MANILA, Philippines?Women who don?t have a Kate Moss? dress size (that?s 90 percent of the female population) can now exhale again?the era of the skinny jeans has gone its merry way down fashion history.

The skinny pants phenomenon was another classic example of how fashionistas willingly ?suffer? for fashion?s sake, with the unforgiving jeans cutting off blood circulation. While the skinnies looked good on giraffe-tall models on the runway, they were simply not meant for all body types. For the brave ones who dared, this silhouette emphasized exactly what shouldn?t be?wide hips, heavy thighs and bulging legs. Flattering?but only if you owned a funny mirror.

Hemlines rise and fall. Pants go slim or wide. Fashion is a cycle. After the slim pants come the wide-leg, low-crouch pants. The Resort 2009 collections were full of those.

And they go from bohemia to the boardroom. Dior, Chanel, and Oscar de la Renta have created elegant looks perfect for the boardroom, while Dolce & Gabbana and Lacoste have given some street flair to the wide pair.

The main difference between wide-leg pants and the wider leg styles such as the boot cut and flare jeans, is that wide-leg pants fall straight from the hips. They are as wide in the thigh as they are at the hem. The style may even mimic a full skirt.

These pants usually demand the wearer to slip into heels, to yield a towering, dressy effect. Wide-leg pants encourage the use of dressy, feminine tops and accessories to balance the more loose structure, producing a very chic, pulled-together look.

Are they sexy? Yes! In fact I think wide legs worn low at the waist with a strapless top is a much sexier party look than the skinny. As Chanel has shown on the runway this season, a pair of flares can ooze with flair.

Among my favorites from Oscar de la Renta?s Resort 2009 collection were modernized ?70s ensembles: a striking orange top with sweeping, wide-leg lime-green silk pants.

For a sportier look, Lacoste has a classic striped shirt with a high-waist wide-leg pant in sun-faded denim for its Spring 2008 Ready to Wear collection. The fit-and-flare formula also worked well for Max Azria resort line.

From the buzzed-about runway newbie Ohne Titel came a red draped jacket paired with wide-leg pants. At Adam?s Spring 2008 show, wide-leg pants were paired with chic flat sandals, setting a laid-back, contemporary look. Dolce & Gabbana showed off boho with ?70s influences, with nouveau-preppy chambray button-downs, belted fine-gauge cardigans, and wide-leg jeans.

Christian Dior?s Resort 2009 looked very much to the East, in a genie-inspired outfit, gold wide pants cinched at the waist with an Indian accent belt and bright pink long-sleeved blouse with ethnic trim.

I think by far the most memorable of the wide-leg looks is Chanel?s?high-waist white wide-leg trousers with a cropped white flare-sleeved top. A brilliant case of how two wides can actually make a right.

On these pages are some inspired, perfect-for-work ensembles, keeping in mind the hot but rainy weather.

Pass that plate of pasta, ladies, fashion will be a little more fun and forgiving this wide open season.

E-mail the author at jfashion@inquirer.com.ph