How to Style Culottes

Culottes are the new must-have pant for the summer. A cross between trousers and skirts, culottes have a voluminous cropped legs that are designed to resemble the ease and flow of skirts.

I love the laidback feel that culottes have. Not to mention it’s one of the trendiest silhouettes to sport this season. The other thing to love about culottes? It is so versatile.  You can jazz it up with bolder pieces or keep it simple and breezy with basic tees or tanks. You can even opt to wear it for work by adding more structure into your culottes look. The cherry on top of this trend is that culottes are a chic and more comfortable alternative to your regular pant.

Don’t get intimidated by culottes. It can be tricky to navigate and style this piece, but not to worry, I’m here to guide you. Here are some of the interesting and stylish ways you can style culottes:

Pantone‘s Color of 2015 is Marsala. Pick Marsala hued culottes or opt to style your culottes with rich Marsala hues, and you’ll be as good as gold on the fashion trend scene.

Birkenstocks staged a major comeback last year, and its reign hasn’t yet ended. Play up the comfy chic and polished lounge feel of culottes by pairing it with these sandals. Keep it sleek by throwing on a lightweight blazer.

Olivia Palermo is really the master at making trends work for her. Culottes + a fringe clutch + graphic stripes = trend perfection. By keeping the accessories to a minimum, the trendy pieces shine.

If you have a minimalist aesthetic, culottes add a dash of flair to your neutral ensemble of choice.

Coordinated two-pieces are all the rage this season. Deviate from the crop top and skirt combo and try on this culotte and blazer duo for size. This one-two style punch will be great for the office as it is both fashion forward yet work appropriate.

A pair of navy culottes is an investment worth looking into. Camel leather pumps, significant arm candy, and an animal print envelope clutch elevates this navy pant.

Do like fashion maven Jenna Lyons and be a trail blazer. An ankle length pair of culottes with dramatic and maximalist volume is a great alternative to a maxi skirt or cocktail dress.

Instead of doing white denim for your all-white summer look, why not opt for culottes? It feels more current and is definitely cooler than your standard white ripped denim.

A pair of linen culottes feels positively Parisian with a simple tee and pumps. Tie a matching cardigan over your shoulder and some tousled waves for the perfect undone casual chic look.

Look out for culottes that have interesting details, just like this pleated pair. The pleats give any look much needed texture.

Get inspired by the masculine fashion history of culottes, and give your look a tomboy chic spin. Brogues plus a Peter Pan collar are just the ticket.

Culottes are the perfect piece to show off your statement shoes. Since these pants are always cropped, it is ideal for letting your heels do the talking (and walking too!).

Vanessa Hudgens nails the culotte trend by pairing it with modern classics like a camel trench, barely there ankle strap heels, and a striped tee.

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Which look did you love? I hope that this post inspired you to slip into the hottest silhouette of the season. 

Style Icon: Madonna

Madonna has long been noted for her ever-changing looks. A true fashion chameleon, she has gone from fashion rebel in the 80s, sultry leather clad vixen in the 90s, avant-garde style maven in the 00’s, and finally to sophisticated glamazon. Her fashion line, Material Girl, with her daughter, Lola has been hugely successful and a testament to her fashion prowess. She is a true quadruple threat, Madonna is a singer, dancer, actress, and designer. A true style icon.

Here are some of my favorite Madonna looks:

Green fringe, Veronica Lake inspired waves, and a bold red lip spell Old Hollywood glam. But the armful of bangles on each arm say modern and edgy.

Pictured with her gorgeous daughter, Lola, Madonna goes back to her 80s roots with sexy lace and fur.

I am simply in love with this satin embellished gown! Such a departure from typical red carpet glam.

Who can pull of this menswear inspired outfit better than Madonna? No one. Gotta love those diamond encrusted gloves.

Clad in Versace, Madonna shows off her yoga-toned bod while dripping in jewels.

A frequent collaborator of famous photographer duo, Mert and Marcus, Madonna wows once again in this Marilyn Monroe inspired shoot.

Another Mert and Marcus collaboration for Interview Magazine, this photo is an update of her style back in the 80s. I love those stacked chain arm candy!

Mert and Marcus are incredible when capturing Madonna’s verve and unique energy. This shoot for her MDNA album is like a throwback to the time of Gaultier bustiers and Vogue-ing. I love it!

Images from Elle and Billboard

And there you have it, Madonna’s awesomeness knows no age and knows no bounds. I love seeing ho her style evolves each time. What is your favourite Madonna fashion moment?  Share it with me!

Street Style Trend: Fringe

The 70s are back in a big way this season. From the oft-reported fashion industry switch from skinnies to bell-bottoms, down to the ubiquity of wide brim hats, the styles and trends from the Woodstock era are staging a comeback, and from the looks of things these trends are here to stay. At least until the next season comes. Fringe is one of those trends that have swept the street style scene and blogs, and have got us all in a tizzy. It’s just such a dramatic material and it makes a statement that cannot be ignored. Dip your toe into this trend and flex your sartorial muscles as you take on this boho-hippie fringe trend and make it your own. Always remember that melding your personal style with prevailing current trends is the key to having standout and unique style. Here, I’ve rounded up the best street style inspiration that’ll surely unleash your creative styling spirit and get you on the fringe trend train.

Pairing your bad gal cutout boots with some ladylike vintage floral fringe cape for a look that is sure to turn heads. An all black look gets the right amount of flash with this fringe stunner.

Dakota Fanning is such a little style icon, and this red fringe Valentino dress is proof. Minimal accessorizing and a matching statement red lip is all you need when you’ve got Valentino Rockstud pumps to complement your textured fringe frock.

Sometimes a touch of fringe action is all that you need to take your outfit to the next level. Since trends come and go, a fringe bag is a good way to test the waters with this trend. Just look at how this denim cutoff and sweater combo gets elevated with a statement hat, over-the-knee boots and black fringe leather shoulder bag.

Daring enough to try fringe on fringe? Keep the rest of your ensemble model off duty simplistic chic. Fringe sandals and a fringe sling bag don’t feel too overwhelming when worn with a simple crop top and classic faded denim.

Subtlety is always elegant. A slight hint of the fringe trend vis-a-vis a fringe velvet scarf can do so much for your OOTD.  This fringe scarf keeps you warm and it’s right on trend too.

A brown Pocahontas-like fringe cape can look so wrong, but if anyone was to disprove this it would be newly-minted style icon, Amal Clooney. Looking flawless as always, she upgrades her white tee and black trousers combo with this fringe cape. The blue snakeskin clutch steers this look clear from hippie fashion victim territory, and makes it look more modern.

Who would’ve though that fringe would play so well with athletic sneaks? This unexpected trend marriage works because of the neutral color palette, great fit, and classic silhouettes.

Maximalist can work for you if you’ve got the confidence and fashion chutzpah. A bold pair of fringe calf boots with a printed fringe poncho works when you keep everything else natural, even your hair and makeup.

Make like a fashion editor and cop some of that next level style when you wear your leather fringe jacket as a top and cinch it with an oversized belt. A ruched army green skirt and modern black sandals keep the fringe jacket from looking like you fished it out of a bad 70s flashback.

A touch of red and fringe is a bold look-at-me accessory that will earn you double takes. This red fringe clutch gives this tomboyish oversized blazer and neck scarf look some trendy flavour.

So which look did you love? Fringe is a white hot trend right now, and I can’t wait to get creative with it! Have a great weekend ladies!

All images from WhoWhatWear