Let the breezy palazzos, easy culottes and refreshing floral pants sweep you off your feet as we walk down the fashion street of trending bottom wear.
Every time Priyanka Chopra sashays around in the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour video on television, we are treated to the dazzling damsel on the small screen reciting her stylenama: “Style just arrives in style… Style always leads the way…” Come to think of it, isn’t that precisely the fashion mantra of today’s ‘wo-metrosexual’ women, if one may take the creative liberty of using this term? Smart, confident and self-assured – these three attributes best define the new-age woman who loves to wear her “I don’t give a hoot” attitude right on her bottom cuffs. If her buoyant palazzos exude poise, her flattering culottes ooze with oomph. Honey, let’s come to the bottom line! There’s more to your lowers than those ubiquitous leggings and solid tapered pants…
STYLES APLENTY IN PALAZZOS
These 60s and 70s-style trousers are one of the most vivacious and versatile of the women’s wear. The long loose trousers with wide leg come in a variety of fabrics, styles, prints and patterns. “Palazzos are the most loved outfits this season and can be found in various patterns, styles and fabrics suiting one’s style. These trousers can be seen in various prints, lace, monochrome, solid colours and now even in embroidery and thread work. They are made of different fabrics like cotton, chiffon, georgette, linen etc,” informs Gurprit Sawhney, MD and Founder, Trendy Divva.
A fashion statement of the yesteryears divas such as Greta Garbo and Katharine Hepburn, Palazzo pants are so buoyant in their appeal that you can call them anything but simple. “The difference in style is generally due to the different lengths and hem widths. Also, details such as trims and slits add to the variety in style versions,” feels Siddharth Saigal, owner, Wrap Studio.
Flexi Formal Dekko
If you’ve had enough of those pencil-fit skirts and boot leg cropped trousers to office, palazzos are the much-needed respite you are looking for. Who says work wear can’t be as comfortable as palazzos? “It can be worn to any occasion, as it is very versatile as a garment. Just a little tweaking with the fit and change of fabric makes it equally viable for corporate wear, as much as it is for casual/resort wear,” says Siddharth.
These comfy trousers in solid lycra, denim or chambray are an apt choice for office wear and other formals. Pleated and pocket detail can add an interesting edge. Try solid green trousers with beige full sleeved/sleeveless button up cotton shirt. With a chained belt and slouching accessories to pep up and a leather satchel to accompany, you are good to go. Complementing wedges will match up to the business casual look.
Print Play for Casual Fun
From paisleys and florals to polka and geometrics, palazzos are here to entice you in a wide variety of prints and patterns. “You can always pair your printed palazzo pants with an easy flowy tank in a solid colour or if you are slender, you can go the slouchy way by pairing flowy palazzo pants with an equally flowing button up. From Chambray shirts to feminine shirts you can also cinch you waist with a belt and pair your pants with a tank top. Pair up palazzos with floral, tribal or graphic prints with plain summery tank tops. Tuck your shirt/top/blouse in when wearing it with palazzos. This makes you look taller. Add wedge heels or block heels to add a few more inches to your height. To pep up your plain palazzo pants, pair them with fitted tops and add on colourful scarves belts, bangles, earrings and so on,” suggests Mansi Gupta, CEO and Founder, Tjori.com.
Play safe by teaming a printed trouser with a solid blouse/top or go bold and buoyant by mixing prints! You could combine your printed palazzo pants with a printed top. Styling for casuals can be fun. Whether it’s a leisure stroll by the promenade or a day out at shopping, these pants are your perfect pick for they seamlessly blend style and comfort. “If going for a beach/resort wear look, team up with a hat,” suggests Upasna Gupta, Co-founder, Rena Love.
Straight to flare — choose your kinda width to experiment with style. Flowy chiffon and georgettes to settled cottons and muls – pick a fabric that suits your comfort.
Party Time with Colourblocking
When the Hollywood/Bollywood queens can do it, why can’t you?! The next time you head for B’day bash or a pub night out, check out a stunning colour block style with a pair of solid palazzo pants and solid top in contrasting bold hues. Yes, neutral shades are considered safe but we think you can go bold and beautiful with the right combo. Jazz it up with shimmering blings and stilettos.
