I’d like to say that I’m not a slave to fashion. But how can you resist when the fashion world is a constantly evolving turntable of weird and wonderful trends? It would almost be a crime to not be in the know.
While many fashion trends are visually acceptable in today’s society, there are many others which were clearly not designed for public viewing. Instead, these trends make you screech, ‘EGADS!!’ in horror, raise your eyebrows and hurl knowing looks towards those who commit these heinous fashion crime, as if to say, ‘Uh-uh, honey. That look don’t work fo’ you.‘ *insert Mean Girl Stance*
Take Mary-Kate Olsen, for instance.
When she made boho the new black, women the world over immediately welcomed the look by following in her footsteps, even though it looked as if Mary-Kate drew inspiration from the innards of a garbage dumpster.
No, I don’t care that it looks like she strategically put those layers on. What I see is someone who couldn’t be effed about presentation that day.
Which brings me to my next point. Harem pants. You may have seen them around the stores, lately. Or back in the early ’90s when MC Hammer was swooshing those babies around through his ridiculous heel-toe dance (is it me or did his parachute pants get increasingly larger as the music video progressed…?)
They’re not the most attractive piece of fashion equipment to be sporting around, but I’ll be damned; designers have re-invented the harem pants for the twenty-first century. And it looks as if they might just actually work.
Normally, I am greatly opposed to surrendering my hard-earned money to fashion trends, when I know for a fact that I can get better wear with pieces that are timeless and versatile. Not to mention the fact that I’m well aware of my physical limitations when it comes to particular trends, as I can’t always pull them some off with the body I’ve been granted (e.g. high-waisted jeans – I had no idea you could inflate your butt to such gargantuan proportions).
But seeing as the harem pant was making a fabulous debut on the fashion circuit as of late, I just had to see what the fuss was all about. And of course, see if I could actually pull it off.
Much to my surprise, the look wasn’t at all bad. At first, I wasn’t quite sure how it was meant to look on me as it looked like I was just wearing baggy cropped pants but then I pulled the cuffs up to my calves, which gave me a better looking (albeit unusual) silhouette. Add a pair of heels and I was ready to go!
I decided to nab myself a pair ($25 bucks from Supre) in the event that I got tired of my jeans one day and wanted to swoosh my thighs around. Finally, to further justify my untimely (and rather irresponsible) purchase, the pants only cost me $25 and when the trend has been exhausted to its limits, at least I can still wear them happily around the house.
Of course, I kick ‘em (marginally) better than MC Hammer. No, he can’t touch this.
Have you bought or would you buy harem pants? What do the boys think of them? What’s you view on spending money on trends?

sunflower / 294 posts
iffy.
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yuck.
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that’s gross. i wouldnt eveN wear it.
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Harlem pants are fucking hilarious.
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What the hell?
magnolia / 1369 posts
NO. i don’t know who decided to lie & say that those pants were attractive & that every girl needs to go out and get a pair but they were DEAD WRONG. they are absolutely hideous. i saw tyra wearing them on her show today & my first thought was “ew are you serious” they are not flattering to anyone. they remind me of a circus freak … just ughhh get rid of them. PLEASE STOP THE MADNESS
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those are hideous. as is the boho look. she looks literally like she threw on items from her closet she liked..not bothering to check and see if they matched.
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I was stupid and wore them in the late 80s early 90s. You will not see me in them again. EVER.
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No, I wouldn’t. They’d definitely make me look stocky, and shorter than I already am, and frankly, I just can’t grasp this kind of fashion statement. I’m sure other people would look nice in this look, though. How long this trend will stay in is another story…
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What’s with all the hate?
The Stella McCartney example you gave looks really, really chic. I absolutely love it. Unfortunately I’m really short and I’m fairly positive that they would look horrible on me.
If you’ve got the guts to try it and are able to pull it off, more power to you!
cherry blossom / 43 posts
i have a pair.. and i swear that they are honestly some of the most comfortable things i’ve ever worn. no lies!
they’re nice in a capri/legging length, but anything longer and… well, you’ve lost me. hehe.
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Definitely not a fan. I think they’re probably comfortable, but I could think of more things that are comfortable -and- stylish.
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wow um. they’re called harem pants. not harlem.
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@mandywang6893 thank you! someone had to clarify.
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I like the first pic but I’ve never bought these.
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It depends. If you wear them, you gotta rock them hard. It’s either you look good in them or not.
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@Super___Connected@xanga - Word that, Stella can turn any old item of clothing into an innovation.
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everyone has these “
“-like comments. lmao. but watch, this year, they’ll end up being the biggest trend or something.
i’d try em. but not for casual wear, since i’m only a teenager right now. i’d wear em to a semi-formal/casual event. heels. nice shirt. harlem/harem pants. whichever its called.
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i’m down to try them!
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i think they look ridiculous. definitely a trend that won’t last long. mc hammer certainly didn’t.
daisy / 512 posts
at least they’re not shiny gold
wait am i thinking of the right music video
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they look like clown pants or something
^O^
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dont really like it
peony / 2 posts
@mandywang6893@xanga - Haha. You are correct. I actually changed it quickly when I realised this but obviously ‘Lovelyish’ weren’t quite as responsive. Thanks for the input.
(The author).
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good discussion
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I think this is one of those styles that only looks good on the tall and lean fashion models. Anyone with huge thighs or short legs is probably not going to get the look they were expecting when they try these on. I do have a pair of pants similar, although they’re a sturdier fabric and have a more structured feel to them.
When harlem pants first came back around, I kind of wanted to try them out, but could never find them anywhere I went to shop. Since then, my interest has burned out and I really don’t see the point to them.
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Eh. I think they’re okay if you have a really slim torso and can wear a midriff-bearing top. Otherwise they just make you look fat.
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awful. horrible. terrible.
hydrangea / 85 posts
Whatever, girls. I love these pants. They’re absolutely comfortable, and as long as you’re fashionable enough to make the look work, you’re gonna look amazing. I’m short, have short legs… but my harem pants are my favourite things to wear. Like the author, I wear them capri length. They look like baggy capris.
Only thing I hate about the boho look is that it originated from the hippie style… I won’t even go into how hypocritical the overpriced clothing is to the ideal of the hippie. But, whatever. Fashion is fashion and I myself have a love/hate relationship.
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I like the first picture. It’s cool.
dahlia / 2942 posts
HAHA can’t touch this!
I would wear harem pants for strange occasions, but not for everyday casual wear.
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They look like something a genie would wear.
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I bough a pair from Zara about two years ago.Haven’t been able to wear it ’cause it doesn’t seem to go with anything or fit an occasion.
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I would wear the ones in the first pic, but not the others.
peony / 1 posts
harem pants became a fashion institution in hollywood movies
like disneys aladdin and sam rami’s epic tv fantasy drama xena the warrior princess
and the aaron spellings witchcraft action drama series charmed for the episode
i dream of phoebie where alyssa milano(ghostbusters the video game) where she
took the form of the genie and chris angels horror fantast wishmaster 3 where the djinn
summones ruth dubuisson and angela jackson as the evil shedemons they wore
the harem skirt pants outfits and even men has takend a likeing to wear them
infact i wear them most times and they are comfortable and loose to walk around
in them.
frankie smales
(harem pants lover)