In Portugal there are so many women using this pants, women at every age but it’s not my style

I am sorry, but I am still not convinced Angie. I might enjoy the look on others if done well, but I would nevr try it myself.

I appreciate your open-mindedness, but am not sure how flattering they would be. But I can hardly wait to see if you find a pair. And I’m still waiting to see you in some tie-dyed denim!

I think I may like the denim ones or it could just be me recovering from the head rush after seeing the beautiful shoes they are paired with.

I find the look of harem pants in general very appealing, like the ones featured in the upper row. I like my silk ones, and when I put them on I feel like I am fashion forward. The low crotch ones are just plain ridiculous, and you said it well.

This look is not for me, but I can appreciate some of them (not the ultra-low crotch ones) on fashion forward ladies. That said, I’ve yet to see a real person (not a model or manikin) wear them. They don’t seem to be catching on here in the Mid West.

not a fan—reminds me of “Hammertime”.

This is so timely, Angie. Just yesterday I saw some pants in a store similar to the first two, and I thought to myself “I would wear those”. I actually love the harem pants look, and wore it to death 20 plus years ago.

I can appreciate the top three looks, but am sure they would not work for my body type. If you get a pair, I’d love to see a picture, Angie!

I really like the ones on the far, top right — but do those still qualify as harem pants? The others on the top row still look like frumpy exercise wear to me… and the gathers around the “pooch” zone look downright dangerous.

And the ones on the bottom row are so terrible — like when a toddler goes to the beach and ends up with bathing suit bottoms filled with sand!

I can’t get behind this look. Every time I see a pair of harem pants, I think of diapers. And when I’ve seen the look in real life (which has only been one or two times as I don’t live in a very fashion-forward city), it looks silly. I’m still passing on this.

The more traditional harem pants would look better worn with some reference to their ethnic origin — for instance, lovely Moroccan babouches rather than those ugly high heels. Not all styles should be removed from their cultural roots.

Just got back from London where I saw lots of women wearing them and looking great, made me rethink them too!
But only the top row ones, and they seem to look best with at least a small heel. I’ll wait to see if it sticks around before I spend money on a pair

I just returned from a week in Paris, and harem pants were all over the city! I saw tons of variations, both cute ones like in the top row of pictures, and hideous ones. Angie, I can totally see you in that very first pair (at first glance I actually thought it was you modelling a pair for us!).
I won’t be sporting one, because I feel only luke warm about the look and need to prioritize fashion purchases carefully, but I have also quite warmed up to seeing them (the good one, that is.)

I like the first two, but don’t think that they would work on me and my thighs! A few women in London are wearing ones similar to these, I think that they look great with a moto jacket and heels.

When Bella posted her sister’s picture on the forum, I could see how the look can be worn in real life. It worked beautifully.

I don’t think I’m trendy enough to wear them myself, but when you said they remind you of knickers from the 80s, I gave it a second thought. As a young girl, I loved my knickers (those short pants with a band below the knee). Still, I don’t think I’d actually wear them but it would be fun to try some on.

This is a big trend in Turkey as expected. I have a pair of long harem pants for evening wear and a pair of short velvet harem sweats that I wear at home. I love the long one with structured blouses and high heels. The sweats are not the most flattering shape, but the short style works much better than long sweat pants when I just want to have an lazy day at home working or playing with my son.

You’ve convinced me, Angie. And I can definitely see you in this style as well. I also saw a few examples in Paris that I thought worked. This is not the kind of thing I’d drop a lot of money on, but I really like that first pair. Now that you’re changing your tune, will you give more tips on how to wear them and body types that suit?

I think this is a look that suits but a few. I have short enough legs to begin with — the visual shortening that happens with a low crotch pant is not the slightest bit tempting for me!

Completely with you, Angie. I hated this style at first, but have seen it done quite well since. But ALSO agree that the less extreme versions are far more appealing … speaking of which, all three images link to the ModCloth jeans, can you let us know where to get the black knit versions in the first two photos?

Not for me!

I don’t mind the last and maybe first looks in the front row, but the middle and the entire bottom row are all too much for me. I also think you need a very particular flair to pull these off, I know I would look like I was wearing a very uncomfortable diaper whether I had the body type for these or not.

I don’t like the looks on the bottom row, but the top is more appealing. I have a pair of black silk pants that are cut almost exactly like the mod cloth jeans. I’ve been calling them my harem pants, but the cut is moderate enough that like Rae, I question whether they actually can be called harem pants.

I agree the less extreme versions are starting to grow on me. But I still ahve not bought apair and proabbly won’t. I could totally see you in them, Angie!

I’ll admire these on others. However, I’m wondering if these are the beginning of a trend back to pleated front pants with tapered legs. Yikes!

Goodness, I just don’t know. None of these float my boat. I’ve seen this style done fairly well, but never well enough that would make me want to try it. Next trend, please!

They better stick around a long time because it’ll take me years to get used
to liking all that gathered draping. Tell me how this is so much different in net effect from the much mocked elastic waist pants.

The first pair is from Urban Outfitters if anyone is curious.

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com.....prepushId=

I’m sorry Angie, but I’m still in the silly and narrowminded camp. All that bagging and sagging at the crotch area just creates a very awkward and unflattering focal point to me. While the top row is better, it’s still far from good. I am usually pretty fashion-forward, even if the trend in question doesn’t work for me personally….but I can’t get behind this. Even with your fearless spirit and killer bod, I just think there are so many other options that will look better (leggings and clams specifically).

They certainly do look insanely comfortable though.

