What Are Culottes?
Last updated 2026-04-21
Culottes are wide-legged pants that are cut to fall between the knee and mid-calf, giving the appearance of a skirt when the wearer is standing still. The word comes from the French 'culotte,' meaning breeches, though modern culottes bear little resemblance to their 18th-century namesake. Culottes have cycled in and out of fashion since the 1960s, when André Courrèges introduced them as part of his futuristic ready-to-wear collections. They returned strongly in the 2010s as part of the wider cropped, wide-leg trouser trend and have remained in rotation since. The styling challenge with culottes is proportions. Because they cut the leg at a wide point (mid-calf), they can shorten the visual line if not balanced properly. The most reliable approach is pairing culottes with heels, wedges, or pointed-toe flats that elongate the leg. On top, a fitted or tucked-in shirt maintains a defined waist. Culottes work particularly well in summer workwear, brunch settings, and creative office environments where you want something more relaxed than a pencil skirt but more polished than shorts.
A pair of high-waisted navy culottes with a tucked-in white linen blouse and block-heel sandals creates a look that is office-appropriate, comfortable in warm weather, and polished enough for a client lunch.
How TRY helps
TRY suggests outfit combinations from the clothes you already own. Upload your wardrobe, pick an occasion, and get ideas that fit your style—including staples and formulas that work.
Start with TRYFrequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between culottes and palazzo pants?
Length and proportion. Culottes are cropped (knee to mid-calf) and wide. Palazzo pants are full-length and flow to the floor. Culottes show more ankle and read as more casual; palazzo pants create a longer, more formal line.
Can I wear culottes to the office?
Yes, in most business-casual and creative offices. Choose culottes in a structured fabric like crepe or wool blend, pair with a tucked-in blouse and heels, and they read as professional. Avoid very casual fabrics like jersey or chambray for formal workplaces.
What body types do culottes suit?
Culottes can work for most body types with the right proportions. Taller people can wear them at any length; petite people should look for versions that hit just below the knee rather than mid-calf, and pair with heels to maintain leg length.