The word Palazzo in the Fashion Stylist dictionary means Large and Splendid, normally referring to a Palace or Museum. However the latest trend this season is Palazzo Pants!

Now there as ‘nothing new under the sun’ so this trend is not a newcomer to the fashion world, but one cultivated in the 1920, by the style heros of the 20th century Chanel and YSL. These pants were leisure wear to the stars, images of Garbo reclining on a chaise lounge reflect the perfect persona for these pants. More recently the 70’s adopted the sophisticated elegant look and covered it with flowers. So how to make these stylish, timeless trousers work for you...

The great thing about this item of clothing is the versatility, they are the next step in comfort from the Maxi Skirt or Maxi Dress. Speaking from a practical point of view you dont need to shave your legs to look stunning for a dinner engagement.

These pants can be dressed up or down. For work,wearing them with a tailored shirt and a cropped jacket gives the corporate look. Just as easily they can be worn with a long sleeved soft knit and a fur vest for a modern casual appearance.

Styling Tips for Palazzo Pants.

When looking for the ideal pair make sure the flare and pleating starts from the top of your thigh. The beauty of these pants is they have a deep flattening band that sits across the front, almost a built in tummy support. This is a very flattering look for all figures and camouflages and extra lumps and bumps around the bottom and thighs.

Make sure they are the correct length. If you’re vertically challenged like me, it’s definitely worth finding a good tailor to alter the length. However never make them too short. They really should just skim the floor with shoes on.

Always team the pants with a well fitting top. Either a shirt, blouse, soft knit or T-shirt. But two floaty garments worn together equal a 70’s toilet dolly (remember the toilet dollies that used to cover the toilet roll, they seemed to have layer on layer, and always appeared bigger than they really were!)

Stick to a block colour for your pants, and wear them with patterned or floral tops, this helps to balance the outfit.

Accessorize with wedges or pumps for a dressy stylish look or play them down with a little pair of ballet flats. You can totally finish the look with large oversize sunnies and a floppy brimmed hat.

This selection of Palazzo Pants were taken from my newest favourite online shopping site
www.asos.com. With free shipping to Australia who can ask for more?