How to Wear Culottes

Are you looking for ways how to wear culottes? This post covers about thirty looks that will surely inspire you to wear culottes in 2021 and beyond.

When I learned that the culotte trend is back, it brought me smile. Just the thought of wearing culottes takes me back to the 80s, when I was about six years old. At the time my mom was selling culottes as a side hustle. She purchased them wholesale from some Indian suppliers and she sold them to friends. Sometimes she peddled them house to house.

A Little Back Story

Now, the funny thing is that the word “culotte” is pronounced like “kulot” which in our local Filipino language means “curly” or “kinky”. I remember my six-year-old self peeking from the kitchen door, wondering why these weird looking, turban wearing men talked endlessly about kinky hair in our living room, when I heard the word for the first time.

But soon, different colored culottes flooded our living room and my mom was constantly wearing them. She´d wear culottes with shoulder padded t-shirt, tucked in, and paired with some pointed-toe high heels.

To be honest, at that age I found cullotes totally unstylish. I don´t exactly know why, but it´s probably the sagging, low crotch area and behind that I didn´t like. Yes, I was a little kid but I already had my own style opinion which, I just kept to myself.

Or perhaps it´s the bad memory that I´ve associated to it which reminds me of the time when I heard my mom at the kitchen table wondering how on earth many pieces from her stocks disappeared. She suspected that a pile of culottes that she hanged on our sofa was stolen when everyone was busy in the kitchen and the main door was left open or unlocked, considering that our next-door neighbor was also selling culottes. My mom was heavily burdened by that loss.

I started wearing culottes

It took me a really long time before I finally opened up to the style of culottes. I was sixteen, a freshman in the university, when I got my first knee-length culotte shorts. It was high-waisted and in light olive green color. It flattered my figure very well and people complimented me whenever I wore it. I always wore it with a tight-fitting t-shirt.

From then on, I´ve overcome my dislike of culottes. Afterall, I realized that if styled properly and when the right length and style is chosen for your figure, this skirt-split can look very flattering.

So today, let´s take a look at the many ways you can wear coluttes.

Dogtooth Wide Leg Culottes, $45.00

Kiya Midi Length Culotte Shorts, $26.00

1. Short shorts culottes to wear with a shoulder cut-out blouse.

Norah Bow Front Pleated Culottes, $32.00

A bright print short culotte brings some vintage elements to your modern wardrobe. You can wear it with tights or you can show off your pins when the day is warm. It provides versatility to mix and match with any of your separates. A white top with shoulder cut-outs looks very flirty when worn tucked-in with this white/yellow floral print.

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2. Black and White

Louize Heart Print Jersey Culottes, $20.00

Because black and white monochrome is classic and universal, why not opt for a black and white ensemble with culottes? All have to wear it with is a white t-shirt and perhaps some white sneakers or black flat ankle boots.

3. a dose of color pop culottes.

Stylestalker Power Forward Skort, $130 $65

Modern fashion experts actually coined a new term for culotte, especially for the minis. It´s now called skort. A skort resembles short trousers but looks like a skirt. Opt for a vivid skort to wear with a black tank, a patterned blazer, and some suave booties.

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4. Try the pleated culottes.

Rag and Bone Knife Skort, $325.00

A black skort with accordion-pleated overlay is perfect to wear with an awesome bomber jacket for an effortless styling. There´s a wide range of options when it comes to your footwear – strappy flat sandals, some sneakers, or lace-up boots.

5. how to wear coluttes: pick a bright floral culotte and pair with a simple white tee.

These pink floral print culottes remind me of the culottes my mom used to wear in the 80s. It´s fun, comfortable, and can be styled comfortably with a simple white t-shirt and some blocked sandals. There´s also a cute bow tie that drapes nicely on the side waist.

6. White-print culottes with white cardigan.

If you find a pair of white print culottes, tem them up with white pieces such as a white tank top and white fitted cardigan, worn tucked in. Complete the look with some cute, strappy gold sandals.

7. how to wear culottes for petite: Opt for knee-length culottes.

If you´re petite, a long, roomy split-skirt can really overwhelm your height. So it´s better to opt for knee-length coluttes. Try some really bright-colored culottes to wear with a black blouse for some nice color contrast, and finish the look with some comfortable flat shoes or sandals.