Desi, Western or Fusion — It’s Your Choice
If you thought palazzos are a Western clothing concept, you’re utterly mistaken. Women, remember the good-old shararas? They date back to the Mughal Era! However, our SmartApps generation now has an array of fusion versions to slip into. Mirror work, lace tapings, chikan detailing and doris – the ethnic palazzos celebrate the sartorial splendour of Indian handicrafts and textiles.
But you can create an ethnic look even with a Western bottom! “Palazzo is one of the most trending outfit which can easily be tweaked to create both Indian and Western looks. If you team it up with tops, tank tops, sheer shirts, crop tops, it gives western look. If paired with short kurta, it gives your palazzo the look of a sharara. You could also pair it with a choli and duppatta. Palazzos allow you to experiment, creating your own style,” feels Upasna.
For accessories and accompaniments, the occasion decides. Flats, gladiator sandals, a cropped top or even a loose top add fun to your by-the-sea Western style because it’s got that bohemian vibe to it. Simple stiletto sandals look fab with the ethnic version. From clutch bags to sling and totes, whatever floats your boat!
Tips-n-Toes!
- Tuck in the top to give illusion of height
- Pick the right length of trousers and footwear so the hems just graze the ground
- These wide leg pants are bottom heavy. It may be a good idea to pair them with fitted tops.
- Scarves, belts and slouchy jewellery are perfect accessories
OOZING OOMPH IN CULOTTES
Talk of Victoria Beckham or Jennifer Lawrence, culottes or the knee to mid-calf length breeches continue to make starry appearances internationally. Back home, well, what can be a better monsoon wardrobe essential? Neither too hot, nor too cold — isn’t it just the right time for cute culottes? What’s more, you can save your bottom hems from the slush splashes, for they are length wise (pun intended)!
“Culottes are the knee – breeches which were originally worn by the gentleman of European upper classes from the late Middle Ages or Renaissance through the early nineteenth century,” explains Gurprit. From cotton rayon, cotton voile, cotton silk to silk crepe, georgette and chiffon, this bottom wear comes in a variety of fabrics, prints and styles. You can team them with tops, shirts and shrugs.
However, there’s a sense of hesitation when it comes culottes. Many women often wonder, “Is it right for me?” Well, making culottes wearable is all up to you. Choose the right length for your culottes to fall on your legs. If you are leaner and are comfortable with skin show, go for a length right below the knee. Else it got to be mid-calf. Footwear is the game changer when it comes to culottes. As the length of these bottoms puts your shoes on display, be very discreet in handpicking the right one. You can never go wrong with sleek pumps and pointy heels. For those who are very confident of carrying themselves in these breeches, platforms look equally appealing.
Tips-n-Toes!
- The pants are usually high-waisted so pick shorter tops that fall above your hip. This way your mid-section doesn’t appear wider.
- Tucked in blouses team great for work wear.
- Try boots to give the illusion of wearing a continuous pair of pants.
TRENDY FOREVER IN FLORALS
Floral prints have always been in vogue, no matter what time of the year. Cigarette trousers, cropped, joggers, skinny and slim, floral-printed pants are available in a variety of cuts and styles. “Floral printed pantsare a huge trend right now. They are fun, can be dressed up or down, and make your whole look just a little bit moreunique. Pair your printed pants with a bright tank top, flat sandals, and a statement necklace. If your pants are tighter and more like leggings, pair them with an oversized tee shirt or a graphic tee and go for the flats making it look more boho chic,” suggests Mansi Gupta, CEO and Founder, Tjori.com.
Gurprit syncs in, “Floral printed pants are another stylish trend in the women’s wear. These pants can be worn to different occasions from Sunday brunches, a girl’s night out, and shopaholic Saturdays to office parties. These pants go best with plain stylish tops and sling bags. The accessories can be kept minimal like small earrings or a neckpiece.” You can also embrace your feminine side wearing netted and crochet tops.
Tips-n-Toes!
- Pair your slim florals pants with a cool tee and a denim jacket.
- Dress it up for party with a shimmery top in the same hue as one of the colours in the pants. A statement necklace and pumps will look really glam.
- With leather jacket and boots on, you are good to warm up!
- Microlight blazers make them perfect for summers and monsoons.
Breezy flares, easy hems and chirpy prints – it’s time to welcome the seasonal change with a collection of refreshing new bottoms in your wardrobe.
The article was originally published in Plan Your Wedding magazine.
