Loosen up with culottes

Culottes might be several stops away from classics, but anyone even remotely trailing street-fashion is convinced to give them a spin. Comfy to wear, easy to style and fun to look at, little wonder the silhouette has come to be a summer closet’s mainstay.

“They have the movement of a trouser and swing like a skirt, and since they are cropped, they are perfect for summer,” Payal Gurwara from the label Out Box speaks of the garment connecting the best of three worlds. She adds, “Technically it’s a silhouette clubbing the best of all three most practical silhouettes—pants, skirts and capris.” Still, not quite pants and not quite shorts!

It was until the trend reports and spring summer collections of Indian runways in 2015 pointed out those palazzos had gone a little short, a little flared.

Internationally, they were spotted on Victoria Beckham, Emma Watson and Rihanna.

While model Gigi Hadid taught us how to team up bright blue culottes with a basic white shirt, Victoria Beckham even carried the look to fall, pairing it with a brown cashmere sweater. Back home, the trend was waiting to be discovered and the younger lot lapped it up like anything with the likes of Alia Bhatt, Athiya Shetty, Parineeti Chopra, Katrina Kaif taking to the garment.

— Manpriya Singh

Wear it right

It can easily look either sloppy or flattering, depending on how it is worn and what it is worn with. 

• Culottes are usually worn high-waist. And teamed with either cropped tops or tucked in shirts. 
• Start with a basic black, beige or indigo. They can be pretty much paired with anything and the look (if worn with a white or any other shirt in solid colour) can be taken to office as well. 
• Remember, culottes are a fun garment and are all about pairing them right and carrying them off well. 
• A typical culotte hits the mid-calf. However, depending on the height and body type, the hem can end much higher or lower.  
• If you feel sloppy or awkward, try the look with heels. Since they can be paired with several kinds of footwear—loafers, oxford shoes, heels or flats.