I've been in the Topshop studios last week helping out with styling odds and ends and have noticed a wave of culottes appearing on the rail each day. I have also noticed them cropping up all over the usual online suspects like ASOS, Zara, etc, but have definitely not picked up on too many actual real, out-and-about-on-the-street people adopting the roomy, half trouser look. So, here's my question: How come?
Maybe it's purely down to the weather? Maybe anything calf-exposing is still a step too far in these unreliable early Spring days (Is that the sun coming out? Oh no, there it goes, now it's raining. Bit muggy though. Oh wait, there's the icy wind! Exhausting..), unless you're willing to commit to the hard core fashion culotte and sock combo? Just leaving a cheeky, but brave peek of mid-calf to upper knee?
Maybe we just don't quite know what to make of them yet? I'm not even entirely sure I know how to pronounce it right. C-ul-ottes? Coo-lottes? I've just taken to saying it quickly to avoid any embarrassing faux pas and subsequent fashion shaming. There's interesting proportions at work her too. Not the easiest styling item in the cupboard, especially if you haven't got the pins of Miranda Kerr and like to keep your relationship with heels to a healthy minimum #flats4evs.
I'm pretty sure I like the idea of them. Anything loose and forgiving around the leg is a-ok in my book. So maybe we just need some styling inspiration to see what we're dealing with here? And yes, regrettably it does seem that heels are pretty non-negotiable. Just opt for a chunky mother.
