For those not familiar with Palazzo pants, they are the long, wide-legged, loose and flowing pants that you’ve probably seen reappearing on runways and streets everywhere. Popular in the 60s and 70s, they’re back with a vengeance this year thanks to resurgence of 70s fashion.
Arguably more comfortable than many other pant styles, the palazzo pants, when worn right, can look incredibly sophisticated and smart in an effortless way. The hard part is how to wear them. While if you’re tall and slim, they’re a no brainer, but for the rest of the population hovering more around the five-foot mark with curves, this trend can be trickier.
So all that aside, how can you pull off the palazzo trend without looking like you’re drowning in fabric? As Coco Chanel so famously said “fashion is a matter of proportions”, so, bearing that in mind, as the legs of your palazzo pants will be shorter, choose a pair with a higher waist that will give you the illusion of longer legs. The waist is also a great place to emphasise if you’ve got killer curves, as it’s the smallest point for many women.
Always try palazzo pants on and take particular note of pockets and detailing, such as zips and fastenings. If possible it’s best to opt for the plainest style possible, as pockets are often done poorly and can be unflattering and add bulk to your silhouette. Make sure the zip and fastenings do up completely and aren’t pulling, as this won’t do you any favours either.
Most importantly, choose a pair that you love regardless of length; you can always get them taken up at the tailors. A tip on this point: make sure you take the shoes you plan on wearing with the pants to the tailor so you get them taken to the correct length,so they’re not too short when you put heels on!
While finding the right pair may take a bit of effort initially, they’re worth the investment – if only for their ability to take you from beach to bar and office to rooftop.
Here are a few of our favourites:
1. Topshop, Wide leg palazzo trousers, approx. AU$115
2. ASOS, Goldie high standards high waist palazzo pant in polka print, AU$40
3. Bardot, Mariano pant, $89.95
4. Forcast, Jessy palazzo pant, $69.95
