I Never Thought I'd Wear Culottes, But This Pair Made Me Rethink Them

If I’m being honest, culottes have never been a style I’ve wanted to wear. The cropped pants hit at the mid-calf and have always seemed to me like an awkward length. They also have a wide leg, which is sometimes flattering but can also have the opposite effect, depending on the cut. But my opinion about the tricky style changed when I found a pair from Khaite that worked for me.

On this journey to acceptance, I learned two important things about picking out the perfect pair of culottes. First, length matters. I’m on the tall end of the height spectrum, so finding a style with the right inseam was key. In my opinion, the perfect length hits right above or right below the ankle. Next, how you style them is important; the wrong approach can leave them looking like unintentionally short pants. This is where shoes comes into play. You can’t go wrong with a pair of heels, but ankle boots are also a stylish choice—just make sure they’re taller or shorter than the pants and don’t hit right at the hem. Here, shop the best culottes on the market.