What are culottes?
Culottes These are wide, cropped trousers that visually resemble an A-line skirt. In everyday speech, this style is often called "skirt-culottes."
Classic styles end from just below the knee to mid-calf. This length leaves the ankle exposed, highlighting the narrowest part of the leg.
Culottes were originally a staple of the French aristocracy's men's wardrobe, consisting of narrow trousers fastened below the knee. In the 1930s, designer Elsa Schiaparelli adapted this cut for women. She proposed wide, cropped trousers as comfortable clothing for sports and cycling, while maintaining the appearance of a traditional skirt.
Distinctive features
The key feature of the culotte silhouette is its tight waist and pronounced flare at the bottom. This cut creates additional volume at the bottom.
These trousers typically have a high-rise or mid-rise waist. The high rise is essential to offset the shorter leg length and maintain the visual proportions of the legs.
The shape of a garment depends directly on the chosen texture. Styles made from dense fabrics such as denim, suiting wool, corduroy, or leather maintain a rigid, architectural form. Options made from lightweight materials such as viscose, silk, or chiffon create soft, cascading folds. In their dynamic form, these trousers are virtually indistinguishable from a classic midi skirt.
What to combine with
To balance out the wide bottoms, wear fitted or tucked-in pieces. Turtlenecks, basic tees, bodysuits, fitted shirts, and crop tops are all suitable top layers.
When choosing a second layer, cropped jackets, such as biker jackets or denim jackets, that finish right at the waist are ideal. An alternative is structured, straight-cut blazers that create a clear vertical line.
In cooler weather, culottes are worn with tall, tube-style boots or tight-fitting ankle boots. The basic styling rule: the boot shaft should extend under the trouser leg, leaving no visible skin.
In warmer weather, pumps or heeled sandals are worn to visually elongate the silhouette. For relaxed, everyday looks, culottes are paired with minimalist loafers, flat mules, or basic white sneakers.
