Culottes are everywhere this spring – but does anyone actually look good in them?

By: Unknown on 5:52 AM

ake a walk down any British high street today, and a recurring motif will emerge. As spring begins, and customers’ thoughts turn to bare ankles, the shops are full of culottes. For every budget, taste, and occasion, there is a pair. They might be denim with unfinished edges (Topshop) or tailored and navy and destined for the office (Marks & Spencer). In designer fashion, there are nautical versions with button-down fronts (JW Anderson) and voluminous creations in black leather (Tibi) while Stella McCartney’s are a vision in soft grey boucle.

But culottes are selling – lots and lots. At Whistles, between 1 January and 23 March, sales were up by 422% compared with the same period last year, with culottes outselling skirts. Marks & Spencer reports strong culotte sales, too, with a leather Autograph pair, hitting shops later this month, predicted to be one of the big sellers of the season.