Trends: How To Rock Culottes Like A Boss

Culottes have been around for at least half a century. With its history date far back, it is safe to say that this giant, swingy, lady-pants make you look kind of like a ’90s business gal and kind of like a style genius, has caught fire among the fashion flock as a trouser trend. A very cool effect of culottes is that they put your footwear on display and make heads turn in your direction if styled right.

Talking personal style, I’m just an unabashed fan of pretty and stylish trousers. From aladins to palazzos to wash-out jeans and now culottes, I’m all out. Three years ago, while on a shopping spree I came across this wide-legged-ness and cropped-ness of not-quite-shorts-not-yet-a-pant that has the volume of a skirt, but the comfort of a trouser called Culottes, I knew in my closet a pair or two had to stay. It was love at first sight.

Culottes are usually a flattering three-quarter length for many women. But, for ladies on the shorter side like me, that could be more like seven-eighths. Culottes come in different materials (denim, satin, linen, leather); in different shapes, prints and patterns. Culottes are your way of going cool and low-key, fancy and unexpected whenever you want to. The trick is to temper the wide leg with other pieces that flatter.

I searched all the earth to give you this following cheat sheet on how to style your unlimited pairs of culottes in unlimited ways. If you have not hit on it, no more fears! It may be taking you a minute to hop on board with this trend and if you are of the not-a-culotte-novice fashion set, you would have more ideas to add to your style dairy.

No One Says You Can’t Be Stylish in Your Nine to Five

Culottes have once again become the perfect workwear go-to for when shorts are too short, pants are too long and jeans are too clingy.  Grab your culottes, wear with a long-sleeved turtleneck and a matching vest. If your workplace isn’t the “dress corporate” type, you can skip the turtleneck for a colourful camisole and sway left a neck scarf as a tie. A sandal strap block heel is “go” in both cases.

Another look to try: Tuck a long streamlined shirt into your culotte to emphasize your shape, pair with pumps for an instant, mile-long legs (talk about legs for days). A shirt-like crop top with a camisole tucked–in have been my favourite pairing toolkits with culotte for work.

Lounging Around?

We agree that all work and no play makes Jil a workaholic. Our resolve: a woman needs to relax and catch some fun sometimes. For this reason, Culotte is your perfect off-duty staple, your weekend just got a smile. As a poolside ensemble: easy, breezy, lightweight culottes is a perfect fit. Pair with a top, your fave beach slippers, and a sun hat attack. An extra point, if your bottom has a drawstring waist.

Brunch with the girls? Grab neutral colour culottes, a white t-shirt, denim jacket, clinch the deal with that ankle boots — and proceed to brunch as normal. Another outfit? consider your pumps, here again: with a bright, pointed-toe heel, the high-waist culottes elongate your frame and only require a basic striped tee and practical backpack to complete the look – a happy balance of easy and elegant, all in one. And for the brunch, we might as well take a cue from the culottes’ other heyday (the vintage ’70s): let’s pull a boldly patterned print pair with a solid top, or stick with matching separates, add strappy heels and call it a day.

A statement-making crop top that hits right at the hem of the high waistband, sexy ankle-strap heels, and a clutch makes you ready for an evening affair. What about trying out a culotte in an intrepid fabric like leather? incorporate a fringe top for an evening out.

No heels, No Problem – Culottes Got Your Back

Culottes can be pretty feminine, they basically look like an A-line skirt when you stand with your legs together — that does not mean this trend exclude flats lovers. If you are of this stylistas sect, it is required you treat this trend as you would your cropped trousers. Pair with a low, lace-up flat to show off a bit more skin and stick with a boxy top that hits at the hem of the high waistband. Sportier dressers should opt for an athletic detail like a racing stripe down the leg or a drawstring at the waist and just add high tops. Another 5-star rate look is to repeat the backpack brunch look with that your must-notice sandal or luxe slippers.

Disclaimer: Try any of these outfits out and you are bound to get some serious déjà-vu from your onlookers because you’d definitely look like that ‘It’ girl they saw on Instagram! Be kind: Sign some autographs as you go. Be generous: Tweet us your photos @shalomtruthsmagazine #culottes