Join My Harem

Some items of clothing are a bit like Marmite - you either love or hate it. Jumpsuits being the first one that springs to mind. The infamous all-in-one has been a firm favourite of mine since the 80's, and I really don't see why there is always such a fuss made over them when they are deemed to be 'in' (which happens every few seasons). I keep wearing mine much to Queen Marie's distaste.

However, there is another sartorial offender who seems to be Fashion Public Enemy Number One - the harem trouser, the drop-crotch trouser, the hammer pant, whatever pseudonym is appears under the reaction is always the same - horror. The horror is however quadrupled when the offender is caressing the limbs of a female. By some reactions you think by wearing them we are doing the whole female population a massive disservice. After a hunt around I have found some images of cool ladies rocking their own versions...and I think they all look damn hot!

Men in particular, apart from the very fashion-savvy it would appear, find them especially abhorrent. I'm not really sure as to why this is. Whilst men seem perfectly at ease with a simple pair of loose trousers hanging on the female form, as soon as the trousers have the small added quirk of a dropped crotch they go from being androgynously attractive to downright despicable.

However, and call me crazy if you want, whenever I see ladies rocking these 'difficult' trousers I am simply filled with awe and admiration at their balls for laughing in the face of conventional ideas of 'sexy' and doing their own thing. Surely other women should at least appreciate that sentiment even if they find the trousers themselves unattractive?

I'm wearing mine today as I ponder this. I really don't find them offensive at all.

But then maybe I'm just a poor misguided fool - I'm sure Queen Marie would agree with that!

Queen Michelle

Images from my new favourite site: Jak And Jil

Comments

[jules]

I love jumpsuits - although according to the fashion press I can't wear them any more as I am over 25. And I love harem pants too. They actually flatter me - if tight enough at the bottom - and rock with flat or high gladiators. You could add to your list of love/hate fashion items pedal pushers/knickerbockers (or whatever current parlance for them is).

Love the out fit you have put together today.

J

[Queen Michelle]

OMG Jules, I had the most wonderful (or so I thought) pair of blue velvet pedal pushers when I was young! I haven't heard anyone use that term for years!
Since I'm nearly 35, the fashion press will have me hung, drawn and quartered for wearing jumpsuits!

[diane]

i love those kind of trousers!! and i think that it is sexy with heels!!

[lee]

didn't even know harems were viewed with such horror. I love mine from c-neeon, it reminds me of traditional Japanese garments. And they look great with heels too!

[una]

I love jumpsuits, although I'm also past the sale date, i love this harem trousers, but you are right, my husband hates them with passion, he even has a very rude nickname for them.

[Poulette]

Harem pants are SUPER sexy if you know how to dress them up correctly. I wear mine with knee-high platform boots and any random tight vest/t-shirt I pull out of my closet... hot, hot, hot!

[Queen Marie]

No no no no no no no no no no no
no no no no no no no no
no no no no no no
no no no no

[susie_bubble]

I don't get the abhorance to them either... these are practically HK/Japanese staples! I have about 10 pairs of them in my HK wardrobe just purely because they're so comfy to wear...

[natty]

They are nice if you are skinny - I love the tailored and structured ones but the ones I have which are H&M grey cheapies are strictly for wearing indoors only, as I am not a skinny minnie I just look like a big baby who has filled their nappy!
Queen Michelle - as ever, you look fantastic in them!

[Shona]

I have two pairs of H&M cheap ones too (just for indoors also)they're the only item of clothing that my boyfriend has ever expressed any sort of opinion on, he really HATES them. I find them so comfortable and I think they look cute...maybe I'll even try wearing them outside when i'm on holiday

[melina]

I had mine on today too. Only in beige.

[Duana]

I'm afraid I'm with the boys on this one, no to hammer pants. I do like jumpsuits though, and I think the elegant draped kind could easily be worn by any age, although being tall and slender does seem to be a requirement.

[the_kitten]

I'm confessing - I love harem/hammer or whatever pants. It's just tricky to find the right. Yours are absolutely amazing. I have some of my own and although I seem to never wear them, I adore them dearily.

[miss woo]

I like! They look soo comfy! But as with jumpsuits, I think is the look reserved for the very tall..

[WendyB]

They look great in all the pictures here.

[fishface]

May I just ask where the grey ones you wear are from? They are a bit like the antipodium ones but better. You look fabulous in them!

[Queen Michelle]

They are from All Saints. I'm kinda addicted to that shop!

