Gaucho Pants Are the Cool New Trouser for This Season

The "flood pant" is back.

gaucho pants
(Image credit: Melodie Jeng)

Cowboy culture has inspired fashion trends that come and go as quickly as tumbleweed, but gaucho pants? They're here for the long haul. First worn by ranchers in the South American lowlands, the wide leg, calf-gracing pants have a distinct style of their very own. Fitted pant loyalists might feel a sense of hesitation about giving the voluminous silhouette a try, but the flattering cinched waist and roomy legs will award a fresh take on existing outfits. They key? Play with proportions. A flood-length pant doesn't have to read Urkel. (Remember Steve?) Try a lightweight gaucho, belted, with a fitted tee for the weekend. Layer a crisp white button-down under a menswear-inspired waistcoat for that interview. It's chic! Bonus: You can showcase your shoes. Pull out your pointed toe flats, the thigh-high boots at the back of your closet, even pop on tights underneath. Whether you lean towards a casual aesthetic or prefer ladylike appeal, there's a gaucho pant for every day of the week.

Sara Holzman
Style Director

Sara Holzman is the Style Director at Marie Claire, covering runway trends and tracking down the latest finds to buy and wear. When she’s not writing about fashion, she pens about the best places to jet-off to. Over her six years with Marie Claire, Sara has reported on the ever-evolving world of fashion— covering both established and emerging designers within the industry. Sara has held fashion positions at Lucky and SELF Magazine and was a regular contributor to Equinox’s Furthermore website, where she wrote across their style, wellness, and travel verticals. She holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri, Columbia, and currently resides in Manhattan. Follow her along at @sarajonewyork.