These wide ankle or knee-length trousers have a bad reputation. Difficult to combine, unflattering, too retro? Not if you take the right proportions into account and ensure a good balance between the bottom and top of your outfit.

1 Shoes

The success of the culotte largely depends on the shoes you wear with it. A model with a slim high heel and pointed toe works best. Especially with such a voluminous bottom, it’s good – if you’re not very tall – to create extra length. A sandal with a platform sole or wedge heel also works well. And if you’re nice and tall, a flat sandal, a nice lace-up shoe, or a ballerina is of course also great.

2 Ankles

To make the model look as feminine as possible in combination with your legs, I advise you to draw attention to your ankles. The over-the-knee length can come across as a bit frumpy, and to avoid that, it’s smart to accentuate your feminine parts (like that slim ankle).

3 Waist 

It’s all about the right balance and being aware of the right proportions. So just like showing your ankles, emphasizing the narrow part of your waist is important. Tuck your blouse into the skirt, it looks much more elegant.

4 Show some skin 

I mean, of course, in a decent way. A sleeveless top provides a good balance with the extra volume of the bottom. A short top also works, but then choose a culotte with a high waistband.

5 When in doubt 

An outfit in one color makes even the most questionable trend acceptable. And if not, choose a color that is always good, like black or blue. Bright colors or complicated patterns make the combinations even more complicated if you’re already in doubt.

Finally: choose the right length

According to fashion, the length should be somewhere halfway your calf. But if you’re small, I would prefer just below the knee length.