I am ALL about simple, elegant, timeless style and this picture just encapsulates that kind of look perfect for this “chilly one minute, warm the next” time of year.
1. // 2. // 3. // 4. // 5. // 6. // 7.
Other options for this look:
And let’s also discuss one spring trend I absolutely DO. NOT. GET.
Culottes.
These look good on NO ONE and yet everyone is jumping on the bandwagon according to Pinterest and fashion blogs. I personally think they look silly, and you certainly will not spot me rocking a pair this year (or any year- mark my words).
Not even Olivia Palermo can make these look flattering and cool. All the proof I need.
Posh and Jenna too- nope.
This picture found on Pinterest just cracks me up.
){kind=link}
I don’t like them either. I remember when they were called gaucho pants.
Agree – they looked fab on my mom in the 70’s, because she was a hot mama real deal hippy. Can we please call them gauchos until the trend fades? I do want to like them, but they seem so forced.
You got that right, culottes are awful! This should stay dead and buried in the ’80’s…..either wear a dress or pants
They are hideous! But I am drawn to that last photo …. look at the size of that pretzel! Mmm.
The shoes are great too! But I agree, the pretzel is clearly the star of this shot ;)
Girl after my own heart. I was also totally drawn to the pretzel. I love a good soft pretzel. Haha
They do look comfortable and relaxed. If you are skinny and tall enough, I think you can pull it off.
agree-i love all those pictures of them-adorbs
I love them too. They’re sophisticated and relaxed and playful. They look great when styled well.
I think it’s taking a lot of people a long time to come around to them because of their unfamiliarity, but remember when we all baulked at skinny jeans the first time we saw them in 2004-5? They looked hideous to us because we had become familiarised with the shape of flared jeans. We adjust to preferring silhouettes depending on how much we’ve seen them and for how long they’ve been popular.
I’m with you on the culotte trend…. Just hoping it’s short term, cause they make me laugh!
Back in the day when we had to wear skirts or dresses to school, culottes (albeit shorter and different looking) were very popular as a way to get the look of a skirt and the comfort of shorts. Some teachers got you in trouble for pushing the rule boundaries.
Not sure how I feel about the new ones. Would not be my first choice but I don’t think these glamorous women actually look bad in them.
Seriously…I already have trouble finding pants that are long enough for me. So glad you didn’t drink the kool-aid :)
I love the first look you put together and totally agree that the second look is no good. Let’s just hope it won’t be back next season. I love your fashion posts. Have a great weekend!
You make a compelling point!! Tibi makes one pale pink pair of culottes that are cut slim through the hips and somehow look great on even petite frames. But most of them look like balloon pants.
I disagree. I love them. Skinny jeans do not look good on everyone, so this is a great look for someone with bigger hips but a small waist. It accentuates the waste and really draws your eye to the shoes! They also look gorgeous when you walk.
I agree. I saw the manager of my local Banana Republic rock them and she’s like that, great figure, small waist, curvy hips. She looked great.
I think Olivia and Jenna rock theirs.
I think Posh and OP gave it a good effort, but totally agree they are SO unflattering, they need to just go back to the back of their closets!! LOVE the look with the striped top and trench, it’s SO difficult dressing for this time of year in New England! It’s sunny, so you want to wear a dress, but it’s still 50 degrees, so you can’t, it’s very daunting getting dressed in the morning!! I’m sure you know ALL about this!
Agree with the first choice, and I thought the same thing when I saw the culotte trend. WHAT? are they thinking, Yes lets make our body silhouette look like Bob square pants, NOT!!!!
Agreed – they were awful in the 80s and they are still awful today. Let’s add to that list – knickers (yes, that was an 80s fad, too. My mom made me a pair out of khaki corduroy) and stirrup pants. Neither need to ever attempt a comeback.
While not right for me, I think culottes look great on the right girl. To each their own!
I love the first look! Stylish and classic. But I have to disagree on the culotte trend….for someone with an athletic build like me, the waist line and easy a-line shape accentuates the best parts of my lower half. They are also a nice change of pace from skirts and can be worn to the office.
That said — I love the vibe of all of the rooms you put together. You are one of my go-to designers for inspiration! Thank you! :)
I actually think they’re super cute!! And I don’t find then unflattering… They give you a tiny waist and don’t show off every curve (I’m looking at you, skinny jeans).
THANK YOU! I thought I was the only one who hated this trend. I remember it popping up last year and laughing my butt off, but low and behold, it came back with a vengeance this year. It is NOT a good look people :P
I actually think that Olivia Palermo pulls them off, but she is the ONLY one who can. I’m with you, Erin–I’ll never wear them!
Now I want a pretzel
Pleated, cropped culottes. Why? WHY?
Even worse are the pleated, cropped GREEN LEATHER coulottes.
I love culottes! Plus, I live in Texas … Pants season is about over and culottes are a great option for scorching days. I have a few pair from Zara and I love them.
They’re not for me, wore them the first time around, but I think Victoria Beckham looks fantastic especially compared to the pair in the pic above. Hers are not as wide and sloppy looking.
