The key to dressing well is understanding what looks good on your body: selecting which cuts and shapes emphasize your best assets and which hues complement your own natural coloring. Once men and women master this balancing act of proportion and harmony through trial and error, they tend to be very loyal to the look. My closet is the scene my own repeat offense crime: very many, very mini high-waisted, A-line skirts (I own about ten, guilty as charged!).
The more time I spend on the sidelines observing the sartorial showdown of Shanghai v. the famous fashion capitals of the world, it becomes clear to me that the maturation of some Chinese women’s fashion sense stems from this same keen corporal cognizance while getting dressed: a smart awareness of their shape, or lack thereof in this case. Enter in the Harem pant, popularized by MC Hammer in the 1980s, which is characterized by voluminous hips which cascade down to gather at tapered ankles.
With flowy fabric draped in between a high, defined waist and pegged legs, the Harem pant carves out a slouchy silhouette from which curvier Western women shy away. But it’s Hammer Time in Shanghai. Whatever the variation- subtle, baggy, printed or solid- this trend is everywhere. One possible explanation is because Chloe, a cult favorite among Chinese elite, was responsible for the resurrection of the look in their S/S09 collection. What it is very clear however is that Shanghai girls and Harem pants enjoy a sartorial symbiotic relationship of sorts. While the tastemakers put Harem pants back on the international fashion map, these trousers give back by adding some curves and the illusion of feminine padding to their narrow frames. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Shanghai women stocking up their wardrobe with this new staple to tromp through the colder months ahead.
a look from Chloe Spring/Summer 2009, www.Style.com
