including Curvy, Petite, and Tall versions
Maybe you’ve been seeing those High Sport Kick Flare pants out in the wild or on social media. If so, you might be looking for an imitation that won’t break the bank. Way back in the early nineties, when I was backpacking around Europe the old-fashioned way–with a Eurorail Pass, a copy of Lonely Planet, and no cell phone–I noticed that everywhere I went in Europe, girls were wearing pants that were skinny on top, flared at the ankle, and slightly cropped. They wore these pants with a black ankle boot.
Thirty years later, I read in the New York Times that women are shelling out $850 (!!!) for a pair of stretch pants that look a lot like the ubiquitous Euro nineties pant, with one addition: a seam down the front.
Well, I do love a kick flare. I lived in the Madewell Cali Demi Boot Cut jean for years before they replaced them with the Kick Out Crop Jeans (also fabulous), but I wasn’t about to pay $850 for stretch pants. So I went in search of a worthy dupe for the High Sport Kick Flare pant. As it turns out, there are four good options, and three of them are under $100. All of them are on sale for Black Friday. I tried on three of the brands and ended up purchasing two of them. (Personal fit and style notes at the bottom of this post).
Two things about this pant style surprised me when I got them on: they’re super comfortable, and they’re quite a lot sexier than I expected. Like, way sexy. And the stretch makes them very curve-friendly.
High Sport Kick Flare Pants Dupe 1: Land’s End Starfish High Rise Kick Flare Pant (regularly $54.95, half off for Black Friday). Best Petite High Sport Dupe / Best curvy kick flare
Lest you think, “Wait, all these brands are just copying High Sport…” Land’s End (yes, that Land’s End!) was making a stretch kick flare pant back when High Sport was in (very expensive) diapers. Is Land’s End the OG when it comes to stretchy kick flare pants? We think so! These come in petite and tall sizes.
I bought these in navy. I should mention I bought them reluctantly, because they’re pull-on, and if you’re curvy, you know that pull-on pants that fit over your hips usually have a ginormous waist gap.
As it turns out, I love love love these! They’re the most comfortable pants of the lot, and they look surprisingly fantastic. Like, sexy fantastic. The first time I tried them on, I said to my husband, “Can I really wear these?” And he said, “You can, and you should.” Land’s End: who knew? I purchased by waist size rather than hip size. Not only did they fit over my hips, but the waist snaps right in. They’re super stretchy but hold their shape. The wide waistband is a plus, because it gives a more cinched-in look.
High Sport Kick Flare Dupe 2: Everlane Dream Kick Flare Pant ($39 on sale)
I’ve been shopping at Everlane for about twelve years. The quality is great and consistent.
The Everlane kick flare pant comes in black, tan, navy, and gray. The regular price is $98, but I purchased the black on sale for $69, and they’ve since gotten an even deeper discount. Because nobody looks good in tan pants, the tan version was on (final) sale for $25, so I threw those in my cart too. I figured if the tan version was too unattractive for public consumption, I could wear them around the house.
What I like: Everlane quality, plus the Everlane pants have a side zipper, which means they’re good for a curvy fit. The pants fit well, have a nice stretch, and are super comfortable. The big surprise was that I actually liked the look of the tan pants quite a lot and even plan to wear them out of the house. They’re definitely giving Partridge Family!
If you’re on the fence, I recommend sizing down. They have enough stretch that, if you’re curvy, you can purchase for your waist size and still be able to fit them quite comfortably over your hips.
High Sport Kick Flare Dupe 2: J.Crew Delaney Kickout Sweater Pant (regularly $148, $99 on Black Friday sale). Best High Sport Dupe for Straighter Figures
Of all the High Sport pants dupes on this page, the J. Crew version probably comes closest to the original. They’re available in seven colors, including burgundy (the color of the season), candy apple red, pink, and all the usual neutrals. Good to know: these are less curvy-friendly than the Everlane and Gap versions, so if you normally purchase the curvy edition in JCrew or other brands, these may not work for you.
High Sport Pants Dupe 4: Gap High Rise Crop Kick Pants (regularly $63, 40% off for Black Friday) Best High Sport Dupe in Red
It’s easy to forget about Gap. The brand is just too uneven, the stores too disorganized. But this is a great price point to try out the stretch kick flare pant trend. And one thing Gap offers that Everlane and Land’s End don’t is a red version. High Sport kick flare pants come in look-at-me hues like sky blue and fire engine red. The Gap version has a version called Sled Red that would look really sharp with black boots or flats and a black sweater. FYI: these are the only pants on this list I haven’t tried.
High Sport Pant Dupe Roundup
Tried on: Everlane Dream Kick Flare Pant, J.Crew Delaney Kickout Sweater Pant, Land’s End Starfish High Rise Kick Flare Pant
Verdict: Purchased and kept: Everlane Kick Flare Pant, Land’s End Starfish High Rise Kick Flare.
Fit note: I’m petite and curvy. All three pants I tried worked for length with no hemming, hitting at or above the ankles. The J.Crew pants are beautiful and high quality, but are best for less curvy figures.
If you like this post, you might also enjoy 7 Things Parisian Women Really Wear.