Would You Wear… Harem Pants?
Chloe’s version of harem pants
I’m not usually one to knock fashion trends, but this is one of those fads that just makes me say “huh?” For this installment of Would You Wear?, I wanted to get all of your opinions on the latest 80′s inspired fashion trend.
The Spring 2009 runways featured many new trends, from bright colors and single-shoulder dresses to ripped jeans and a 1920′s revival. But perhaps the strangest trend of all was the resurgence of harem pants. Yes, harem pants.. also known as drop-crotch MC Hammer style trousers.
Ultra-stylish French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld is credited with starting this trend when she wore a pair of harem pants a few months ago. I can’t help but wonder, though, if this is one of those trends that can only be popular with fashion editors & super-skinny models.
Either way, almost every major designer showed a version of these pants on their Spring 2009 runway. Chloé, Rodarte, Betsey Johnson, Proenza Schouler, and many other amazing designers all embraced the MC Hammer look.
Can you see yourself wearing harem pants? I personally can’t stand this trend but I’m sure some of you could pull it off. And maybe there’s something great about these that I just can’t see yet…
What are your thoughts on harem pants? Would you wear them? I’d love to hear what you think, so chat, debate, and sound off in the comments.
Posted on on January 15, 2009 / Filed Under: Would You Wear? / Tags: 1980s, Betsey Johnson, Chloe, Harem Pants, High Waisted Pants, Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, Spring 2009, Trends
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Kelly
No way! They seem so impractical for real life, and looks like you’re trying to hide things in your crotch. I can’t think of one situation in which I could wear harem pants, except maybe an Aladdin theme party. But for those who have the body, attitude, and occasion to pull them off: go for it! I love admiring these people from afar :)
Nicole
I was in studying abroad in Spain last summer and these pants were everywhere. Two of my friends bought a pair as a joke. Personally, I would never wear them, but they did look cute on some people. Pair them with a thin tank, strappy sandals, and a few bangles.
nuri
I do — but then I’m a bellydancer. They are incredibly comfy and easy to move in, and occasionally creep into my daily wear, usually the way that Nicole mentions
Stacy Marie
No, no, no! My hips are large, so this style would look cartoonish on me. If they actually do bring back the shoulder pad and harem pant look, I’ll be so crushed! :(
Linda
Absolutely not.
Alyssa
I personally don’t like these pants. I understand how designers would want to move away from the tight, form fitting skinny jeans, but these are just not good! I feel so good wearing pants that make my legs look long, and every picture I see I can only imagine a superlong torso, and oddly short legs. I just don’t think they fit women’s bodies very well :[
Shay
It looks great on celebrities and super skinny models but there is no way I’d be able to find an occasion to wear a pair. Celebrities go to event after event and need to spice it up with something other than a dress and heels from time to time. But for the rest of us that aren’t invited to award shows and don’t have closets stuffed to the brim with formal wear, like Kelly said, they just seem impractical, not to mention the fact that they would look ridiculous on anyone with a few curves.
k
that’s ridiculous.
jennifer
hell no.
Beth
I saw tons of these in Budhapest this summer. They’re a cool new twist on the boho-chic look, and I think they can actually look pretty cool on women with curvier lower bodies–they’re a lot less brutally honest than skinny jeans. You have to already have a hippie vibe to your style if you’re going to wear them, though, because otherwise they’ll just look super out of place. They’re really challenging to wear, and I’m excited to see how celebrities and people in the fashion industry will wear them, even though I probably won’t wear them myself (college in michigan = snow boots = bad combo).
M
God no!
Luisa
They remind me of too-big satin pajamas, what with the incredibly high waist and low crotch. Maybe if they toned down the volume at the top, or lowered the waistband, these pants would be more wearable. As it is, though, I’m steering clear of them.
Brittany
Nope.
leah
I would wear them if they had a low-rise version. They look really comfy. I’d probably wear them with a spagetti strap tank or bikini top, depending on where.
