Can we talk about culottes and their longevity? - YouLookFab Forum

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Can we talk about culottes and their longevity?

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Hi all, long time no see! I've missed you, fabbers.

Work has become super busy, but also more inspiring since I started a new job in august. Now I'm a school administrator, which is a huge change from being a teacher and pedagogical consultant. I really enjoy the new possibilities, but my online time has had to be cut way back. The same goes for the available time to play with my wardrobe. Anyway, I'm so sorry for the silence - this was never my intention.

I have been lusting after a pair of culottes for a long, long time, but all the ones I tried were too long, too billowy, all wrong on me. I thought by now that I had to sit this one out, and stopped looking. You know what that means, right? The HEWI finally appears! I recently found a pair of grey culottes that hit me at the sweet point right where my calves get narrow. Not too long, not too short, fitted in the waist. BUT - am I too late? They are pricey, and I would like them to last a couple of seasons at least without feeling all wrong wearing them. I like the style, and I can see myself wearing them with wardrobe classics like tall boots, blazers etc, but they are controversial and a bit hard to wear.

My question: Is it a bit late to buy into the culotte trend? Or are culottes wardrobe classics and worth hanging onto?

Here's a link to the ones in question: http://hope-sthlm.com/wide-trouser-grey-melange

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Shopping

42 replies

Latest reply was from approprio

Anonymous

No one even wears them where I live.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Hah, bettycrocker, hardly anyone wears them where I live, either. That doesn't bother me too much. I'm used to being the one that 's a bit "overdressed" most of the time anyway:)

Mona

Veteran

Nice to see you again. Actually I was thinking about the longevity of these also. I have not bought one yet but would love to add some new trends to my wardrobe. Waiting for others to reply to this.
No one wears them where I live either.

Anonymous

No one wears them in my area of the Southeast either. I think this is good news for you. The trend is just starting to be noticed and to infiltrate the mass market. Although you might be behind the curve on YLF, you are definitely ahead of the curve in real life. I applaud being overdressed.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Nice to see you too, Mona. I can definitely picture you in culottes. I think they will fit your style really well.

Sterling, that's an interesting perspective. Wearing culottes will probably never become mainstream, but I find it promising that my daughters, who are 16 and 18, found the culottes super fab and very flattering on me. Yay to being overdressed!

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Can't answer your question, but I did want to say that it's great to "see" you again, and I'm glad all is well.

I have pleather ones, and wear them often. Nobody else here wears them either. I don't care.... I didn't even think of it really as being trendy ahead of the (local) curve, just a look I wanted to try.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

It's great to see you too, Elisabeth - thanks! Pleather ones sound very cool. However, DH has a poison eye for clothes in leather (with a reluctant exception for jackets on women), and the culotte shape is unfamiliar, too, so I decided to be cautious

kkards

Veteran

this is just my opinion, and not I'm certainly not the most fashion forward, so take it with a grain of salt…this style seems to come back every decade or so, and usually last a season or two, but rarely longer. that being said, i can say that I've not seen anyone actually wearing them IRL this go round, so it maybe that we are so far ahead of the trend that you'll get a couple of years out of them.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I've had similar thoughts about this. Coluttes can easily turn into "what was I thinking" -territory.

Anonymous

I have the same opinion of them as kkards . I have never seen anyone actually wear them even though they appear in the odd store window. I was mildly interested when the buzz first started here, but am completely uninterested now. I've gone this long without owning a pair - I'm not going to start now

Nice to see you back here !

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

In NYC, I haven't really seen people wearing them. Oh, sure, there are the photos that pop up in various blogs, but as a trend, they seem remarkably fringe. That said, I own a pair that are structured and billowy and fit at the waist. Business casual. The first time I wore them, I received a number of compliments whilst shopping in SoHo, so I vote for keeping yours, regardless of whether they haven't picked up in your area.

deb

Veteran

I wear mine all of the time. But it is true that I never see anyone else with them on but I really do not care.

Anonymous

I don't think it matters, really. If I found a pair that I really loved and that truly flattered me, I'd wear them even if nobody else did. I've only seen one person wear them recently, and think we just live in a backwards town.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ingunn, lovely to see you! And so glad to know that all is well!

I am in the same place as you vis-a-vis culottes. I do have a pair of sarong shorts that are culotte-like, and then Shevia sent me a summer pair of culottes that she picked up on super sale at Zara -- they need to be taken in at the waist, and they are not autumn/ winter appropriate.

I'd really love a pair to add to my winter rotation with tall boots, but haven't found "my" special ones.

These look good to me. The only issue I might consider is the waist. I'm considering a mid to higher waisted version (if I ever find) for leg lengthening in the event I wear with higher shaft booties (as in your photo here) and also so I can wear with cropped sweaters. I don't know where the waist on these would fall on you.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

lisap, that is definitely an option. I think I wanted them more than you from the beginning, though.
gradfashionista, if they don't wear them in NY, here will they? I agree with you, this is a matter of personal preferences much more than following trends.
deb, thats the best way to wear them, I think.
bettycrocker, if your town is backwards, so is mine. You are right, it doesn't matter at all.
Suz, it's so lovely to see you, too! And I'm interested to hear that you are thinking the same as me about culottes, since we've been agreeing about our style preferences before, too. The pair I've found is hitting me at my natural waist, and is definitely the most flattering pair I've tried so far. Too high waisted and I look pregnant, too low is even worse. The length is easier to adjust, but these hit me at mid/low calf, which I find quite versatile. They look good with tall boots, higher shaft booties and of course pumps. I prefer a bit of heel with them. In fact, Mr Ingunn said that I would look like Toulouse-Latrec if I skipped the heels. It was definitely meant as a warning!

