Culottes have been an integral part of our wardrobes for several years. Whether in neutral colours, made of denim or made entirely of leather, the culottes guarantee maximum comfort with their wide legs. It also skillfully accentuates the ankles of the wearer and flatters every figure.
Due to its wide legs, the culotte is hardly distinguishable from a skirt from afar, which is why it is also counted among the culottes. The hem can be as low as mid-calf or a hand’s breadth above the ankle, but always leave it bare. And the height of the belt is also not fixed, but can vary from a low waist to a high waist culotte.
Culottes: from nobility to street style
The name culotte comes from the French and means “short pants”. Culottes originally referred to knee breeches worn exclusively by the European nobility of the 17th and 18th centuries. With the advent of the French Revolution in 1789, the monarchy ended, and so did the culottes.
Until the 20th century. Then women rediscovered the culotte, but only in sport and hunting, because until the 1930s it was frowned upon for women to wear trousers. Culottes, which with their spread legs almost looked like a skirt, were a good compromise. Culottes have made a comeback since the mid-2010s and have been an integral part of women’s fashion ever since.
Who wears culottes?
Thanks to its cut, the culotte flatters all body types by drawing attention to two areas that usually appear narrow and delicate: the ankles and waist. The wide cut also makes the legs look slim, in combination with high heels or wedges the culottes also optically cheat a few centimeters in length. Women with larger calves should make sure they choose styles that don’t finish mid-calf, but rather just above the ankle – this makes the cut particularly advantageous.
How are the culottes designed?
In spring 2023, monochromatic culotte suits will be especially popular. Short baggy trousers practically replace suit trousers. Wear it with a blazer and a classic slimmer basic shirt or a blouse for more elegant occasions. It is recommended to combine mules with heels or wedges so that the silhouette is elongated.
The leather-effect culottes are also super stylish. Rough trousers can be combined with blazers and elegant shoes, just like suit models, or with casual sneakers. When it comes to denim culottes, the white color is still at the top of the trend list.
While in previous years we always diligently tucked our tops into the belt, this season the trend is going in the opposite direction again. So: an oversized shirt or blouse is also welcome Above wear culottes – this is a casual way to hide problem areas. But it is best combined with elegant shoes so that the look does not become too baggy.
If that’s still too casual for you, you can emphasize your narrow midsection with a belted waist over a shirt or blazer, in which case pairing it with chunky boots or trainers is also permissible. Cropped T-shirts as a styling partner and the popular tucking of the top into the trousers is of course still an option for all those who want a little more figure.
