Paperbag jeans, paperbag shorts and paperbag skirt outfits are a style you may not have considered but you should take a look! It’s time to add more variety to your denim wardrobe. Sure, your closet may be stocked with skinny jeans, straight-leg jeans or bootcut jeans but you can add even more variety. The paperbag style waist adds a dressy, frilly touch to your denim.
In case you aren’t familiar with them, paperbag jeans (paperbag pants in general), paperbag shorts and paperbag skirts are a style you should check out. A paperbag waist style has a belt or tie that cinches at the waist and has fabric that sticks out above the belt or tie. For different clothing pieces, the amount of fabric above the belt or tie can vary in volume. Some paperbag waists have a straighter plume of fabric above the beltline while others have a more ruffled, fluted piece of fabric around the waistline.
This waist style can be a fun piece of clothing to style and accessorize – just look around social media. Instagram fashion fans @courteink and @be_cute15 show how they style a paperbag denim skirt and paperbag denim shorts.
This style made a resurgence a couple of years ago but is still very much on trend. As a matter of fact, paperbag waist pants have been around for a while and they can remain a stylish alternative to your other jean styles. (At the end of this post are cute and affordable paperbag jeans, skirts and shorts which can be timeless pieces for your wardrobe.)
Included in this post are pictures of this style worn by celebrities and Instagrammers – plus style tips so you can wear your paperbag jeans, shorts and skirts with confidence!
How to wear paperbag pants, paperbag shorts and paperbag skirts
Tops to wear
The most important thing to consider is what top you wear. Because paperbag jeans, paperbag shorts and paperbag skirts can have a good bit of volume around the middle, you should pair the style with a close fitted top or tucked in shirt. A bulky top can make your outfit too voluminous. If you are fine with showing a bit of skin, a crop top looks great with the paperbag waist style.
Above from Instagram via @mumuandmacaroons, @waves_sun, @karen.j.lewis, @fashion_feh
Shoes to wear
You can pair paperbag waist style bottoms with practically any kind of shoe. As you can see in the photos of the Instagrammers (above) and celebrities (below), the style works with sneakers, boots and heels. If you are wearing crop jeans, it’s a great opportunity to show of your footwear! In the images included in this post, you can see examples of the style being worn with sleek boots, snazzy sneakers, strappy heels or colorful pumps.
Consider your shape
Rectangle or ruler body type
As you can see from the image above which features Kourtney Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Heidi Klum, Hailey Bieber, and Shailene Woodley, the paperbag waist style can be worn at any age. But a thing to consider is body shape. The cinched waist and plume of fabric can create a waist if you don’t have much of one. This can be flattering for a more boyish shaped ruler or rectangle body type. If you have a curvier figure like an hourglass shape, the cinched waist can accentuate your beautiful curves
Elongate your legs
High-waist jeans can make your legs look longer and for most paperbag pants the rise is high-waisted. If you want more tips to really amp up a leggy look, see style tips on this page, such as shoe choice, that will help you achieve this.
Short Torso
If you have a short torso, you may have to try several styles/brands of paperbag waist pieces for a good fit. Many paperbag jeans are high-rise and a high-waist jeans may fit too high on the torso for those with this vertical body type.
If you have a round tummy
Apple or diamond body types often have a tummy pooch. If you have a bit of a tummy, go with a paperbag style that has less volume above the belt/tie. Too much bulk around your middle can emphasize a round tummy.
After trying the style. if you still don’t like the way the paperbag skirt, jeans or shorts fit, skip this style because there are plenty of types of jeans that will better flatter figures with a round stomach. (Check out the article ‘How to Look Good in Jeans‘ for tips on how to de-emphasize a round belly)
Paperbag waist jeans, shorts and skirts
Now that you have celebrity and social media style inspo and are armed with style tips on how to wear paperbag style jeans, shorts and skirts ,you can choose a style best for you. To get your shopping started, below are a selection of pieces with a variety of paper bag styles for your perusal. Enjoy!
Paperbag Jeans
Buy CHAPS Jeans Paper Bag Self-Belt Tapered Jeans at Amazon
Buy Khanomak Paper Bag High-Waist Skinny Jeans at Amazon
Buy andy & natalie Paper Bag Jeans at Amazon
Buy GRAPENT Paper Bag Denim Leggings (Jeggings) at Amazon
Buy 7 For All Mankind Paper Bag Waist Jeans at Amazon
Buy Hidden Jeans Zoey Paper Bag Mom Jeans at Amazon
Buy Cello High-Rise Paper Bag Skinny Jeans at Amazon
Paperbag Denim Shorts
Buy Sidefeel Denim Paper Bag Shorts at Amazon
Buy GRAPENT High-Waisted Paperbag Denim Shorts at Amazon
Buy Plaid&Plain High-Waisted Denim Paperbag Shorts at Amazon
Buy Milumia Paperbag High-Waisted Denim Shorts at Amazon
Paperbag Denim Skirts
Buy SweatyRocks Paperbag Waist Belted Denim Skirt at Amazon
Buy SweatyRocks Paperbag Waist Belted Midi Denim Skirt at Amazon
Buy Milumia Paperbag Denim Skirt at Amazon
Buy Cest Toi Paper Bag Button Denim Skirt at Amazon
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Images: Instagram, GotCeleb, Pinterest