Monday, February 15, 2016

Apparently the 70s are back


Cullottes are a runway trend that I've shyed away from.  It's a tricky look to carry off, especially the wide and wondrous varieties in street style blogs and magazines.  


Let's face it, front pleats and overly wide legs aren't likely to be worn successfully by an woman who is only 156cms tall, with a 100cm hip circumference!  

But after seeing a particular pair by Sir the Label I was keen to try out the type of cullottes I wore in the 70s.  These pants were flattering, fitted through the hips without a pleat in sight, roomy pockets without adding bulk and wide floaty legs.  

Having committed to try it out, next came finding a pattern with that 70s feel.  A relic from my history,  Vogue 9873 to the rescue, the most perfect cullotte pattern on the planet.  Unfortunately the pattern was more suited to my 70s body and needed 10cms extra in the hips - an adjustment not for the feint-hearted.

I made them up in a polyester, that has the look of distressed silk on the outside and a satin finish on the inside.  Loving the results, pants that do equally well for weekend laziness and glammed up with heeled sandals and a shirt.  They've gone to work on casual Friday with chunky heels and been worn twice on the weekend in the first week of their life.



13 comments:

  1. I've been staying away from that trend also. I like yours! Wish I had that 70s pattern - its fabulous!

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  2. When you've worn it 3 times in the first week you know you have a winner. Looking good!

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  3. Nice "culottes" as you call them. You adapted the concept perfectly for your silhouette. Culottes in French is a term used to designate anything that goes in the lower part of the body. Petites-culottes is for undies and jupe-culotte is how we call those wide pants. Funny how one word can designate lots of different things. Enjoy summer... it is so cold in Montreal these days. I would love to be un Australia this week

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  4. That looks great, I think it is a fun trend and culottes are just fun.

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  5. I love them with your striped tee. I am drawn to these but can't quite see my heavier body in them. They look wonderful for summer.

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  6. Well, I think they look great! and I'm interested that you like them since I seem to recall you did not like the pair of navy blue gauchos/culottes I made for myself last year! They look so comfy and chic too, great for smart wear with heels as well as casually lolling about it. :)

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  7. It's great to experiment with new shapes and lengths, isn't it Gail? I just bought a pair of slouchy, pleated (!), full length trousers which is a new shape for me too (Marks and Spencers in dark green). Like you I think they can work well with a curved body but need to have a fairly fitted top to go with them.

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  8. It's great to experiment with new shapes and lengths, isn't it Gail? I just bought a pair of slouchy, pleated (!), full length trousers which is a new shape for me too (Marks and Spencers in dark green). Like you I think they can work well with a curved body but need to have a fairly fitted top to go with them.

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  9. It's great to experiment with new shapes and lengths, isn't it Gail? I just bought a pair of slouchy, pleated (!), full length trousers which is a new shape for me too (Marks and Spencers in dark green). Like you I think they can work well with a curved body but need to have a fairly fitted top to go with them.

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  10. Nicely shaped culottes. I ventured into that arena a month or so ago and I too had to move up from a size 10 pattern to size 14 hips (UK). Mine had pleats and everything but I do like wearing them too. Good job.

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  11. These look like the perfect culottes for you.

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