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How to pull off printed pants

As a fashion blogger, I like to experiment with tricky trends and see how they can work for real women… on a real woman’s budget.

Trendy on a budget

As a fashion blogger and founder of Penny Chic, I like to experiment with tricky trends and see how they can work for real women… on a real woman’s budget.

Printed pants, like the ones shown here, are everywhere but have gotten a bad rap for being difficult to style. I took on the challenge and discovered how to make them more versatile and slenderizing.

Fellow blogger Sazan Barzani offered to model this look.

How to use printed pants for a slender appearance

Bonus tip: The cuff also adds a little more edge to the look if that’s what you’re going for.

First, it’s important to stick to a small print like polka dots and avoid designs that stretch across your legs, creating an unflattering appearance.

Go for a skinny ankle pant, instead of a trouser. When paired with pointed pumps, ankle pants create the illusion of a longer and leaner leg. If you can’t find ankle pants, roll up the hem like we did here or tuck it under so it falls right at the ankle.

How to accessorize the look

Make it work friendly: This is a great base outfit for work, too. Just throw on a black blazer to offset the printed pants and you’re instantly office-ready!

In this particular look, we went all out and added a statement bracelet (Walmart, $7), cool wayfarer sunglasses (Forever 21, $6) and a leather pocketed blouse (Target, $20) to match the black pumps (Forever 21, $10). The pants cost $10 at H&M.

Total cost of this outfit from head to toe: $53.

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