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No mainstream trend from the latter half of the 20th century has inspired as much popularity, public revulsion and morbid curiosity as the simple (but not entirely humble) culottes.
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Culottes originated as knee breeches worn by members of Marie Antoinette’s courts (among others), and were so reviled that revolutionaries called themselves “sans- culottes”. That’s still better than sans-skorts, “skort” being the hybrid name that culottes are now sneakily using to gain fashion traction.
No longer are culottes really masquerading as skirts – the modern style is tailored and unmistakably two-legged. Go severe with JW Anderson's crepe black number (Topshop do an excellent facsimile) or a little slouchy with Zara's belted culottes. Outside of block colours, See by Chloé has mum-culottes in denim, and e-tailer Boohoo has a wide selection. We like the billowy dogtooth pair below. Pair with crop tops if feeling adventurous, polo necks if not.