There was a time not so long ago when it was unheard of and unbecoming for women to wear trousers! The reason being trousers were considered unfeminine. However, as time progressed, the French Revolution opened the doors for women to start wearing a distant cousin of the trousers. They wore large skirt pants and an over-shirt. From then to now we have seen fashion move from baggy and oversized to mid-baggy and then skinny and super skinny to baggy and volume all over again! Lengths have gone from short to long, and now we are at a point in fashion when baggy exists along with super skinny and short exists along with long and sweeping!
Fashion is cyclic as we all know and it keeps getting reinvented in different avatars! The trends today vary from really short shorts to loose, flowing trousers also coexisting with mid-calf length skinny pants and a little longer version of them, which are not-so skinny.
The straight and flare, semi-flare and boot cut have been around for some time in the denim brands. The loose formal trousers with pleats, whether single or double or flat front for a smooth front and in casual washed-down twills and drills are key in this season as well as the coming seasons. It also varies from being worn really high at the waist to being worn at mid-waist.
Kick flare pant
Retro 70’s looks made popular by Prada is the important shape on the catwalk these days. Slim at the top and the thighs, the trouser kicks out gently from the knee to the hem and is interestingly feminine, and hence the name ‘Kick Flare!’
Cropped flare
Hemlines are cut just above the ankle or mid-calf with a slight flare for a fresh, contemporary look. Newer silhouettes with over-sized flares are achieved by incorporating voluminous proportions. The cropped flares are either slim till the knee and then kick out, or are voluminous throughout. They look sporty and are high on comfort!
So, with the kick flare and the cropped flare are the wide-legged floor sweeping flares, which are highly voluminous with generous proportions at the waist and hip and wide at the hem. These flares are comfortable and can yet look formal and dressed up. The proportion at the waist and hip varies across designers and brands. Some are slightly more fitted and have less volume and there are also those which are more voluminous at the hips. Slim elongated trousers flared at the hemlines are also popular.
Cullottes
A long time favourite, continue to be a key shape. Midi lengths and voluminous, loose fits make a statement, as well as offering a fresh alternative to skirts. Wrap-around as well as extreme wide leg with a pleated front closure lends structure and a sharp silhouette. With pleats and without pleats, culottes are really in trend!
Formal trousers
Both slim and tapered as well as the wide leg combine masculine tailoring with feminine details. The sporty trousers have details that lend it the youthful look and attitude! Drawstring waists and relaxed silhouettes combine the essence of sportswear with the
formal look!
Cigarette trousers are the ones with the slim tapered ankle-length look! They are high-waisted with slim proportions and cropped at the ankles! They are feminine and tailored, crisp and flattering!
Denim trends
From skinny to the voluminous, shorts, cropped pants, kick-flares and dungarees – all are in trend!
So, the options are enormous for the woman of today to choose from a wide variety of styles and pick the one that gives her the maximum comfort and suits her personality the most!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Sanyogietaa Chadha is the head of department for Fashion Design at Pearl Academy of Fashion, Delhi.
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