CULOTTES
Culottes are wide, cropped trousers cut so loosely that they resemble a skirt in appearance. It is a hybrid of skirt and trousers that combines the freedom of movement and comfort of trousers with the femininity and volume of a skirt. Historically the French culotte meant men's knee-breeches worn by the European upper classes from the Renaissance to the early 19th century, and modern 'skirt-trouser' culottes gained popularity in the 20th century as a comfortable yet elegant option for active women. Culottes have a distinct, slightly retro and very modern character at once; they work well combined with a fitted top (to balance the volume). They are made in various lengths and widths. Culottes are a silhouette of comfortable elegance, in which a voluminous, loose cut combines the comfort of trousers with the refinement of a skirt, creating an effortlessly fashionable, balanced look.
Compare “Culottes” with another term
Meaning, origins and distinction — side by side.
Distinction
Both are wide women's trousers that mimic a skirt, but they differ in length and volume. Palazzo pants are long, flaring smoothly from the waist to the floor in one flowing sweep, elegant and dressy. Culottes are shorter, usually hitting mid-calf, with a crisper, more structured flare closer to a divided skirt. Palazzo pants are dramatic and elongate the figure, while culottes are more concise, graphic and everyday, pairing easily with flats or heels.
