The printed trousers trend Part 1: The silhouette

The silhouette

OK, so it's now two years since printed trousers have been all the rage on the catwalk and the racks. If you have some reservations about them, you are not alone. Most of the cuts in offer are very difficult to wear for all but Body type Cs.
Why? Well, first, because prints draw the attention, in this case to your hips and bottom, which is not your best bet if you are a Body type A or a not too slim Body type B. It also means that all prints have to be carefully checked, back and front, for any optical negative effects, in the mirror (which you had to do in any case, but now you have to pay attention to the print too). Second, because a lot of the styles are made of drapey, fine materials (pyjama-like, if you will), that offer absolutely no support for your rear.

Choose the right one for you:

• Cigarette. Good for Body type Cs.
• Straight. The best option for Body type As, and Cs, in firm cottons or in denim. Cropped or capri versions are good for Body type Cs and slim to average Body type Bs.
• Wide-leg and palazzo. Initially, these are good for Tall women only, as the general rule is that, the wider the leg, the shorter you look.  Petites should avoid them altogether, for that very same reason. One way to overcome that is to choose a light material like viscose, silk, or cotton voile, that drapes softly (again, you will need lining or some sort of shapewear underneath), and wear them with heels, or a combo of heels and a small to medium platform to help with height. 

You can follow the labels Body type A, Body type B, and Body type C on the column to the right to know more on which of these silhouettes is best for you and how to style them.

Printed Trousers for Dinner and a Movie by Caroline Grant. A casual look (the leather jacket, gladiator shoes and bag in brown, always more casual than black) centred on the printed cigarette trousers and the purple in them. The blouse is soft and fluid, and so is the hobo bag, while the shoes and the leather jacket are tougher. I absolutely love the whole O'Keeffe collection from Alexis Bittar. [Background image: MODELINK 3 by Cate Parr, fashion illustrator]. [Style: Modern Classic].

Lindex Cigarette Pants / Benedetta Novi Quilted Leather Jacket / Mango Flower Embellishment Blouse / Tory Burch Dakota Convertible Hobo Handbag / Söfft Gisella Sandals in Mocha / Alexis Bittar O'Keeffe Navajo Necklace / Alexis Bittar O'Keeffe Navajo Earrings / Tom Ford Lipstick and Nail Lacquer in Black Orchid.

Printed Trousers for a Morning Class by Caroline Grant. Mixing patterns is what characterizes the Quirky Menswear style, here in red, beige, and hints of salmon and blue. The Park Lane blazer has a great cut and the wool is really good quality, although it may not be easy to see it from the set (in reality, the lines do match at the front, I wouldn't have bought it otherwise). Park Lane is a great Scandinavian brand for tweed jackets, skirts and trousers, but they do not have their own shop, so you have to find their collections through department stores such as Camilla. [Style: Quirky Menswear].

Park Lane Wool Blazer / Lauren by Ralph Lauren Slim Printed Trousers / L.K. Bennett Reed Cowl Neck Blouse / Radley Acklington Handbag / Strover Shoes / Marni Brooch / RingsEclectic Archaic Brass Emblem Ring / Bobby Brown Lipstick in Uber Beige / Revlon Nail Lacquer in Sheer Nude.

Printed Trousers for Brunch and Shopping by Caroline Grant. Printed palazzo trousers in a filmy material and mid-high heels, elongate the leg and are not overwhelming for medium height women. The colours are soft and delicate, visually creating a long, unbroken line. Stronger shades are added around the face with the jacket, the lovely coral makeup, and the Marni poppy necklace. [Style: Ladylike with a Twist].

Alice + Olivia Elenora Top / Smythe Shawl-Collar Blazer / BlueJuice Palazzo Trousers / Ivanka Trump Liorah Shoes / BCBG Max Azria Laser Cut Tote Handbag / Marni Flower Necklace / Yves Saint Laurent Lipstick in Corail Legende / Yves Saint Laurent Nail Lacquer in Corail Divin.

MORE?

• How to style printed trousers Part 2 COMING SOON!