Ah, Harem Pants!

Harem pants have made an appearance several times in the past few decades, notably the 1980’s and 2010’s.  The harem pant: a mix between a skirt and a fitted pant, originated in India. What is a harem? A harem is a section of a Muslim place of residence in which the women reside. A harem can include mothers, sisters, wives, concubines, daughters, entertainers, and servants. Harem pants made a big splash in the U.S. when they were donned by entertainer MC Hammer. Hammer made this style of pant so popular that the pants earned the nickname “Hammer pants”.

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Why do we love harem pants? One, obvious reason is that they are really really comfortable.  Much of women clothing can be constricting, but harem pants compliment and possibly add to your shape, while remaining roomy and loose. Also, because they are tapered at the ankle it is easy to adjust the length of the pants. Another awesome thing about harem pants are that can be made with materials that are very lightweight and durable, while providing full coverage. Harem pants are intriguing and fashion forward partly because they come from cultures outside of the U.S., and partly because they are really cute. They also look great with heels!

The harem pants that I chose to wear are black with a red floral print and green leaf accents. One of the unique aspects about the pants that I am wearing is that they are high-waisted, a fashion trend that has become pretty popular over the last year. I was visiting UCLA Law School so I paired the pants with a black camisole, a red blazer, and dark red ballet flats.

Harem pants have many nicknames: Aladdin pants, drop-crotch pants, balloon pants, pantaloons, etc.

What do you think of harem pants?

 Do you like them? What do you like about them? If you do like them do you own a pair, and what pieces do you think compliment harem pants?

Let everyone know what you think-leave a comment!