Cheryl Shops Spring Shopping Guide: Harem Pants

Cheryl Shops Spring Shopping Guide: Harem Pants
Okay, I know
what you're thinking: Seriously, harem pants? But before you get all
put out and refuse to ever read Cheryl Shops again because I'm such a
lemming, just hear me out. Part of the fun in fashion is stepping
outside your comfort zone and taking risks. And harem pants are a risk
that can definitely pay off: They have an exotic quality, and when you
find the right pair, they actually have a flattering, wonderfully
draped cut that lightly skims your body. Speaking of comfort, they can
be quite cozy also. In fact, they can look totally awesome on you, but
you'll never know if you don't try!

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Harem
pants were all over the spring runways in New York, but I really knew
they were going to be a big trend when Mr. Preppy All-American himself,
Ralph Lauren, featured them heavily in his collection. His silk crepe de chine
pair is obviously luxurious, but the extra-low crotch is a look that's
admittedly not for everyone. But these are fancy enough that you could
wear them for day or night.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are these Rick Owens harem pants,
which, while a bit droopy in the seat, are almost leggings-like in
their thinness. Rick Owens is a master at cutting jersey, so you can
almost be certain that the fit will be amazing. Plus, while not exactly
a bargain, the price is not totally unreasonable.

The key to handling so much volume in your seat area is to balance it out elsewhere, such as in these Vanessa Bruno cropped harem pants,
which have a higher, fitted waist. VB is also a master at taking
voluminous cuts and shaping them to be flattering, so I completely
trust her on this one.

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If you're truly skittish about harem pants, these Opening Ceremony pants
achieve a similar effect without a totally literal interpretation. They
also have that elusive combination of skinny and slouchy that
fashionistas are always on the hunt for.

As I said earlier, the key to finding the best fit is to make sure that
the volume in the hips is balanced by a slim fit elsewhere. These Alexander Wang silk pants
are an unlikely combination of harem and skinny, but if you think
about, they make perfect sense: You avoid the sausage-casing-effect in
your thighs while emphasizing the slim, shapely part of your leg, from
the knee down. Genius!

Elizabeth & James is quickly becoming one of my favorite brands,
because everything they do is interesting and yet flattering. Their harem pants
are probably my favorite in this series, because they simply look
perfect to me–cropped length, not too baggy, wonderfully draped. My
only concern is that they're knit, which might make them seem too
casual for work, but throw a blazer over them, and they should be good
to go.

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The good news is that even
if I still haven't convinced you that harem pants are
investment-worthy, there are many affordable options out there. Urban
Outfitters, as you might imagine, is totally all over harem pants, with
this high-waisted Silence & Noise
style. These actually aren't that harem-y; they're more like a
high-waisted pleated pant. But they are a bit slouchy, and if you have
a small waist you want to show off, these should work.

I haven't been in a bebe store in years, but their harem pants
could possibly draw me back in. I admit that I wouldn't expect to find
harem pants in bebe, as they're not particularly sexy in that overt
bebe way, but these have a slim, refined shape that's not too crazy.

Finally, if you haven't been to Topshop yet and are really behind harem
pants, then it's definitely your place to go. They have so many pairs
on the website, they have a separate navigational point. Topshop calls
them "hareem trousers," but while the spelling may be funny, they get
the fit absolutely right. I almost bought a pair there on Friday, but
they didn't have my size (I could tell, however, from the next size
smaller, that they were going to fit well.) They don't have my phantom
pair on the website, but this pair is close, and, as the website says, they're the "perfect hareems for summer."

From our friends at Cheryl Shops