Harem Pants: WTF?

There’s only so much a girl can take. Season after season I am subjected to the whims of trend tyrants—between the skinny-ninny leg pants that make my legs look like sausages, the jodphur pants that make me look like I’m short a SeaBiscuit, the high-waist pants that make me look like I ate too many biscuits, and now the downright silly MC Hammer/harem/Ali-Baba-and-his-forty-thieves pants that just make me look plain silly.

Is it too much to ask for a pair of simply tailored trousers people? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for baggy-arse comfortable pants … just not outside the house.

I’ve seen several extremes (you know who you are Gaultier, Donna Karan, YSL ) of this style (ahem) of pants and nearly all are high-waisted and nipped at an ankle length with varying midriff volume—don’t the words “high-waisted,” “ankle-length,” and “midriff volume” sound lovely together? They look just as lovely together too. I was sure and certain this pants style (again, ahem) would never make it off the runway—they’ve been trying for a few years now, but then yesterday, I saw a pair at net-a-porter and another pair at Bergdorf-Goodman.

Cue ominous Jaws music here …

Still in denial, I comforted myself that only the rich and already ridiculous would be wearing them … until I saw a pair at Urban Outfitters and then another pair at H&M and the baggiest nappy-like pair at LaRedoute (pictured).

Chilling “shark circling closer” music here …

12 readers liked this story.
From Around the Web:
01.20.2010
Kristine Marie
thanks for writing this! i just blogged about how harem pants make me sick and then i read your blog. yay! im not alone!
01.12.2010
Carla Underwood
The only thing to top this off is one of the eighties shoulder pads from hell jackets and some of the crazy eye shadow that makes you look like you've been punched in both eyes. All of these things have been seen on the runway lately.
04.02.2008
Elisa
I'm totally with you! Harem pants are a ridiculous idea. Ugly, unflattering, uncomfortable... just bad all around.
This is an awesome column. I hope you keep it up. How many times I had the WTF? moment looking at the current fashion trends. I am so happy not to be alone in this. And besides: forewarned is forearmed!
03.20.2008
Ellen
Wow. They have all the thigh-rubbing inconvenience of a skirt, but with none of the cuteness potential. I mean, nobody wants to wear Spanxx with capris.
It feels good to write.

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