MArianne
Harem pants are really inn here in my country in the middle east
the thing with harem pants is that it’s all about how you wear them
you can wear them with a luce top and a pair of converese (EW) and make it look as if you’re wearing grand ma ‘s pants or forgot to take off your pyjamas
or you can really work’em with a nice sexy tight top and some cute flats why not even a pair of heels
i’ve seen some silk harem pants that look really hot and i even saw a haram pants “overall” where the top is attached to the harem pants and the back is totaly naked wich makes it look really hot and fahionable
Lindsey
I spent the summer in Barcelona, and there were all over the place. They look adorable with a tight, cute top and sandals. Totally bohemian. However, unless you are a size 4 or smaller, with hardly any ass at all, these are hard to pull off. They’re pretty fun to try on as a joke though.
Emma
Just so not my style. So no.
Amanda
The only time I’d dare to wear harem pants is when I’m belly dancing, and even then I’d rather wear a skirt.
Lulu
Get me a comfy 3/4-length pair with a tight cuff in a luxe black cotton, throw in a thin racer-back tank, beaded sandals, and ridiculously ginormous sunnies, and I’d be all over them! I can see them replacing my gauchos — a holdover from college years — as a lazy-Sunday go-to. My boyish hips could benefit from the added volume!
Jules
They’d be perfect if I was trying to channel Princess Jasmine :) It’s just not a flattering look, even the beyond skinny model looks like she has gigantic hips…
Lo
Can you say can’t touch this Hammer pants!
Daria
yeah, i saw them everywhere in europe this summer! didn’t think it’d come to the us that late. they are really comfy, as everyone said before… not for the winter though…
Crystal
We’re so on the same wavelength, Zephyr…
I just published a post about pleated pants, including harem pants, on Wednesday! :) I totally agree that they’re probably a fleeting trend, seen mostly on the runways and not on actual people. I think it’s interesting that they’re so popular in Europe. I had no idea.
Personally, I’d rather wear Carrot Pants. Kind of the same idea…wide in the hips, tapered at the ankles…but more form fitting and flattering. And, less costume-ish!
Else
As Daria mentioned, these pants are everywhere in Europe, I’m suprised to hear that it’s all new in the US. I own a pair of them, but it’s true that they’re hard to pull of. So yes, I would wear them (already did), but my advice is to put some thought into it. Find a pair that really suits you, that you like and doesn’t make you feel like you just gained 20 pounds. (Trust me, they exist.) Oh, and I don’t believe they’re only good-looking on skinnier people. Some curves aren’t always a bad thing!
Jenny
I agree with Nicole: while I probably wouldn’t wear these, I can easily see girls rockin’ em with a skinny tank and sandals for summery bohemian look – especially if they make ones that are a little lower-waisted.
Martha
Of course i’d wear them in a fantastic bright colour but more for evening wear than daywear. I’d wear them to dinner’s or to parties as opposed to go shopping. =]
Analisa
I’m not a fan of the ones by chloe – she looks like a genie. but proenza schouler’s black pair was toned down and looked incredibly elegant. however, i don’t think i would pull of either pair.
lupe
I personally wouldn´t wear them, they look like something a gene would wear, and i dont think skinny models look right in them either… but hey if someone out there likes them, go for it.
Nicole Marie
Personally I couldn’t. I would be singing “Can’t Touch This” all day long if I wore those bad boys.
amanda
i personally wouldn’t. maybe if they were very flattering. but they are a bit reminiscent of the gaucho and palazzo pants! i have two pairs of gaucho pants (popular a few years ago) and i wore palazzo pants for a piece in a dance performance. those pants are worn often in Spain.
Lauren M
I can’t think of any excuse for wearing these pants, unless it were halloween and you were going as Jasmine. They make for awful proportions on the body. Just because something is a trend, does not mean that it should be worn.
Lo
I agree with Nicole Marie or I’d be singing Genie In A Bottle! lol!