I saw several women sporting these on my trip to Europe earlier this summer, and each time my husband and I could not look at each other for fear of bursting out laughing. Granted, those were all the “regular” harem pants and not the less droopy ones you linked to, but even the less droopy ones look very silly to me. I think you could pull it off, Angie, because you can rock an edgier style and you appear to have a waif’s body, but a non-waif, non-edgy person likely could not, but I’d just have to make sure not to look at my husband if I saw you. ;o)

I cannot remember who it was but one of our forum members looked good in a moderate pair of harem pants and posted a picture a few months back.
I LOVED knickerbockers back in the 60’s but no one im my home town was wearing them so I was afraid to be the first and never did get that out of my system. I would wear the moderate style in the summer with flat sandals in a very casual way like clamdiggers.
I would LOVE to see Angie wear a silk pair with her flare.

I like the 2 black pairs and would enjoy seeing them on others, but I don’t feel inclined to try them. I hate the denim ones, though. They just look like badly fitting jeans with a diaper underneath to me. And the bottom row I really dislike, too. Angie, I hope you find a silk pair for us to see on you.

I think you need to be slim and flat around the middle to pull these off. Then they can look very cool and stylish. But as for apple-type bodies – ha ha (meaning me).

I tried on a pair like the ones on the top with a striped bodysuit both from American Apparel . Unfortunately it did zilch for my figure. I’m 5′8” with a boyish figure – not much waist or butt. These pants made my butt look flatter and provided little definition at the waist. I ended up looking more like Ali Baba than a harem princess. I’m not sure what kind of figure you would need to look great in them.

I will never get away with wearing those. I’m too short.

-meream

Huh, I woulnd’t have thought of the first three, particularly the third pair, as harem pants. The bottom three are what I think of as harem, or “Hammer”, pants.

I guess the first three are okaaaay, but wouldn’t they all look better without that band at the bottom? Seriously.

I saw a young woman do this look *right*…I liked it on her:) I, however will be admiring from a distance..just out of my comfort zone:)

The beauty of a fashion trend is that…. some people can actually pull them off

I’m having an odd mixed reaction to the harem pants (the top row ones only). Part of the time I think, Hmmm, that looks kind of fun, I could try that. Then some switch in my brain flips and I think NOOOOOO! Diaper pants! Run away!

I just bought a copy of Australian In Style magazine yesterday, and according to the editors, the top row of pants are similar to styles they call “peg-leg” pants, “not to be confused with the harem style, which has a deep crotch”. They showed a number of ways to wear the peg-leg style, which they claim are very trendy and adaptable, transseasonal, and can be worn with a number of shoe styles.
Still, not my cup of tea, however to be fair I would probably need to try them on to really make up my mind. I think you’d have to be fairly slim to wear these, you certainly would have to have narrow hips methinks.
My husband saw harem pants a month ago in Melbourne and came back saying the women were wearing these “hideous baggy pants”. I eventually worked out what he meant. Can’t say I’m a big fan either! I’d consider them a fad.

Not every style works in every country. I can see why it’s caught on in the Middle East and in Europe, but it hasn’t happened at ALL in Australia and New Zealand. Then again, a lot of Antipodean looks seem weird and over-bohemian in other places.

I am not really opposed to the look, but, like Antje, I need to prioritize. I saw a few people wearing pants similar to the middle ones in the first row. It looked fine, although I am not sure if this look requires heels. I mostly wonder about the material – the jersey ones look like sweatpants to me, I can’t help it! They sure look comfy.
Oh and I am in agreement about pants in the second row! Although I haven’t seen them irl so far.

I’m with you on this one Angie – I don’t mind the ones with higher crotches, but the saggy rise variation I don’t find in the least bit attractive.

You know Angie, I am one of the least fashion forward/trendy people on the ylf forum but I think I would totally try the first look – even if I just ended up using it for lounge clothes. It reminds me a bit of pants worn with Indian salwars (though ours are ankle length). It would probably look silly on me since I am so short and not thin but I would definitely like to see some ideas on how to wear this look.

I can’t wear harem pants because any kind of gathering at the waist looks terrible on me. But the pants on the top row of photos could work on someone with a trim waist (although I still think the ankle elastic on the jeans on the top right make it look rather like sweatpants).

The ones on the bottom I can’t see working for anyone of any shape. Those super low crotches distort how the body looks in a very unattractive way.

I have a black pair with a really low crotch, they look more like a skirt with tights (leggings?). I wear them with simple black ballet flats and a simple tank or t-shirt on top. I get compliments all the time. The pants in the top row wouldn’t work for my body at all, and the bottom row is neither here nor there.
My friend who is much slimmer (boyish figure) wears similar style as pants and sometimes as a strapless contraption with a wide belt and a bright scarf looped around her neck. I love the look but I’m not brave enough yet to try it myself.

Israel is full of harem pants. Mostly low or outrageously low crotch (almost to the ground). So maybe I’m just used to the idea but I go for it.

I say just say no!!!

Hmm. I wonder what body shape these would suit best. Perhaps inverted triangle? I fear they might be a nightmare on pretty pears like me.

IMO this look does not flatter anyone. The legs of the models’ in the left and center photos of the top row are certainly slender, but the volume of the pants, plus the cut-off at the knee and those awful gladiator sandals make them look incredibly stumpy. No thanks!

I agree…harem pants are definitely a phase. I may be able to carry off the first three but the bottom three need to be worn under a long tunic – more like the traditional origin of the style – also known as the “shalwar.” Women in South Asia have been wearing the more saggy ones under long tunics for years now…. I think its unfortunate that the tunic and the harem pant or shalwar style (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salwar_kameez) have been put on two parallel trend trains. The more baggy harem style looks really good with a tunic. See this: http://www.bargello.com/Royal+.....7-3795.htm