Carla

Veteran

I work in a big city in Canada - Toronto and have started seeing these mainstream since late August, styled very much like presented in the magazines. It has been prolonged summer temps, so mostly flowy versions worn with high vamped chunky open toe footwear.

I'm no fashion pro, but suspect you would be ahead of the curve with this trend, and get 2 F/W seasons as au courant. The most frequently worn women's work profiles I see are skinny pants bottoms - long and cropped, and business suits with pencil skirts, but my office is situated in the financial district.

Your version looks elegantly business worthy, so you might get more mileage out of it?

catgirl

Veteran

I love those! Mine are very similar from WHBM, and I struggle with how to wear them but am giving it a a try. No one wears them here either. I'm looking for a new winter silhouette so I don't care if they are fleeting as long as they look good. Great to hear from you!

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

That sounds very promising, Runcarla. I am aware of trends, but I certainly don't mind being un-trendy, either. However, I have been able to pick them up early several times, which has been quite satisfying

Una, how nice to hear from you, too! You are definitely one who should wear culottes in my opinion. They should merge so well with your style, I think.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Ok, I really hate culottes for myself, but I can see them really working for you, lngunn. They would suit your figure and go with the slightly androgynous, retro inspired clean style you've posted in your pictures. I am another one who has never seen a 'real person' wear them in my area yet, so I think they'll always be a bit of a fringe trend.

Anonymous

I have a couple of pairs that I made myself and if our UK Summer had been a proper 'Summer' I may have worn my lightweight ones a lot more. I have a darker, heavier pair which I might wear with knee high boots soon. I haven't seen anyone around here wear them apart from my extremely trendy and stylish 82 y/o client who looks fabulous in them, belted, with knee high boots, a fitted jersey top and very longline cardigan.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think at your natural waist is ideal.

They were around last year but are big here this year (in the big city, as Carla said; I've seen NONE in my own small city), and I think if people figure out how to style them they could have some longevity because -- let's face it -- they could be a great addition for our winters. Anything that looks good with tall boots and can keep us warm while remaining practical has got to be a possible winner. They feel easier to wear than skirts in many ways, to me. But again, I still need to find my ideal pair. Sigh....

L'Abeille

Veteran

Those look terrific, Ingunn, I think you could work them into your look very well.

Surprised to hear all the places where no one has seen them being worn. I started wearing them the summer before this past one (I was given a pair that fit perfectly, just BEFORE the trend caught on) and added 2 more pairs this past summer. And have been seeing them more and more online, so I just assumed... But come to think of it, I can't recall seeing anyone else in them where I live. (Well, not that stands out as culottes rather than slightly wider than standard "capri" pants as worn by the retired/vacationers.) I assumed that was because I live in the back of beyond. I wear mine mostly in summer, but I do dress them up with boots and jacket in winter too.

What I know I haven't seen, and don't ever expect to see or embrace, is the cropped flares or wide-leg pants I have seen several on the forum trying already. My eye may adjust--it has happened before--but I suspect culottes will outlive those this time around. I think of them as a classic, like capes--they may not be "trendy", but they would never look "out".

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Laura, I really like how you described my style. Very astute, and absolutely what I try to achieve. Thanks!

Diane, how lovely to hear from you. I intend to wear mine in a very similar way, with cropped or tucked tops, fitted, turtlenecks, sweaters, belts and boots. Probably higher shaft booties with heels, too.

You are right, Suz, they are actually really practical for northern winters like yours and ours. I also like that mine are easily adaptable to a business casual style and goes equally well with blazers and chunky sweaters - just like other dressy trousers. And I think it will be a lot more comfortable with heavier tights (even wool) under them than with regular pants. I can't stand layering hose or tights under narrow pants.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

L'abeille, thank you for saying that! I find culottes more timeless, to, and I agree that they can be categorized with capes. Maybe not classics in the modern sense, but definitely timeless.

rachylou

Veteran

I don't see hordes of culottes but a good smattering. But that prob has to do a lot with location. And also, I think maybe there are more now actually in stores than when they first came online... Being in a school setting, even as an administrator, I'm thinking you may also have more chances to wear them than in other work settings...

Gigi

Veteran

I haven't read all the responses, but my feeling is that this trend is just getting started, so you should be able to get a couple of years out of them. I don't see anyone wearing them where I live (Midwest in USA), but I have seen a few of them in store windows. I have been looking for a pair too but having been able to find one that fits correctly. When I do find the right pair, I definitely want to try them out. I don't mind looking different from other people, if no one else is wearing them.

Lyn D.

Veteran

HI Ingunn, I can imagine you wearing these, so thumbs up from me!
I don't see them worn much here either, but have some I intend to keep wearing anyway

Deborah

Veteran

Ingunn so good to see you! I have two pairs of culottes and they are a staple in my wardrobe. I think I will always have culottes in my wardrobe:). No one here wears them either (that I have seen) but if I'm honest I like wearing what others are not;). I find them to be quite a cool looking garment and I like the ones you are looking at. I'd go for it! You would totally rock these xx

josie411

I have a pair from Everlane and wear them regularly. Love them!

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