Harem pants and why they rock

These are harem pants. You've probably seen them already this year:

From ASOS

Inspired by the East and also known as Aladdin trousers, harem pants are getting everywhere. They're noticeably different to your usual pants, with the 'drop-crotch' style and soft drapy material. They're loose around the thigh and have elasticated cuffs on the calf. A short history of the pants would tell you that they were first popularised by style icon Talitha Getty in the 60's after this picture was taken...

...on a rooftop in Marrakesh. The New Romantics wore them in the 70's and early 80's, and they disappeared for a while, returning in the twenty-first century. Don't let anyone tell you they're a new thing! The harem pant has recieved a lot of criticism, including comments like these: they make you look short; they make your hips look fat; they're too slouchy; they're just too outrageous.

Well, get over it! Harem pants are great! They're made of really soft material which is comfy to wear, unlike the evil waistbands of super-tight skinny jeans which leave seam-imprints on your midriff. The drapy style makes them really cool and comforatble to wear on hot days. If they make your legs look short, get longer ones and wear platform sandals. If they make your hips looks fat, wear slouchy big t-shirts with them - the point is that they are slouchy! You can always wear them with tailored blazers and blouses if you feel uncomfortably informal - that's my plan for the next school term.

Dress them up or dress them down, harem pants are a simple and comfortable alternative to regular trousers and they're guaranteed to get you noticed in an increasingly clone-like high street. There are more formal styles of harem pant, including tailored ones with real buttons and pockets etc., but for me this defeats their comfy, chilled-out vibe. Also the 'posh' ones are usually made from silk or satin, both of which will have an unwanted effect on your hip and butt size. Oh, and a word of warning about the 'peg' style of harem trousers. That's these ones:

From ASOS

The big hips and tapered legs are great if you're skinny and want extra curves - the model looks really good, after all - but if you're already fairly curvy you'll just look out of proportion. Stick to the traditional looser leg. If you're concerned they're too 'out there' - just wear them! Be noticed! Everyone wearing skinny jeans will think how great and unconventional you look and wish that they had worn them first. One of my favourite things about harem pants is that they break the mould! But...the absolute best thing about harem pants is that I got mine a year ago (in a sale, too), before everyone started making a fuss about them!