8. how to wear culottes in winter: with knee-high boots

If you want to wear culottes in winter, then you need to buy a pair that is made for winter. Culottes for summer are always thin and airy, so it´s kindá challenging to style them for cold seasons. Go for some wool-blend coluttes to wear with leather, knee-length boots, a knitted sweater, and a cropped jacket.

9. how to style culottes casually

1. The Joggers Style

This pair of culottes was really made for a cozy, casual look. It´s a adaptation of joggers – borrowed from the boys. It´s tailored and pleated, has an easy jogger-style drawstring waist, as well as front slant pockets to allow comfort when wearing it. There´s nothing else you need to complete the look than a apir of slippers or flat slip-ons.

2. The Drapey, Pull-On style

For days when it´s totally humid, you will never go wrong with some flowy, light fabric coluttes to wear with a cropped top and some flats.

3. the simple + clean

Keep things comfy and casual yet still chic and elegant in a pair of beige or light pink culottes, a white t-shirt worn tucked-in, and some white sneakers. It´s a perfect outfit for sports enthusiasts, as well as for business meetings after playing tennis.

10. how to wear culottes with flats

1. with lace up flat sandals

Some culottes are made for comfort white others are for style. The less flared and roomy the culottes are, the more stylish they look. Wore them with strappy flat sandals and a gorgeous leather bag.

2. with smoking slippers

Smoking slippers will forever remain my most favorite stylish-looking, comfortable shoes ever. You can wear them almost with any shorts, trousers or culottes.

3. with flat booties

Because the culottes are often drapey and roomy, partnering them with some elegant-looking flat leather boots that are slim and fitting will always work.

11. how to wear culottes jeans

When choosing a pair of culotte jeans, opt for something with a paperbag silhouette. A perfect example is this pair from 7 For All Mankind. It has a super high-rise waist and a pleated wide-leg, in dark blue wash. Worn with a fine printed blouse, and a pair of strapped high heel sandals, the result is both stunning and elegant.

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12. how to wear culottes to work

When deciding to wear culottes to work, opt for the roomy split-skirts. These are culottes that almost look like a skirt. You can go for the classic check patterns, bright yet simple solid colors, or the always safe for work, black.

1. Choose high waist pleated culottes

It´s amazing how many ways these high waist pleated culottes can be worn to work. In summer, wear it with a blouse and high heel sadals. In winter, layer it up with leggings, jackets, and leather boots.

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2. light-colored pleated culottes for summer

This look is clearly for summer, something that will surely be welcome to work. Some lightblue wide leg culottes can be worn with a multicolour silk shirt or blouse, and finished up with a pair of white pumps.

3. The Classic Split Skirt

A wide leg pleated culottes can easily be any woman´s favorite apparel for the office. It fits like a skirt but is split. You can literally wear it with anything that can be tucked in. for your shoes, always opt for pointed-toe high heel pumps.

13. how to wear culottes to a wedding:

If you´re going to wear culottes to a wedding, it better be something really special that will standout.

1. Only if it´s a Taffeta Culottes!

It´s probably a good idea to slip into a pair of silk culottes for a wedding, but only if it´s as stunning as this taffeta culottes featuring a petal-tip knotted bow belt. Although these culottes come in a set, partnered with a green printed blouse that is accented with a petal-tip bow, if yours come alone then make sure to find an equally stunning blouse to go with it. Balloon sleeves, silk fabric, and beautiful bows are things to look when creating a wedding outfit that includes culottes.

2. Tailored Houndstooth Culottes

This outfit can be worn to a business meeting right after the wedding reception. Go for something houndstooth and tailored, and pair it with a fabulous tropical print long sleeve blouse, in silk, with an attention-grabbing bow scarf.

14. how to wear culottes for curvy

Whether you´re curvy, voluptous, or oversized, you can wear culottes. However, it´s important that you choose culottes with the right fabric. Avoid thin culottes that cling on your skin. Instead, opt for something the skims your curves. It´s also a good idea to opt for a pair of culottes with built-in tummy tuck function. You know, something high-waisted and is able to tuck your tummy and create curves around the waist and hips.

Wear it with a blouse then tuck it in, and finish the look with your favorite high heels. Take for example this high waist crop denim culottes above, all you need to do it team it with a white ruffled top.

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Now over to you girls, what to you think of culottes or skorts? Are you into the midi and below the knee culottes or would you rather opt for the mini skirts?