Steve
Reminds me of MC Hammer.
Erin
Last time I checked, this was under my black list. And…oh will you lookie there, it still is. I mean, sure, this style might work for the ultra hip designer (and we all know she will wear it once) but for the typical fashionable woman around town? No way.
Beth
NEVER
idil
first i’m from Turkey and this is my culture. but thats just not my style but i love to see harem pants
Lizzie girl
personally no… haha.. this isn’t even a trend to me…
Jenn
I wouldn’t mind them as much in a different fabric. However, you’d still have to have the right body to look decent in them. At 5’2″ this is one fad that I won’t be trying.
Alexa
I think they can work in like the shiny black or the richer jewel tone colors for like a night time event. I couldn’t see someone walking around in thes during the day.
Blund
Hm … must be popular in the southern parts of Europe. No one up here in Scandinavia seems to be wearing them. And frankly, please think it through a couple of times before putting one of those on. Those things cannot be easy for anyone to pull off.
Katrina
Me and my friends have been wearing them for years… to dance class. And thats the only place i’ll ever wear them, oh and the occasional grocery store on the way home.
AJ
Yeah, we wore them all summer in the south of France, too. I don’t think I could pull them off in the US. Maybe in a beach-y place like Miami in the summer. White linen harem pants are amazing in the humidity
MC
I don’t think I could see this trend lasting long. This style is not for everyone and every body shape. I can’t see myself getting into these pants, for once they are not very universal.
Jennifer
I personally do not find them attractive. They do not look feminine. They look stupid with all that extra material hanging from the crotch.
Lyd
over my dead body will i ever wear those pants!
hayley
i have 3 pairs and i love them, their so comfy
buuut i guess their not for everyone
i
they weren’t cool on mc hammer and they’re not cool now
Zephyr
Haha, some of these responses are cracking me up. Love the Princess Jasmine references, I totally almost made one writing this blog post :)
Sherin
I’m not a fan of these at all, but I saw a woman wearing them today. She looked amazing in them. They were dark blue and went up to her knees, then she was wearing a pair of black knee high boots and she definitely pulled it off.
ejjoel
personally i would never harem pants but i saw an actress wear it in indian movie i kinda like the way she wore it. here is the link
http://news.sawf.org/Bollywood/49644.aspx
from another show the actress wore it. coudnt find the pic from the movie
BWilliams
I would wear them…actually did to at Superbowl party last night. I bought them from Urban Outfitters and I LOVE them. They are super comfy and really cute on. Like someone said…pair with a form-fitting shirt and some heels and you are the coolest chick in the room!
e
ha it looks like someone sloped some polyester together and decided to put it on the runway. these pants are ugly and NOT flattering at all!!!
Michelle
YeS i would wear them, in fact i have one right now. it may seem sloppy , but in fashion, its great to have a change. personally, i don’t wear it like all times- it would be stupid!- just now n then as a funk.
at the recent time, im enjoying being one of the rares around wearing them =]
JJ099
hey check this out! an indian model wearing harem pants not on the runway but in real life.. gotta say she looks good in that.
http://www.highheelconfidential.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/nina-manuel-hawaiian-shack-princess-1.jpg
here is the url
Bluet
It’s interesting to read the reaction of real people,specially for me, because I’m a designer and I am already trying on a sample of them I just made.
I am skinny so I can wear them but I do agree with some of the girls that if you wear them too high waist ,no even the skinniest model look good ,everybody looks like having big hips.
Low hip they look good and fine but I really appreciate all the comments because they come for customers, no magazines, no stylists, but real customers, that finally is the people we designers should hear the most.
You girls help me a lot and very grateful for it!
I think I am going to make just a few but because is trendy and is something I need to have but I will rather go for a relaxed pijama style that in the hot days of summer with a nice pair of flat thongs and a simple feminine top suits everybody.
I’ll definitely will keep comnig back to this blog.
