Dressed for a night at the Casbah: Harem pants back in vogue / LJWorld.com

Archive for Monday, June 15, 2009

Los Angeles Times

June 15, 2009

Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times Photos

3.1 Phillip Lim pants, $350 at 3.1 Phillip Lim, Los Angeles; Ippolita bracelets, $595 at www.ippolita.com; Corso Como sandals, $109, at American Rag, www.amrag.com.

When harem pants came down the runways at Chloe and Alexander McQueen for spring 2009, they somehow glided past the cartoony pop culture associations (Barbara Eden’s Jeannie in the ’60s, MC Hammer’s ’80s gold) to help define summer’s effortlessly slouchy look.

But the style is hardly effortless to pull off. In fact, next to hot pants and high-waisted trousers, harem pants might be the most daunting item of clothing to wear. They tend to make the hips, rear and thighs look larger while making legs seem shorter. So, why venture into the harem? Because these pants are a great way to mix up the predictable pieces of the season and add something daring to a wardrobe. You can make these pants look chic and flattering — it’s all a matter of balancing proportions and adding the right accessories so the statement is bold, not “I Dream of Jeannie.”

These pants fall and drape in the right places on our 5-foot-9 model, but if you’re heavy in the hips and thighs or have short legs and a long torso, you’ll want to wear really high heels to get a similar effect. Sky-high stilettos will eliminate the frump factor and add a seriously sexy line to the portion of leg not enveloped in the pants. To keep the overall silhouette clean and balanced, wear something tight and minimal on top — body-skimming tanks are best for summer — tucked in or belted so that the waist shows.

The most easily wearable pants are a black-and-white printed silk style from 3.1 Phillip Lim. The slightly slouchy drape across the front looks relaxed but not overwhelming, and because the style isn’t as extreme as most, you can wear flat sandals to keep the pants summery and island chic.

American Apparel, Alexis Lamontagna and Ella Moss are using comfy cotton jersey for their version of the look. Their harem pants are casual and can be worn with something more sporty, such as a racer-back tank or fitted V-neck T-shirt. Great heels will dress them up and flatter the body, but if you’re comfortable with the silhouette, flats or flip-flops will work, too.