Palazzo pants

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Palazzo pants

Right, tricky trend here, as it appears palazzo pants are coming back in a big way. Blame the 1970s vibe that's buzzing about for the new season. They're way harder to wear than flares and high-waisted trousers in my humble opinion, but if you've tried out either of those styles, you're more likely to feel comfortable dipping a toe into the palazzo waters than if you're a die-hard skinnies fan. But as the style goddess that is Olivia Palermo has given it a go, perhaps we ought to follow suit.

I think the key is to definitely try a few styles and see if a more structured fabric works better on you than an uber-floaty culottes-style material, and if you're going for print palazzos (there seem to be a few floral pairs out there - again, blame the trend for all things 70s), keep your top half plain. Also, I think the higher-waisted palazzos are more flattering, as the wide leg cut seems to take about half a foot away from your height (as well as add it to your width, which is great if you're trying to balance out broad shoulders/a large top half/curvy hips). A higher waist will give the impression of a longer leg.

Depending on the style, either a flat or wedge shoe seems to work well with palazzos, but decide in relation to your height and how wide the trousers are. Tops-wise, simple, cropped vests and Ts work well, as do silky shirts. Personally, I would go for a more structured fabric, plain palazzo pant with either a simple Tshirt top or a slinky, lightweight blouse tucked in, à la Olivia, teamed with a wedge heel. I'm not sure if I'm totally convinced yet, but let's see what the high street decides to throw at us as the weeks go on. Might give it a miss with the bump though - as if it's not already tricky enough dressing around a new shape, fashion then decides to challenge us even further. The minx.