Flared Pants Are Back In Style: The Spring 2012 Bell Bottoms Fashion Trend

Flared pants are a popular trend for women this spring season. The trousers share a specific deign; they widen from the knee downward. For spring 2012, Boho chic is in the air! While the Bohemian style applies to the whole outfit, from the hat down to the shoes, let's focus here on the bottoms.

Inspired by bell bottoms worn during the 60's and 70's, flared pants are available in a variety of colors and fabrics for the spring season. The fabrics vary from denim to light cotton. Colors are cheerful for the season, in shades of orange, yellow, and blue-green.

The style reignited last year in the Spring/Summer 2011 season with the Marc Jacobs collection. Marc Jacobs modernized retro looks with flowing trousers and floral prints reminiscent of the 70's. The look is back for spring 2012 with support from other designers too.

A look that began on the runway is now very wearable for women at the office and out running errands. The trousers suit many female body types

The flare at the bottom of the trouser is a great style to elongate the leg. The spring trend is for high-waisted flared bottoms, which further streamlines the look of the leg. Petite women in particular benefit as the pants create the appearance of a longer lower half.

For curvy women, selecting flared trousers of a sturdier fabric is a great way to structure outfits. Curvaceous women should avoid lighter fabrics that could reveal any bulges around the hip and waist areas.

The fashionable trouser is versatile as it can be worn for parties, the office, or even running errands. The piece is even available in stretch fabric for exercise classes. Women that enjoy a variety of fashion styles can sport the trend.

In the Marie Claire YouTube video below, check out DJ Chelsea's rock and roll style with her flared jeans. Next, the video features blogger Kelly, who models her flared pants with a dressy red blouse for a more dramatic look. The third woman, Athena, is an interior designer whose trouser shows her sophisticated appearance. Multiple looks can be achieved with flared trousers.

While flared pants can be worn by a variety of women, the trousers look their best when tailored to the particular woman's body shape.

The optimal look is achieved when women match the width of the pant legs to their body proportions. A petite woman, for example, suits a trouser that is of moderate width. For a curvy woman, the most flattering style is a well-fit trouser around the thigh with a slight bell curve at the hem of the piece. Too much flare over-emphasizes the hip area in the curvy body type.

Curvaceous women should also pay attention to the front pockets. Avoid pockets with extra material and zipper pockets that aaccentuate the hips and draw attention to the area.

For women who wish to create an even longer looking leg, adjust the length of the bottoms to fall to the floor. The result is a streamlined look. This fashion tip works well for petite women.

Pair the trousers with close-fitting tops to balance shapes of the outfits. Geometric shapes are a popular pattern for spring, making this particular shirt design a good choice to pair with the pants. Designers from Gucci to Donna Karen showcased the geometric designed clothing in their spring 2012 collections.

The flared pants trend suits many female body types. Have fun with a variety of colors, prints, and fabrics. Embrace the trend and have fun with the retro style for spring!