sheik chic: ode to harem pants

baggy. oversized. loose-fitting.

three words that don't typically inspire confidence when used in association with female clothing, are incidentally the very ones that inspire one of the hottest trends of the Oh-Nine: the Harem pant.

personally, harem pants are the new love of my life. and as all great love cycles go, there has been the initial intrigue, then attraction, followed closely and longingly by fear, awe and respect.. and now, finally, i realise it is truly love.

talitha getty was apparently the first person to rock the harem pant as a fashion statement. it was the sixties and they were hippies; now it's just plain 'hip' again!

MC Hammer as we all know rocked the trend to death, vis-a-vis:

but this side of the 20th century designers have injected a tad more sass into these saggy bants, as visual aid would help illustrate:

a PHI pair:

really love these! the fabric,  sash detail and the ruffly folds on the slim leg... heart, heart, heart!!

a helmut lang pair:

:not quite so baggy, but i like the detail on the the ankle.

paul and joe had a go:

the turn up legs are really cool.

Gisele looks almost ethereal in this harem style jumpsuit... *sigh*

Ciara looks amazing in this halston pair! LOVing it!

...and the original halston outfits:

Harem pants are tricky to wear, however with a hot pair of heels and a fitted/semi-fitted top they are certifiably the most glamorous way to achieve the casual sheik chic look that's so very in these days. It's like, why did they ever go out of style?

*bewildered shrug*

with these few words of mine, i hope i've been able to convince you and not confuse you.... but just in case you need a little more persuasion to join the chic harem (hehe!), a visual bribe straight from walter disney himself:

"yea though they make you look like you're wearing diapers, you shall fear no harems! for the fabulousity art with you, the drape and the cinch, they comfort you... "

cuz honestly hey, if princess jasmine could pull 'em off, then you can too!