Alice Howarth
What should you wear with culottes? What length, cut and shoes are best? Check out Kate Middleton's cropped trousers style and shop similar outfits from Marks & Spencer, Boden & more.
The Duchess of Cambridge is one of the most-watched women in the world so it’s little wonder that she looks flawless whenever she steps out. And one of her favourite pieces to wear are culottes, which are super versatile because they can be worn in colder weather with boots and during spring and summer with flats or heels.
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The cropped trouser style, characterised by a wide leg and midi-length hem, has long been a favourite of the royal mum-of-three, who over the years has opted to wear them to all sorts of events.
The Duchess demonstrated the versatility of culottes wearing a khaki pair as she checked out a treehouse at the Chelsea Flower Show
Kate has worn her culottes to both formal and sporty engagements, dressing them down with trainers or flats, or dressing them up with high heels, depending on the occasion.
GET THE LOOK: Wide Leg Cropped Trousers, more colours available, £29.50 Marks & Spencer
What should you wear with culottes, and how should you style them?
With such popularity amongst the world’s best dressed, it’s pretty likely you want to get in on the culotte action too, right? Thought so.
Duchess Kate teamed her navy sailor culottes with a red bag and Breton striped shirt
The issue for many though is how exactly do you style them? What shoes are best to pair with them? What length should they be? How high-waisted should they be? Well, that depends on you and your style.
GET THE LOOK: Phase Eight Beatrix Culottes were £79 now £59, John Lewis
As a general rule, culottes tend to look best with heels as the legs are instantly lengthened but they definitely work with flats too. If opting for the latter, just make sure the trousers are cut slightly shorter so your ankles are visible as this will help with proportions.
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On a visit to London’s Natural History Museum, Duchess Kate wowed the crowds dressed in forest green culottes from Jigsaw
As for the high-waist, it really comes down to what suits you. If you typically wear your jeans high-waisted and feel good in them, stick to that style. If you typically wear low-slung trousers and have never worn culottes before, you may want to start out with a less voluminous silhouette.
GET THE LOOK: Drawstring Wide Leg Joggers £22.50, Marks & Spencer
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If you want to channel the "Kate Look", we’ve searched high and low for the best culottes to shop right now, from denim to prints and even faux leather!
Shop the best Kate Middleton style culottes
Light beige culottes, also in black, £19.99, H&M
Pale Pink Crop Wide Leg Trousers, £19.99, New Look
M&S COLLECTION Animal stripe culottes, £19.50, Marks & Spencer
Sweaty Betty wide leg culottes, also in green, were £85 now £34, Sweaty Betty
Blue floral printed culottes, £65, & Other Stories
Chambray culottes, £32, ASOS
- £70 now £35, Boden
Seasalt Cornwall Pure Linen Palm Floral Print Culottes, £65, Marks & Spencer
Black shirred spot print culottes, £26, River Island
Poplin Crop Trouser were £98 now £29, Jigsaw
Embroidered Culottes, were £120 now £90, Karen Millen
Celebrities love culottes, too
Despite her trend-setting ways, Duchess Kate is not the only woman in the spotlight to rock the trend. Everyone from Victoria Beckham to Cate Blanchett and Olivia Palermo have stepped out in the style as well.
Left to right: Victoria Beckham, Cate Blanchett and Olivia Palermo
So whether you're looking to celebrities or royals for inpiration on how to style your culottes, we hope we've helped you find the perfect pair!
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