We're all for
experimental fashion, but some trends are simply not flattering.
And we're not talking about items like Uggs, which, while sort
of bulky and unattractive, at least provide warmth. Harem pants
theoretically
could work on all body types. Many have
elastic waists, and abundant room in the hips, butt, and thigh
areas, so they will fit a curvy woman and could add desired
curves to a slimmer lady. They're probably really comfortable
too. The problem: they're universally unflattering. Why would
anyone want the crotch of their pants a foot below where it's
supposed to be? Why do people think it's fashionable to walk
around with what looks like a load in their pants? Have we
forgotten the horror that was M.C. Hammer? He popularized the look
in the 1980s, and when he disappeared off our radar he took the
shiny gold harem pants with him. Now the pants are back, but
Hammer, aka Stanley Burrell, is distancing himself from them.
The Wall Street Journal wrote
an article about the renewed popularity of harem pants, and tried
to get a comment from Hammer, but "Mr. Burrell declined to
comment. His publicist said he's trying to redefine himself as
a social-media expert, and, as such, is distancing himself from the
pants." We can't say we blame him. But with huge
celebrities like Fergie and Rihanna donning the styles, it's no
wonder we've recently seen both women and men wearing them. The
paper also interviewed 34-year-old Maggie Betts, who swears by
harem pants. She was ridiculed by her family when she wore a $400
pair of black silk pants to a formal dinner. "I feel like I
look very chic in my harem pants," says Ms. Betts.
"Anybody who makes fun of me doesn't know the truth and is
a loser." Um, are we sure she's 34? When the Wall Street
Journal asked
Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour what she thought of the
pants, she admitted, "To be honest, they are not my
favorite." Phew.
Regardless of personal taste, many trendy retailers are stocking
the saggy-bottomed trousers.
Topshop currently has 20 harem styles up for purchase on their
website, including this Hammer-esque gold sequin pair, above.
Urban
Outfitters lists three pairs and they are all currently on sale
for as low as $14.99. Hopefully this is a sign that people
aren't interested in buying them.
Sadly, this isn't the first resurgence of harem pants. Long
before our time in 1911, Parisian women wore Paul Poiret's
designs. Harem pants were also featured in "The King and
I" in 1956, and brought back by Yves Saint Laurent in the
1970s. So yes, for those wondering, harem pants made people look
like they were wearing saggy diapers long before Hammertime.
What do you think of harem pants? Are they just as bad now as they
were then, or are they "2 Legit 2 Quit"? (Sorry, I
couldn't resist.) [
WSJ]
