Culottes? Why Not!

This spring, culottes are everywhere.  Every few days, my daughter sends me an email featuring some designer’s version of the “modern culotte”.  She suggested (several times) that I blog about culottes.  I thought:  “Culottes? Are you crazy?  Why would I want to blog about a design that I thought I had left behind in my younger days?”  Then I looked at the reincarnated versions that are being featured and I was intrigued and thought:  “Culottes?  Why Not!”

The Beginning

According to Wikipedia, culottes originated with the “knee-breeches” worn by the upper-class gentlemen from the Middle Ages through the early nineteenth century.  The first five presidents wore culottes with James Monroe being the last.  

James Monroe was the last U.S. President who dressed according to the style of the late 18th century, with his Cabinet in 1823.   The president wears knee breeches, while his secretaries wear long trousers.  "James Monroe Cabinet" by Unknown - The Granger Collection, New York.

Support of Women’s Freedom

During the 19th century, women had difficulty doing certain activities as they always wore long skirts.  Split skirts were developed so that women could sit astride a saddle while horseback riding and also allow them greater freedom while gardening and cleaning and, all the while, looking like they were wearing a skirt.  The term “culotte’ was used to describe this split skirt.  After learning this link to women’s empowerment, I was even more intrigued.

My Recollections:  Culottes by Other Names

Over the years, I have worn some type of split skirt as they have come into fashion.  When I went to college (late 60’s), we weren’t allow to wear pants to class and to the dining hall except on weekends.  So, to be a little bit of a rebel we wore “gaucho pants” as they looked like a skirt but were the next best thing to pants.  At one point (not sure what decade! maybe 70’s), I had a pair of brown suede gaucho pants.  I mainly wore them with boots and a poncho.   I loved these and remember them fondly.  Wish I had a picture to include....

The Modern Culotte -  Spring 2015

This spring designers are having a love affair with culottes.  They come in all lengths, widths, and fabrics.  Here are just a few that have come through my email (through my daughter also):

Michael Stars

These are featured as “Cool Culottes” made in cotton, cotton twill and luxe crepe ranging from $108 - $138. Now 20% off with code GETITNOW.

Theory

Theory is featuring the “culotte” as a type of pant "fit" right alongside the relaxed, slim, and straight fit.  Does this mean culottes may be around to stay?  Below I'm featuring the Gera S Pant in Classic Suede.  It is just like my pair of gaucho pants I wore in the 70's.  The only difference is the price at a mere $675!

My Modern Culottes
I was so curious about these modern culottes that I had to go shopping last weekend so I could try a pair.  I ended up purchasing the cutest pair of culottes from one of my favorite stores Anthropologie.  I tried on the high-waisted linen wide-legged and loved them!

I can dress them up with a tucked-in blouse and a heeled sandal for a date night with my husband or I can wear them with a crop top or tee and a pair of Toms for a play date with my granddaughter.  Below is my smart business casual look where I added a jacket and pumps.  Perfect for work or a business meeting.

Thanks to my husband for taking these pictures outside in 20°!

After all the research, here is what I learned - I can still wear culottes and look age appropriate and yet modern.  Culottes aren't so bad - in fact - they're kind of amazing.  Give them a try.

Culottes - Why Not?

Guess what I have to try next - a culotte jumpsuit!

All the best,

Kathy

Help Your Teen Build Confidence - Be the Best Role Model

Many teen girls today lack confidence.  In fact, even though girls are being encouraged by their teachers and families to achieve to their potential, commercial media create disturbing insecurities.  The result is that teen girls are spending a large amount of time on their appearance and, thus, their academic performance and confidence are suffering.  

Some Disturbing Facts

In a recent study of over 11,000 US girls aged 14-17 years, students who perceived themselves as overweight had lower academic performance than those who did not, regardless of medically defined overweight status. The perception of being overweight was a more significant determinant of academic performance than medically defined obesity.(Florin, Shults, & Stettler 2011)

According to the same study:

15% of girls stay away from school on the days they feel bad about their bodies,

13% won’t give an opinion,

5% will not go to a job interview,

3% will not go to work.

It is also a well known fact that a daughter's dissatisfaction with her weight is greater if her mother is also dissatisfied with her own weight, in spite of how much a daughter actually weighs. 

So how can we as parents, grandparents, and adult friends help our teen girls?

By Being the Best Role Model!

I probably was an average role model for my daughters.  However, now I am focused on changing my talk and my behavior in order to help my granddaughter grow to be a confident young woman.  I have tried to adopt these 5 simple tips and am practicing them now as she is a toddler.  I want this type of language and this behavior to be second nature to me as she starts entering into the early teen years. 

#1 Stop Negative Self-Talk: Never talk about your own body, appearance, or anything about you in a negative way.  Research has shown that when women speak negatively about their bodies and their appearance, they negatively impact those around them.  Remember that what we THINK about our bodies has a strong connection to how we TREAT our bodies.  Start today with a goal that you will never again say something negative about your appearance aloud, and soon the negative self-talk that floats through your mind will become less and less prevalent too.

#2 Start Positive Talk:  Choose to compliment the girls and women in your life for character traits, actions or talents you admire about them. The compliments that stick with you for a lifetime are those that acknowledge your valuable qualities, like a positive attitude, perseverance,  selflessness, honesty and so much more that has nothing to do with a cute outfit or a pretty face.

#3 Try Something New:  Show your teen how you keep trying new activities.  Openly talk about your successes and your failures.   She will hear your talk and will learn that failing is just a part of life and it will teach her how to cope and deal with failure.  In fact,  try new activities together. 

#4 Focus on Health & Fitness: Focus your talk on health and fitness.  You can choose anything you want to work toward, whether that is running a mile in a set time, attending fitness classes every week, etc.  Encourage your teen girl to engage in physical activity as a means for improving physical and mental health, rather than a strategy for achieving a “bikini ready body”.  When you set a fitness goal and work toward it, you will find you spend less time thinking about the way your body LOOKS and more time focusing on what it can DO.  

#5 Volunteer and Give to Others: Sometimes the best way to improve our self-esteem is to forget about ourselves for a while and focus on others. Get out and volunteer to help someone who needs a friend or who needs a hand with jobs around the house. Volunteering fills us with love and light that radiate from within.  

Want to Know More? 

Contact me for body confidence workshops or individual coaching sessions.

All the best,

Kathy