I've been wearing my son's culottes all week. Here's why they work for everyone

I’ve been wearing my 12-year-old son’s culottes all week. Though he doesn’t call them culottes. On hearing that word his eyes would probably roll so far back in his head, he might even fall backwards. Because what I say is a ‘culotte’, he says are “jorts”. Any other name would be termed too “mid.”

Jorts are basically super baggy jeans shorts, or wide tailored shorts, that are fitted below the waist and flare out to a baggy cut so wide they could, if you really squinted, look like an A-line skirt. Which is what puts them in culotte territory – the original definition of this garment is it’s a pair of trousers that resembles a skirt due to their loose fit and flowy fabric.

His (mine?) are the 'Astro' dark denim pair from the Swedish brand Weekday, the store loved by Gen Alpha above all others, though there are smarter pairs at M&S and John Lewis too. On me his jorts, which I wear with a cotton blouse tucked in, and my favourite pair of summery sandals, look laid back and cool, rather than twee, or so voluminous they swamp my shape.

Which is the problem with the original idea of a culotte, they can make you look bigger than you are. Though I tried his on pure whim, I immediately understood why they worked. They accentuate the waist, skim the hips and thighs, are comfortable, and still expose the ankle and allow you to showcase your favourite summer shoe.

And therin lies the key to approaching the culotte again: don’t try and wear it as a skirt masquerading as shorts. Wear like your favourite super baggy trousers cut off below the knee, and you’ll hit the mood.

New look culotte edit