In spring 2015, these once trendy, wide leg bottoms made a comeback and took over the runways. First introduced during the 1500s, later becoming convenient in the Victorian era and then a trend in fashion as the more comfortable version of the former capri pants in the 1970s, these pants have made a reappearance in today’s fashion, especially in spring 2015 collections. Tibi, Jil Sander and Hermès designers showcased the comfortable pants in a variety of colors and patterns. And taking inspiration from the Adeam spring 2015 ready-to-wear collection along with the Elizabeth and James pre-fall 2015 collection, I combined a fitted turtleneck with these ever-so-popular pants using blue as my base color.
But the question is what exactly do we call these skirt-like pants – “culottes” or “gauchos?” Are they basically the same thing? After consulting multiple sources, the answer is yes. Gauchos and culottes are one and the same and can be used interchangeably. However, while some may refer to them as gauchos, it seems that most, especially Vogue and high-end designers, label these lush, calf-grazing wide pants as culottes.
These are a great summer option when the occasion calls for something a tad bit formal. Their sleek silhouette looks streamlined and sophisticated, while the cropped length and loose fit will keep you from overheating in the hot summer sun.
I loved how well stripes complemented the culottes in the Elizabeth and James collection, which is what I tried to go for here. But instead of going for a boxy loose top, I preferred a tight-fitted top as in the Adeam collection. To complete the look, I added this blue corduroy jacket along with the Pumas to keep the outfit from being too monochromatic.
Get My Look: 1. Striped turtleneck top. 2. Corduroy jacket. 3. Black culottes.
