Palazzo Suits Trend – Pretty Pants that are Wardrobe Essentials 

What’s not to love in a pair of fashion trousers or palazzo pants!! Gorgeous for their ability to give our legs the much-needed breathing space – they are comfortable, look great and are extremely versatile. This fashion-forward bottom is fast becoming the go-to choice of women from different walks of life. Palazzos and other loose pants are super fun to style. This flattering cut goes well with various silhouettes, outfits and body types. Who thought the Indian and ethnic women would embrace these flared, wide-hemmed bottoms – also colloquially called Plazos – in the Salwar Suit domain with a ferocity, raising these pants to an iconic status! Today, we can see cool plazo pants getting teamed with almost every kind of top-wear, Western or Indian – from kurtis, mid-length kurtas, A-line Kameez, even Anarkali Suits, capes and short cholis. Palazzo Suits are rightfully the flavor of the moment! From their earlier days of strictly ethnic and colloquial Sindhi Pajamas and Pakistani Pants/ Paijamas – to their definitively Western avatars of Culottes and Trousers, the ethnic pants too have really come a long way – all thanks to Palazzos. Have you made these soon-to-be classic, generally high-waist pants a part of your wardrobe? Well, great, if you have – and in case, you haven’t, here, we bring you a lowdown on myriad variations of palazzos that can add an extra edge to your Indian ethnic wardrobe –

1. Classic Parallel Pants –

The parallels are what you would expect them to be – parallel or uniform width from thigh area to the hem. They look quite formal and elegant. Classic parallels are a great choice for absolutely anyone, wearing a structured or A-line silhouette. Since the width is balanced, there is generally no fear of adding girth or cutting height.

2. Classic Wide Parallels –

A little extra width and you have a variation of the basic parallel trousers. These are quite comfortable – given the room they have at the knee and calf area These trousers must be worn with care, as a long , loose kurti with wide parallels can add girth to your look. Good for tall and slim women, this style goes well with shorter or mid-length styles and Indo-western, fusion kurtas. This style is fast replacing the Churidar Suits too.

3. Standard Wide-hemmed Palazzos –

The wide-hemmed palazzos are a rage these days, and are flaunted by women of all ages. These should be worn with caution, though; they are not suited to all body types. Wear them with structured, fitted or slim kurtas that are long or mid-length. Wear printed palazzos with short kurtis for extra oomph.

4. Gathered –

These palazzo pants look extremely beautiful in heavy wedding suits and Indo-western suits. They are a nice cross-over between ethnic lehenga and Western trousers. Crafted in light-weight or gauzy fabrics like nets and georgettes, these pants are made like a gathered skirt with a plenty of flare, but obviously have 2 separate legs. Do not pair palazzos with a lot of flare with long kurtas, as they will add indiscernible weight. Instead, pair with a knee-length or shorter kurta – or if you have those killer abs – then a navel-length ethnic top – and see how you shine!

5. Pleated on belt –

This is a high-waist palazzo style – borrowed straight from a man’s wardrobe. Actually these pants are much like parallel trousers – but with pleats at the waist for extra flare. Pair them with mid-length tunics and you are reday to go into work in style! These palazzo pants add a touch of fierceness to your wardrobe – and look great with in-vogue high-slit capes and riding waist style kurtas (as shown in the image) – which are a cross between a cape and a crop top.

6. Slim Plazos –

For the frail at heart, you shrink at the prospect of adding any visual flare to their bottoms – these work just fine for all sorts of silhouettes and body types. The slim palazzos look quite graceful and are great for office wear salwar suits. You can pair them easily with flowy Anarakalis and looser, flared kurta tops – the slim bottom works fine in contrast to a billowy top.

7. Flared Parallel Pants –

A standard palazzo with a plenty of extra flare – more than the wide hemmed plazo pants – is what makes flared parallel pants. There is a lot of room – so these pants are super comfy, and they look quite chic – provided they are styled well. Much like all the styles with oodles of extra fabric, this one too needs to worked with careful styling – so it flatters – and doesn’t look frumpy.

8. Trousers –

Another style that’s borrowed from the men’s arena – fuelling Androgynous dressing to newer levels – the trousers is NOT a palazzo. Instead it is a pants style that is more fitted, structured and formal. Easier to carry and style, trousers are being embraced in the Indian suits segment by women of all ages with a plenty of fervor – so much so that they are fact replacing the leggings’ obsession.

9. Super Flared –

Super pretty, the extra flared palazzos is not a style you would be able to flaunt every day. But, you can surely add this gorgeous pants style to your wedding and party-wear wardrobe. Just be careful of pairing these flared, flowy ones with fitted or structured tops and kurtas. Long, open capes with crop tops inside look great with these.

10. Lehenga Palazzos –

Replace your standard lehenga with a divided version – the lehenga palazzos. Cut like an A line or flared lehenga, these palazzo pants are usually used by women with their wedding tops and kameez. You can wear them with Indo-western and fusion wear kurtas too. Printed, bohemian palazzos, especially ones with ethnic prints or block printing, look great in this cut.

11. Bell Bottoms –

Much like the bell bottomed trousers of the yore – only wider and more flared, getting progressively billowy from knees – these beautiful palazzos are youthful and chic. For many, wearing these pants will be like taking a nostalgic trip down the memory lane – for this was once a super popular trend in 70’s and during the hippie movement. Pair with short of knee-length kameez, so the flare rightfully shows, and add some retro accessories, like a headband.

12. Sharara Bottoms –

Tapered, fitted till knees and then flared, these are much like bell bottomed palazzos. Thanks to films and glamour world, this experimental style is much in vogue these days. Go for it – but ensure styling it well – or it may look too slouchy or frumpy. Hope you are rightfully palazzo primed!!

For some more quick-fix palazzo inspiration, we are adding a lovely Infographic – that will give you an instant lowdown on all sorts of flares you can play with in the pants domain.

Best!