When I spied the fluid and brilliantly coloured trousers and flowy capes, tops and over-blouses on the Valentino runway a couple of years ago, I quickly pinned them to my Fashion & Style Pinterest board. Vivid purple pants with an oversized mint-green bowed blouse and floor-sweeping orchid-coloured cape. Wow.
Then, paper-bag waisted trousers in a perfect shade of tan with a sleeveless, asymmetric, ruffled top. Stunning.
I still think about the designer’s full-legged, scarlet pants that were worn with an oyster taffeta opera coat and peony-pink blouse that was cinched with a belt whose tails flirted with the high heels of the model as she strolled in front of the chichi crowd.
The voluminous designs reminded me of the hostess entertaining outfits of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, made famous by the likes of Lucille Ball and Mary Tyler Moore. These two feminists helped kickstart the trend of trousers beneath glamorous and voluminous evening coats or jackets and overskirts.
Those hostess looks (or rather host looks in today’s more modern parlance) was also likely a compromise, sartorially speaking, as the I Love Lucy era was one where pants were typically frowned upon when worn by women, except for more casual situations.
Full, long and fluid items worn with trousers and coupled with awesome, upbeat colour is so appealing. Chic, comfortable and so welcome as we host and socialize in this post-pandemic era where many of us are still carrying a few extra pounds. Brightly coloured, ’80s-style parachute pants are also everywhere for Spring. Again in happy colours. Saying yes to Dopamine Dressing!
Glamour meets comfort and I’m all in.
Shop the trend: The gorgeous green satin trousers from ZARA and matching top (shown above). Cady Couture pants in vivid fuchsia at Valentino. Roomy cargo pants in magenta at Veronica Beard. Parachute pants in Sunstone Orange at Aritzia. Chartreuse pleated trousers from Smythe. Wide-leg white lace pants at Anthropologie. Yes, you can wear them with your runners for a great day look, but make sure to pair them with a simple black or white tank and sexy sandals for a stylish hosting look at home.
PHOTOS: ZARA Flowy Satin Pants and matching top.