How to: Wear culottes

Let’s face it: culottes are pretty difficult to wear. They can make the whole figure shorter and not look very feminine if matched in the wrong way. The good news is that a few tricks are enough to make them look great on every woman. They can hide imperfections and be an unexpected touch in creating an interesting look out of nothing.

With this quick guide we aim to provide you with flattering and original ways to style your culottes.

The traditional way

Choose your culottes in a neutral colour and a loose tailoring. Match them with a soft blouse, a pussybow if you aim to get a bit of the Anderson-boho-classy-intellectual’s Gucci look, a clutch and a pair of courts. No surprises, but it always works.

The modern preppy way

If you want to try something a little bit girlier, choose your culottes in a very wide shape and a thick shimmer material, then match them with a fine knitted sweater. The colour palette must be played among nude colours, the scale of grey and a touch of pastel. You can also try them with a Peter Pan collared shirt and pointed ballerinas.

The rad way

Of course you will need a little dose of the right careless-but-cool attitude to wear this outfit in the proper way, but it can be a perfect idea even for working days. The culottes in this case must be a bit more mannish; maybe pick up a pair with a sartorial cut, then style them with an oversized leather jacket and a pair of sneakers.

The bohemian way

Extremely cool and perfect for this year, marked by a strong bohemian spirit. Choose to wear your culottes, a regular pair with a pretty loose cut and in a earthy colour, with a soft linen blouse underneath a velvet or denim vest, or with a cotton sweater. Then put a hat on and a pair of wide heel booties.

The layered way

This is probably one of the most interesting way to style culottes. Try to wear them with a tunic and a long vest to create a game of different layers.

The jumpsuit culottes

Of course wearing a jumpsuit can make your work a lot easier. For this season we suggest a plunge-neck one, possibly in denim. Keep your décolleté necklace-free and stake it all on a bold orange lipstick and a pair of statement earrings.

 Francesca Milano