes.

5. The Soft Tunic — With One Condition

I love a tunic.

But tunic + wide-leg pants can go sideways fast.

If the pants are very full, I don’t want a tunic that’s also extremely long and extremely full.

Instead, look for a tunic that gives you something:

A curved hem.

Side slits.

A V-neck.

A little waist definition.

A lightweight fabric.

Something that breaks up all that volume.

This can be especially comfortable when you want coverage without looking like you’re hiding underneath your clothes.

6. The Button-Down Worn Boho, Not Business

A button-down doesn’t have to mean office clothes.

Wear it open over a tank.

Tie it loosely at the waist.

Roll the sleeves.

Leave a few buttons undone and add a chunky necklace.

Suddenly that very basic shirt looks completely different.

With patterned wide-leg pants, I especially like a solid linen-look or lightweight button-down because it gives the outfit some structure.

7. The Boho Print Top With Solid Pants

Here’s where we reverse the formula.

If your wide-leg pants are solid black, brown, olive, denim or cream, bring the party upstairs.

Florals.

Paisley.

Retro prints.

Earth tones.

A little ’70s energy.

Whatever feels like you.

The solid pants become the foundation and the blouse gets to be the personality piece.

8. The T-Shirt That Doesn’t Look Like You Gave Up

Never underestimate a good T-shirt.

Wide-leg pants + T-shirt + jewelry + sandals can be one of the easiest outfits in your closet.

The difference is styling.

Try a little front tuck.

Push up the sleeves.

Add turquoise.

Throw on a long pendant.

Add a crossbody bag.

Suddenly it’s not “pants and a T-shirt.”

It’s an outfit.

And if you’re plus size and don’t like tucking your shirts?

Don’t.

There is no Fashion Police SWAT team coming through the front door.

Find a tee that hits at a flattering point and leave the damn thing alone.

9. The Lightweight Kimono Over a Simple Top

Okay, technically we’re sneaking two pieces into number nine.

But this is Gigi Unfiltered. I make the rules around here.

One of my favorite ways to handle wide-leg pants is to keep the base simple:

pants + tank + kimono.

The tank keeps the center of the outfit clean while the kimono gives you that movement, print and boho feeling.

This combination also lets you play with color without having every piece competing with every other piece.

And for fall — especially Arizona fall, when everyone else is pulling out sweaters while we’re still sweating — a lightweight kimono makes a hell of a lot more sense than pretending it’s sweater weather.

10. The Top You Already Feel Good In

Here’s the most important one.

You probably already own one.

It’s that shirt you put on when you don’t want to think too hard.

It doesn’t cling where you don’t want it to.

You like your arms in it.

You like the neckline.

You don’t spend the entire day pulling it down, pulling it up, adjusting straps or wondering whether your stomach is showing.

That’s the top.

Before buying ten new shirts because somebody on Pinterest told you that you need them, pull out your wide-leg pants and start trying them with what you already own.

You might be surprised.

And if there’s a gap?

Then shop for the gap, not an entirely new wardrobe.

That’s something I’m trying to get better about myself.

The Outfit Formula I Keep Coming Back To

When I don’t know what to wear with wide-leg pants, I keep it simple:

Wide-leg pants + uncomplicated top + one boho layer or accessory + comfortable shoes.

That’s it.

The personality might come from turquoise jewelry.

Or a kimono.

Or a printed blouse.

Or my shoes.

It doesn’t have to come from every damn piece I’m wearing at the same time.

And that’s probably the biggest difference between how I wore hippie clothes when I was younger and how I wear boho clothes now.

I still want the color.

I still want the movement.

I still want the jewelry.

I still want a little bit of the ’70s following me around.

But now I also want to be comfortable, pulled together and able to leave the house without fussing with my clothes all day.

At 68, that’s not giving up on style.

That’s finally knowing what works for me.

Already Have the Pants?

If you’re trying to figure out which wide-leg, palazzo or flowy pants belong in your closet first, read my Boho Pant Guide for Plus-Size Women After 60 next.

Then come back here and finish the outfit.

Because you don’t need a whole new wardrobe.

Sometimes you just need to figure out what goes with what you already bought.

Shop My Boho Tops & Outfit Finds

Shop More of My Fall & Boho Fashion Finds

Don’t let your age determine the size of your dreams — or the width of your pants.

www.gigisunfiltered.com