Peace and love for all you!
Bluet
Ista
Hammer Time!
Chelsea
Yess! You people are crazy, these are awesome pants. I’m sorry but skinny jeans were the worst trend for women who have curves, the wide leg jean was a God-send because my curves are too much to handle for the skinny jean. I think these pants would look awesome, they’d balance with my bust and trim waistline and with a pair of heels would flatter my hips and my toner calves!
Lisa Brown
Yes! Look, its like everything, you get the right pair and they look super cute.
I recently found some in this little indian shop at Bondi and they are so compfortable!
if you teem them with a well fitted top, some sandals and a heap of bangles, it really works.
Santa
I’m wearing them and I like them a lot. They’re super-comfy and looks good on me.:) I like this style and I wear these kinda ‘baggy’ pants frequently.
Veronika
I have two pairs… not the scary low crotch ones, but the not-so-wide, belly dancer capri ones. I wear the plain black when I want to be casual w/ a tank or tee and I have a pair of bronzey, slightly sheeny ones that I DO wear out with a slinky black tank or anything that is not as shiny as the pants! As long as you keep them somewhat simple and pair them w/ a tighter top, they actually mask that hip fat :), and they actually do look cute. Come on girls, live a little! Try some on, u never know!!!!
Barbara
yes i wear them :)
i have two pairs, the black one and the jeans one.
they look great with tank tops, and plain tshirt and suspenders (:
try them on! ;D
nikiN
I don’t really like the trend on the runways, but I’m loving the look on the Indian runways. Like ejjoel pointed out, it looks amazing when paired with a corset or tube top and a lot of bangles and bohemian or indian accessories.
I like the puffy pants, but i don’t like the particular harem pants style, where the crotch drops!
Refer to ejjoel’s comment and the link she posted. Kareena Kapoor (the indian actress can REALLY rock those harem pants!)
Check out another picture of her rocking the harem pants — http://www.masala.com/images/tmp/full/260fashflas_1_full.jpg
Aneesa
i have harems pants but i don’t know wht 2 wear on with it and i want to wear a shirt with it. ave u got any suggestions and can u also show me a pic of it plz. the colour is sandstone grey and it is frm topshop. sooo plz help me
Laura
I love harem bottoms despite many people not but they are so comfy if you get a nice pair and they are so lightweight great for the summer when you may not want to get your legs out but are light so their not heavy like jeans. I usually wear cropped harems with gladiator sandals and a vest and they look great I own about 3 pairs of cropped (grey, black (their the best colours) and purple for something a bit different every now and again) and I own a pair of full length black ones for day or evening you could even get away with wearing the cropped ones for an evening again great with heeled gladiator sandals also a must trend this summer! They also look great if you wear the full length ones high on the waist with a bat wing top in a diffrent colour and huge waist belt with heels. Or simple with a body con top, swimsuit for the day or over a bikini, etc..
Laura
Although Im not sure if this trend would suit larger women as it may mke them look larger.
Tomomi
Yes I wear Harem Pants, and i love them! These pants are HUGE in Japan and both men and women wear them! My male friend likes to wear his harem pants with a pair of DR Martens or some high cut shoes, while i like to roll up the cuffs to make my legs look slimmer and pair them with some heels :D
Harem Pants made from denim would be easier to mix and match with and would recomment it to ppl who’d like to try them out :)
Barnziee
I’m wearing a pair right now, and i’m not the skinniest girl either.
I have my curves, but i still think they look great =)
I actually think that they’re the type of pant that would suit any shape.
Its all in how you wear them i guess.
And you can easily roll them down to make them low rise or whatever, for those complaining about that.
Hayley
Im not sure about the trend,i dont really like the stretchy one but i like the tapered look,kind of trouser/harem pants.
