This is how I am seeing this culotte, crop flares, crops in general, etc., but not necessarily in searching for them or looking on Pinterest this applies to denim only as this is all I am looking at now.

Crops-just like straight leg or skinnies only shorter.

Crop flares-just like flares only shorter-fit tight thru thigh, widths at bottom vary somewhat, as do lengths.

Culottes-loose fitting thru thighs , but also varying as to fullness or widths at bottom, but are wider at the bottom than flares.

I have several pairs of crops, jeans, cargos, and dressier ones. Wear year round in my climate, wear with sandals, flats, booties, pumps, and all heel heights. These are becoming mu fav kind of pants. most versatile!

Still not liking culottes (the kind by my definition) guess it is just the wide thighs look-on me they just don't work.

Am now seriously looking at (by my definition above) crop flares. I like them best with sandals, flats, sneakers, and lower ankle boots with more skin showing. So sometimes they are called coulottes, but if they look like they are not loose thru thighs I am calling them just crop flares, even though they may be labeled coulottes on the site.