I disagree on the culottes. I think with the right proportion it works. The 2nd image of Olivia is lovely! It’s almost like a midi-skirt. I also love them with the cropped tops. I think they’re cute, but it’ll be a short lived trend.
With you on the second Olivia look. That one looks fabulous.
On the other look Erin posted, she had me at stripes. I do not know how many striped tops I have (but they’re all slightly different… to me!). And yes, I just bought another striped top. But I needed it.
I’m with you on both! Love the first outfit, loathe the culottes. I think if you’re really tall you MAY be able to pull them off but for me personally, I don’t get them and never will.
that cracked me up.
I was just calculating a hardware order and this was just the levity I needed to put a smile on my face.
thanks
“Wow, are those shorts or a skirt?”
“They’re gaucho pants! I got them on sale.”
-Never Been Kissed
Pinterest girl had to be bribed with a soft pretzel to model those gauchos.
Hahaha yes!
Culottes are tricky, I agree. No matter how pretty the girl, good her figure, or chic her style, it mostly feels like the fashion is wearing the woman, rather than the other way around. However, while I won’t be sporting culottes this year, or probably ever, I do think Jenna Lyons is rocking them in that pic. And in weird way pretzel girl is, too. The pretzel is just… so… odd. And now I’m hungry…
Its obviously very subjective. I don’t think any of photos shown are bad and I think culottes offer a great option. Although the picture of Posh looks a bit awkward, I think the way she has put her look together is tailored and sporty, a good look.
Amen sister on the culottes.
I scrolled right down expecting it to be birkenstocks. Yuck to those too.
Have a great weekend ladies. ;c)
You know, I could dig the culottes if they were longer and basically looked like hakama. I could very much dig an excuse to wear hakama in public… maybe with an unexpected print and some color too, not the typical black, indigo or white…
I call them gauchos and they were all the rage in the 90’s. Worn then with a pair of boots, a big thick belt and pretty short sleeved blouse and I think they would look just as good now. Depending on the shoes, can be pretty flattering on most any body type. No sillier than the skinny jeans with pointy toed high heels that have been the rage for so long and ONLY look good on skinny girls with long legs. Everything old is new again!
Adore the classic nautical, preppy look. Yes, timeless, effortless, chic.
Culottes can rock balanced with a lean line on top i.e. a skimpy cami or close fitting bodysuit and worn by a tall , streamlined lady. So Posh and those of mere Elfin proportions should steer clear or risk looking like a hobbit. Even 9 inch Louboutin’s won’t save you – sorry.
These rules unfortunately do not apply when the culotte is white, light or made from leather (or any other super bulky fabric). A model or magician could not pull these off (as demonstrated by the Olivia Palermo pics). They instantly add kilos, like a late night sugar binge fest and should be left in the 80s along with their unflattering cousins; gathered leather skirts and pleated, pocket leather trousers.
My favourite look is the silky black pair worn by Jenna. The glasses add a hint of irony and intelligence. And I love the stripy tie belt. Insouciant.
So gals, follow the rules above, approach with caution if you are under 5″ 8″, stick to dark tones on bottom and wear with confidence.
These were called gauchos 10 years ago when they were made of knit jersey and EVERYBODY wore them. They were the yoga pants of 2005 and they were awesome. Made of leather and pleated they’re not working, but with the right fabric and cut (and not fooling yourself that you can wear them to the office) they are great for summer casual wear.
This is why you’re my favorite fashion/lifestyle/design blogger.
My mother made me wear “gaucho” pants as a little girl in the ’70’s…I’m still scared from that experience!
I love your taste and usually agree with all your choices, but you’re wrong about gauchos…Jenna, Victoria and Olivia are rocking that look.
I feel the exact same way…ABOUT THOSE HIDEOUS SKINNY PANTS! Even on that thin, petite gal they pull and look like they don’t fit.
Have to disagree. Love them! (especially on Olivia and Jenna)
CAN @ 6:36 AM – “Gaucho Pants!” (always called by both names) I am dying! Here is the deal with Gaucho Pants, aren’t they really just capri’s with pleats. And since two wrongs DO NOT make a right… Avoid them.
Boy do I have to agree! Can’t imagine a pair of oversized pants/skirt/shorts would ever make you look chic… you are 100% right…they are a big N.O.
I am with you on the culottes! I will forever associate them with my second grade teacher, a horrible woman who disliked children, was very thin, had limp hair and bad posture, and who wore a denim pair with a ribbed turtleneck and boots at least once a week back in the winter of 1977. There is a reason it took cullottes 35 years, instead of 20 years, to come back around.
Gauchos = culottes = not cute on anyone. (ie. if Victoria can’t pull it off… no one can). Totally agree with you.
Great post! Personally, I much prefer the culottes–I realize the ol’ skinny-white-jeans-striped-shirt combo is a “classic” these days but it feels super stale to me. Why not venture out with a new silhouette? With shops like Zara and H&M offering them taking a fashion leap isn’t prohibitive!