One of the trends that has appeared in stores in the past season or so is the culotte. Now I remember wearing these in my teen years and I wasn’t that keen to try on another pair as sometimes in fashion you can feel like “been there, done that trend and not going back”. When you’re older a trend like culottes can end up looking aging and frumpy if you’re not careful, but in the interests of all you wonderful readers I thought I’d try out a pair and give you my opinion on ways to style them whatever your age.
Style wise they suit A and X shapes best as they have that flare that follows that body shape. They also are best for those with long legs as culottes do have a leg shortening effect, similar to the midi-skirt. Ideally have them end just under your knee, the ones I’m wearing a longer (fortunately I do have long legs) but are harder to style if you don’t have long legs. But of course just because the style isn’t perfect for our shape doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun with it if we choose to do so. Here are some tips on how to style them if you don’t want to look dowdy!
1. Wear them with a tight in a color that blends to your culotte and shoe – above I’ve chosen an open bootie which has a lower vamp than a regular ankle boot (which is the shoe I’d say does NOT work with a culotte). I’ve also worked it back with a similar coloured top to create a column of color which helps to make one long unbroken line from my neck to my feet!
2. Another way to elongate your legs with culottes, and brilliant in winter is to team them with a knee high boot.
3. A blouse tucked into the culotte creates quite an elegant look. You can then add a belt to help minimise the effect of too much volume (remember one voluminous garment at a time) and a high heeled pump with hosiery to tone.
4. So you hate wearing tights (or it’s just too hot)? Then always wear with a low vamp shoe like these so that your legs aren’t further shortened. A peep toe is great to give a more casually elegant look. Consider that a culotte is similar in volume to a flared skirt, so you want to keep your tops more fitted and jackets shorter – no longer than hip-bone length.
5. Why not wear a column of color then break up the monotony with a beauty bundle in a colour? Here I’ve played join the dots with red shoes, belt and necklace to draw your attention upwards to my face.
6. Make the shoe the star – my leopard pumps are the feature piece in this ensemble and I’ve used the column of color to ensure I look as long as possible.
7. Casual cool with ballet flats for comfort Notice that I’m wearing a ‘nude’ version so that my feet are not the focus and I’ve created interest up high with the necklace and denim style jacket.
Have you tried culottes? Would you? Will you? How do you like to wear them?
These culottes I’m wearing are from Target Australia
Shop for culottes