Im a uk size 16 and im 5″8 so i carry off my curves ok i guess but it depends on what you wear with them I suppose,I dont like the whole dressed down look of them,I prefer the slim fit trouser look with heels and a blazer
frankie smales
i would even wear harem pants if somebody offers me
£1million to do it because i love them and i have loads of
them and i quite often were them to loung in the house because they are loose and baggy and flows when i walk and it is great to wear them.
frankie smales
(harem pants fan)
Rachel
I’m Asian, skinny but not very tall. Tried a pair of one of Topshop’s silk hareem pants (full-length) and it just came off looking too baggy on me, kind of swamping my lower body if you know what I mean. I think I’ll look better on a pair which ends around the calf because then it wouldn’t swamp me so much.
Shelya
I thought I would NEVER wear harem pants, but after traveling to Spain just a week ago, I saw sooooo many cute ones there! Not the super tapered ones that I’ve seen in LA, but the really baggy ones that sometimes look like skirts. I bout about four pair and wore one of them home on the plane… super comfy and definitely bohemian-chic! Not only that, but I’ve had plenty of compliments on them since I’ve returned, making my purchase that much more worth it. ;o)
Elis V.
Skinny jeans are out; harems are in! I’ve had to design a lot for my clients, seemingly harems are in at the moment. I’m sure it’ll take the States another few years to grasp the trendy harems, like they did the skinny jeans (those took a while for the States to even grasp as trendy) Whatever, some people just don’t know it.
frankie smales
hell yeh i wear them because they are great
and they are very roomy and baggy to wear
because i am a habbitual wearer of harem pants
and i find them great and they flows when i walk
and they are great and start a harem pants loving cult
where people wear and worship them.
frankie smales
(harem pants lover)
dea
i would love to wear harem pants…. actually i was planning to wear for fundraising party… i am going to put on with a short blazer and a high heels.
aish
hey these are popular in india……..they use to be a part of the traditional costumes but now thanks to the indian movies and runways here they have the modern look. you can wear it with a tank, a t shirt etc. the footwear should be ballet flats or even wedges, the indian ‘kola puri’ shoes
i have a black, purple and a 3/4th in kelly green. its all made in jersey material
but they dont look exactly like the one above.
im planning to get one with prints on them.
FF
doesn’t seem like a bad idea. they certainly would make my top look smaller.
they’re kinda funky too :p
Jem
Personally i luv this look but ofcourse in a much more toned down style…i mean not sooo baggy a little bit more fit and low rise…i have maybe two pairs and i work them in the winter or spring…spring i’d wear heels or flat sandals….with a tight cute sexy top or loose blouse half unbottoned….and ofcourse bangles on my wrists a few messy long necklaces for the bohemian look…my favorite time to wear them is duringthe winter when i could put on boots just bellow the knee thin and with very high heels, sometimes i throw in a few slanted belts (when i want to throw in the pirate look) and a loose blouse…maybe a long thin blazer (suit-like)…this way in the winter it just looks like your wearing cute sweats made of a different fabric…the tightness of the bottom fits perfectly into the boots…ofcourse i wouldnt wear this daily like i said i only own two…but its nice to throw on when u wanna look fashionable but u only have minutes to dress…its like a dressy version of sweats to me messy but cute…at least thats how i like to wear them…but this is the type of pants u either can pull off or u can look like a disasterthere is no way this look can be “okay” or “alright” or “not bad” eitehr its amazing or terrible and ofcourse u gotta have the body for it:)
Lana
Hi Um I just recently discovered your site and i have been going through the archives. I came acoss this post (however all of them have interested me) and i just had to comment. I was a little standoffish when I first discovered them, but then i realised how comfy they are! suspenders look great with them too. But Im from Australia and we wear hats with corks in them so….. (lol not really) :)
Jen
why is everyone saying no? i would defs wear them (but not sure where to…) hahaha:)
Lisa
Omg, heck no! Im short so i like skinny pants, that make me look taller, and my legs look longer. + Skinny trousers are more sexy, these trousers are WAy too puffy and dont suit many women’s body types.