The Culotte: Get On Board With Pre-Fall’s Hero Piece Now

Every once in a while, an achingly retro silhouette or trend – that you had almost forgotten existed or were even fashionable - re-emerges and takes even the most seasoned fashionistas by surprise. The ‘granny’ midi skirt was one of them, so was the camouflage print, and now, for this year’s version, the seventies librarian’s trouser of choice: the culotte.

Yes, admittedly, these cropped wide-legged wonders have been staging a slow and steady comeback since the beginning of spring, but, as is often the case with these things, it’s taken a while for them to really settle into our wardrobes and become just like any other pair of pants that we can throw on without giving so much as a thought to.

Not quite there yet? That’s ok, you still have plenty of time to get into the gaucho stride. Because it looks like this key separate will be continuing their reign well into next season. And with everyone from Proenza Schouler to Valentino giving culottes the seal of approval by showing them in their pre-fall (and main) collections, tracking down your perfect pair couldn’t be more straightforward.

While you wouldn’t be entirely inaccurate for thinking that not all cropped flares are for everyone, choose right and they can be surprisingly flattering.

So here’s how they’ve been updated for the new season. As well as the use of thicker, weightier fabrics – think Dries Van Noten‘s plush wool, 1205‘s tactile boucle, and Whistles‘ butter-soft leather – pre-fall welcomes a change in silhouette, too. Gone are the billowy silks and fluid lines of last summer, and in their place, more structured shapes and precision cuts from the likes of Alexander Wang, Valentino and Joseph. But for the culotte virgins out there, Acne Studios, Max Mara and MSGM‘s more dramatic, voluminous silhouettes are as easy to wear as a full skirt – those irresistibly ladylike proportions are universal, non?

Lastly, the trick to working this season’s gauchos is to keep the top half fitted and/or cropped – to balance out the bulky bottoms – if you’re petite. But if you’re lucky enough to be blessed with long, diaphanous limbs, then do with them whatever you will, because this fall, as long as you’ve got the right trousers on, anything goes.

Shop our pick of the coolest culottes you can buy now in the boutique below.