10 Pants You Need in Your Wardrobe

4. The athleisure track pants

If you obsessed over Juicy Couture velour tracksuits in the early 2000s and are into sneakers in a big way, swap your ordinary black runaround leggings for track pants. Look for the distinctive contrasting stripe down the side of the leg. Stick to black or black and white like Lisa Rinna (above center right) and Cate Blanchett (above right) for the easiest tonal mix with all your other sporty and casual basics. Don't be afraid to wear tracks with nonsporty clothes like sweaters and leather jackets or even a blazer — but keep the kicks.

5. The soft flow pants

If you wish dressing up was as comfy as pajamas, you'll love these supple drapey pants. Worn with a matching top like Martha Stewart's (below left) navy tunic-and-pant duo, Stephanie Mills’ (below center left) black boatneck and pants or Julianne Moore's (below center right) black pants and dolman sleeve top, it's an elegant modern evening look. Of course, you can also break up the pieces and wear the pants with a crisp white shirt or a long sweater for day, too.

Getty Images (4), gotpap/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images; Jason Kempin; Raymond Hall/GC Images; Gary Gershoff/WireImage

6. The flared pants

If you loved bell-bottom jeans, you'll want these pants. Those of us with heavy calves, major curves from the waist down or thick ankles will sigh at the full-cover leg. Pair them with mules now, soft low-cut chunky heel booties later. Star Jones (above right) opts for red with a white blouse and cropped faux fur.

Getty Images (3), Ethan Miller/CinemaCon; Michael Tran/FilmMagic; GP Images

7. The new pantsuits

If pants with a matching jacket always gave you a confidence boost, you're ready for this new version that has nothing to do with the vintage boxy and shapeless duos you donated to Goodwill. This time around choose ankle pants and a fitted jacket like Jamie Lee Curtis (above left), Nicole Kidman (above center) and Maria Bello (above right). Make a statement in white or lipstick red, and add your choice of extras — a tank or tee beneath (no bulky shirts needed) — and loafers, oxfords, low heels or sneakers as the bottom line.

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8. The wide-leg crops

If you were a fan of culottes in the ’60s or more recently the full proportions of midi skirts, you'll want these pants. Worn a couple of inches above the ankle in fabrics from silky to sturdy, they work best with waist definition to keep the A-line shape — like Andrea Savage (above left) in black wide crops with a tucked-in white shirt and red heels; Kate Winslet's (above center) silky wide crops worn with a black blouse, pumps and ladylike bag; or SuChin Pak's (above right) sportier wide-leg crops, waist-cropped jeans jacket and sandals.

9. Joggers

If you fondly recall sweatpants, these take the idea up a notch. Slouchy joggers have clingy ribbed or elasticized ankles that riff on the old gym model, but are super chic in a range of light silky fabrics. They look great off-duty with sneakers and a T-shirt or sweater like Regina King (below left), or polished with a jacket and booties like Claudia Schiffer (below center left). Buy them in black to mix easily with low-key or sophisticated pieces.

Getty Images (4) Albert L. Ortega; Brian Dowling; James Devaney/GC Images; gotpap/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

10. The wide-leg long pants

If wedges or heels are your go-to shoes and you are above average height — like Jennifer Lopez (above center right), who is 5 foot 5, and Alana Stuart (above right), at 5 foot 9 — you are a match for these wide long pants. The fit is extreme — super roomy from thighs to just above the floor — and they do look appealing online, on store mannequins and, yes, on celebrities. The extra shoe height is essential to maintain enough leg length to balance all that extra width. The high waist elongates the effect even more with a rise of 13 or 14 inches. Buy at your own risk or choose wide crops, flares or crop flares instead.

For more beauty and style tips for women age 50-plus, check out The Woman's Wakeup: How to Shake Up Your Looks, Life, and Love After 50 by Lois Joy Johnson and AARP's Beauty & Style issue.