Culottes: The Ultimate Guide to Style, Fit & Where to Shop (UK & USA)

Culottes are one of the most versatile and misunderstood garments in modern fashion. Sitting somewhere between trousers and skirts, they offer structure, movement, and ease all in one piece. Whether you’re dressing for work, a weekend brunch, or an elevated evening look, culottes can serve as a foundational wardrobe staple—if styled and fitted correctly.

In this ultimate guide, we explore:

• What culottes are and how they differ by cut

• Styling advice by body shape

• Best high street and designer brands in the UK & USA

• And how to shop smarter using Tellar.co.uk, the UK’s leading sizing tool that matches your body to 1,500+ brand sizing systems in real time.

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👖 What Are Culottes?

Culottes are wide-legged trousers that fall anywhere from mid-calf to ankle. They are often mistaken for midi skirts due to their volume and movement but are technically trousers. Originally worn by European men in the 17th century, the modern version was reclaimed by women’s fashion in the 20th century for its blend of freedom and elegance.

Key Features:

• Wide-leg cut from hip down

• Mid-rise or high-waist fits

• Typically cropped (below the knee to mid-calf)

• Fabrics range from tailored crepe to soft cotton or pleated silk

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✂️ Types of Culottes & Technical Fit Tips

Fit tip: Because culottes can appear voluminous, it’s crucial to get the waist and hip sizing exactly right. Poorly fitting culottes can bunch at the front or widen the lower half undesirably.

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🧍‍♀️ Culottes by Body Shape

● Pear Shape

Balance out wider hips with structured or lightly flared culottes that skim, not cling, and highlight your waistline.

• Best with: Pleated or high-waisted styles

• Avoid: Extra volume at the hip or low-rise cuts

● Hourglass

Embrace waist definition. Opt for fitted waistbands and fluid fabrics that enhance your proportions.

• Best with: Belted, high-rise culottes

• Styling tip: Tuck in your top to showcase the waist

● Apple Shape

Create vertical length and avoid waist cling. Look for elastic waistbands or fluid silhouettes.

• Best with: Draped or wide-cut culottes

• Pair with: Longline tops or blazers

● Rectangle Shape

Add volume strategically to create curves. Choose culottes with pleats, side ties, or paper-bag waists.

• Best with: Peplum tops or cropped jackets

● Petite

Choose cropped culottes that sit just above the ankle or mid-calf to avoid shortening the leg line.

• Best with: Heels or nude-tone shoes

• Explore fit guides: Petite Fit Jeans Guide Instruction on Posts

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🇬🇧🇺🇸 Best Brands for Culottes – UK & USA

🔹 High Street Options

• Whistles – Refined tailoring and beautiful muted palettes

• Mango – Bold pleated and belted styles for work or events

• COS – Architectural and structured culottes in minimal palettes

• Reiss – Excellent for fitted and flowing culotte trousers

• Marks & Spencer – Great fit for more inclusive sizing ranges

• ASOS – Wide variety including Curve, Petite, and Tall ranges

🔹 Designer Options

• Stella McCartney – Known for soft tailoring and sustainable fabrics

• Joseph – Precision tailoring and luxe minimalist fabrics

• The Row – Quiet luxury and understated shapes

• Victoria Beckham – Sleek, high-waisted styles in rich neutrals

• Roksanda – Often includes structured culottes with volume and shape

You can find your exact size in all of these brands using Tellar.co.uk, which helps you navigate brand differences like Mango vs COS or Reiss vs Joseph, where a size 10 can differ by 4+ cm at the waist.

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 How to Style Culottes for Every Occasion

✔ Workwear

Pair tailored culottes with a silk blouse, loafers, and a belt. A structured blazer sharpens the look. Opt for navy, camel, or cream tones.

✔ Casual Weekend

Go for denim or linen culottes with a relaxed tee, oversized cardigan, or leather jacket. Add trainers or flat sandals.

✔ Evening Wear

Choose culottes in satin or crepe and pair with a strappy top, pointed heels, and a structured clutch. Monochrome looks elongate the body.

✔ Layering

Layer with knee-high boots underneath in winter or cropped jackets to balance proportions.

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📏 Culottes Sizing: Why It’s So Inconsistent

Many brands interpret "size 10" or "size 6" differently across UK and US markets. Even between two UK brands, inseam length, waistband height, and hip shape can vary by several inches.

That’s why tools like Tellar.co.uk have become essential.

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 How Tellar.co.uk WorksInstruction on Posts

Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s leading free sizing tool that matches your actual body measurements to your correct size in over 1,500 brands. It’s ideal for tricky garments like culottes where waist-to-hip ratio and rise must be exact.

✅ Step-by-step:

1. Measure once — Bust, waist, and hip, or enter your best-fitting brand size

2. Use the Store Size Lookup — See your size across COS, Reiss, Arket, Mango, and more

3. Shop with confidence — No guessing, fewer returns, smarter choices

4. It’s always free — No downloads needed; works in-browser

➡️ Start here: Create your free profile

➡️ Use the Store Size Lookup tool

➡️ Download a free printable measuring tape

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📚 Related Free Style & Fit Guides on Tellar

• The Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide

• Finding Your Clothes Size

• What Size Am I in Next?

• Flattering Jeans for Every Body Shape

• Petite Jeans Guide

• Smart Casual Blazers for Every Body Type

• Women’s Tuxedo Suit Guide

All content is:

✅ Honest

✅ Unbiased

✅ Independent

✅ Always free

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🔗 Stay Connected with Tellar

Follow for ongoing style deep dives, brand comparisons, and garment-specific fit science:

• Instagram: @Tellarsizing

• Twitter/X: @TellarSizing

• Facebook: Tellar Sizing

• Pinterest: TellarSizing

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Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s free & easy.

Start now at: www.tellar.co.uk