[JennyR]

While I embrace the whole "fashion-follows-ME -fierce-courage-doing-my-own-thing" dynamic, I have to go with Queen Marie and the guys on this one - please NOOOO! Hammer pants are absolutely ghastly on either gender - very much the overfilled nappy look. However, I am onside with the jumpsuits, although I agree tall and slender is a necessity.

[Lora]

People who LOVE harem/jodphur style pants do seem to be in the minority, however I think that makes them even better in a weird way. I have altered some thrift store Banana Republic khakis (heinous beforehand) into jodphurs & some old sweats into harem pants.
BTW, you look perfect in yours.

[Drusilla]

I had a little red-and-black spotted jumpsuit that I absolutely adored when I was little- my poor mum had a tough time getting me to take it off! (I'd look an idiot in it now, though I don't mind short denim dungarees) The harem pants aren't heinous, really- they're billowy enough to work, as long as one keeps a bit of slim-fittedness on top.

[Drusilla]

And PS: I don't hate harem pants either!

[Mies]

I recently saw a Scandinavian girl wearing harem pants with a crotch that was around her calves! Looked really cool though, however this seems to be a look that works best on those Scandinavian uber cool girls. And on you obviously, as you look great!

[Susan]

I really like them... something draws me to them. When worn well I have to say they are the coolest trousers this side of Kentucky. You and all these people wear them with aplomb

[modaRhoda]

Please Hammer - don't hurt 'em! No I'm sorry, I'm with Queen Marie, they just shouldn't be allowed. Queen Michell's are not too bad as they don't do the crotchy hangy thing but please, girlies..DON'T DO IT!

[Aja]

Lately it seems I wear my H&M black hammer pants purely for the enjoyment of my sister and her boyfriend who cheer "two legit to quit" every time I put them on. (Once they called me in a public place as they spotted me in my hammer pants from about a hundred feet away). I love them, contrary to all the ruckus they seem to cause. . . they're so comfy. But I'm working on making them look not so scruffy. I'll have to try them with strappy heels, like you have. . .

[Violetwired]

gosh, this post is inciting a riot! I love this style because I find pants generally boring, and these are a bit of fun! Asian girls rock this style in particular. Yesstyle.com has some great ones. I posted on a few awhile back that don't seem to be on the site anymore:
http://theongoingproject.blogspot.com/2007/11/i-hate-pants.html

[kiki]

i recently bought a pair of CdG ones and i love them to bits... they are polka-dotted, all the more strange for passerbys it seems. but i love them, they are so comfy, especially on those bloated days!

[albie]

yummmmmyyyyyyy!!! when u in london next?!i just got back from paris...was AMAZING!

[Queen Michelle]

Hey Albieeeeee! Did you go to Paris on your SCOOTER!!! Hehe! I don't think I'll be in London again til next season unfortunately, but I'll be sure to let you know and we can sit next to each other at JPB. I'll bring the sweets! xx

[enc]

Sometimes that style of trouser can look like one's got a load in one's trews. However, yours don't look like that.

If you want a laugh, come over to my place, and see all the jumpsuits from Feb. I did a series.

[K-Line]

You are, like, the only person I've ever seen look good in these. I think you have to be very tall... K

[Héloïse J.]

wow you rock this outfit! you should be next to emmanuelle alt now :P

[sam]

I love this style, and recently saw a girl in a denim version. She was wearing them with flats and a tight tshirt. I should have asked her where she got them as I am now obsessed with finding them! she wasnt tall and she wasnt skinny, but looked great.
can anyone help me find a denim pair?

[Queen Michelle]

Evisu do an AMAZING pair which I have been hunting high and low for for ages. I can't even find an image of them unfortunately. I'll keep looking though

[sam]

I have found sarouel pants in France! (Also on offer were some denim abominations) I opted for some really cute cotton contenders! and I see now Topshop have some linen ones on offer. Unfortunately the denim ones that I coveted on 'that' girl are nowhere to be seen. :o(

[beckie]

why can i buy some harem pants????????

thanks

[frankie smales]

one of the places you can get harem pants from is ebay alls you need is to sign up
for an ebay account and allso get a paypal
account and once you signed up with these accounts as long you have a bank account
to pay goods through paypal with and hey presto you have got an ebay account and starting your searches for harem pants
and believe me they are great because i own a quite a few pairs of harem pants myself
for the garment the prices may varie
and most of them get inported from india or the usa you might have to wait longer
to get them shipped out to you because they
arrived in flat rate postaging from the countries that i have mentioned and please be patient for them to delivered to you ok.

from

frankie smales

(frankie smales movie and tv review uk)