Watching the Tusker Project Fame one evening, I saw Gaelle, our Rwandan Contestant in this last season, donning a pair of purple harem pants and she looked lovely, how unfortunate that she didn’t bring home the loot! 

Harem pants (also known as Hammer pants) are baggy pants tapered at the ankle, with side flaps on the hip that button at the waist area. The popularity of harem pants increased in the late 1980s with MC Hammer. Well this is one musician who really used to excite us  with his dancing moves and songs when we were growing up.

The harem pants are mixture of Arabic and Indian pants to get the flowy pants that are now ultra modern, and they have ruled the fashion runways for two seasons in a row. I have seen few courageous fashonistas who wear the harem pants and believe it or not, teamed with the right pieces ,harem pants can be figure flattering and classy to wear.

These harem pants can work well for a casual day, but they can also be worn for a dressy occasion. You may have seen some of the celebrities like Lindsey Lohan, Kim Kardashian and Rihanna walking around at fabulous events with these pants and look completely dolled up. The key is to make sure that the folds in the pants are neat and not hanging to give the illusion of looking sloppy.

These pants can be paired up with a white buttoned down shirt or a tailored jacket for more of a sophisticated look, or a sequined top to add some funk to the outfit. When wearing the harem pants , one has to make that the top they are wearing is shorter and falls at the waist. Anything below that will make the look seem un- proportional and messy baggy at the crotch and slim at the ankles.

As with any new fashion trend to come down the pipe, there are some people who just seem to pull it off immediately like Kim Kardashian and there are others who need some time before they are able to get the look right, it can be wise to follow some of these easy fashion tips to wear your new harem pants with style without breaking the rules:

Keep It Proportional

Harem pants obviously draw the eyes to the lower body, and with harem pants this is a good thing. The beauty of harem pants is in the way they tend to drape over the hips and thighs while hugging close to the knees and shins. With a regular pair of jeans or pants, this idea would simply look like you are wearing baggy pants, but harem pants are deliberate in their wide look, lending accentuation to one’s natural curves or a subtle camouflage if need be. So with this in mind, always be sure to keep things in proportion whenever possible.

The idea of proportionality as it applies here is that the pants themselves no matter how they are cut are going to be on the baggy, wide side of the equation. When you are wearing something loose fitting on one half of your body, the general idea is to wear something a little more form fitting on the other half.

This is to avoid looking as if you are simply wearing clothing that is much larger than the size that actually fits you. For instance, if have an ample chest, avoid shoulder pads or clothes that add bulk to your upper body and instead wear a fitted blazer or form fitting blouse to maintain the natural flow of your body.

Get the Cut that Fits

Every body type is different, and not all fabrics are appropriate for every situation. When looking at harem pants for the first time, your initial reaction might be to think that they only look right on the runway models or others with a thin frame. You would definitely be incorrect in this assumption. In order to wear harem pants in a way that looks good for your particular body type, pick pants that are cut to go with what looks best on you. Additionally, be sure the fabric is appropriate for the situation.

Accessorize Wisely.

A big floppy bag is best to round out the look when wearing the harem pants. This is assuming you are going with a top that hugs your figure. If you are going loose on top, it’s best to stick with an elegant clutch so that all the bagginess doesn’t get you mistaken as an actual bag-lady.

The best shoes to wear with harem pants are most definitely heels. There are most definitely exceptions to this rule, but for the most part try to stick with big gladiator shoes. Most times if you go with flat heel shoes, you’re going to loose the elegance that is the focus of most harem pants. Also, gladiator heels accentuate the exotic look of harem pants and slim the leg, adding to the overall elegant appeal.

As far as necks and wrists, remember that harem pants are meant to be sensuous and fluid, so choose earrings, necklaces and bracelets that follow this theme. Big chunky necklaces or chandelier earrings draw attention away from the lower body and will offset the proportions set by sticking to a body hugging top or blouse. Go with long, narrow earrings and bracelets and necklaces composed of thin, long pieces.

If you don’t have a pair of harem pants hanging in your wardrobe by now then chances are you have been hibernating from the fashion world for two seasons. Any fashionista worth their salt will be wearing this tricky trend during this season.

Ends