I’ve decided that this Summer I’m going to live in culottes. Unfortunately one of my ancestors way back when was some kind of large-limbed gargantuan and I’ve inherited their legs. This does not bode well for culotte wearing.

If you adhere to the ‘dress to flatter your figure’ school of thought, wearing anything that cuts off at the widest part of your calf/arm/bust/hips warrants a severe slap on the knuckles by a grumpy Trinny Woodall. But what’s a girl to do?

I put on my culottes and before I knew it I was lunging around the living room like I had stepped into a Monty Python skit. They’re just so comfortable.They’re also everywhere on the high street at the moment. Yesterday I turned a corner too quickly and a pair slapped me in the face.

Despite my apparent lack of interest in dressing for figure flattery, it would be nice to find some culottes that look kind of nice on me. So I went on a little trip down the high street in search of the perfect pair.

Here is what I have learnt…

Lesson one: there’s a place for every price-point.

At the top end of the high street price scale, I tried on a lovely pair of short ‘Fillipa’ culottes from Reiss, priced at £95. Tailored to a tee with well-placed pleats, these are the kind of culottes I could see myself wearing to work and to summer barbecues alike.

On the other end of the scale, I tried on a pair from Monki that came at the bargain price of £20. They were basic cotton and had a 90s-esque colourful pattern on them, which I’m aware wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste. But their flimsy, billowing looseness meant they almost looked like a patterned skirt. Two-in-one! Score! I could happily swan about in these on the weekend.

Lesson two: it’s easier to wear wide leg culottes than narrow cut culottes.

There’s a fine line between good culotte and bad culotte. And when I say ‘fine line’ I mean ‘three inches of fabric’. I’d hate to rule out a certain cut just because I’m incapable of wearing it, today I saw a girl at work who looked fricken amazing in a narrow cut denim pair. But the £45 pair I tried on from Dahlia, which came in a shiny, floral pattern and the plain grey £38 ‘Glamathon’ version I tried on in River Island did nothing for me and it was all down to the narrow cut.

Depending on what you team them with, culottes can look glamourous. Or modish. Or romantic. They shouldn’t look like you’re trying to channel Kath á la Kath and Kim. So, as far as I’m concerned, when it comes to culottes, the wider the better.

Lesson three: you don’t need to be super slim to wear culottes

If you have the figure of a model, then there are lots of culottes that will look great on you. If you don’t, there are still lots of culottes that will look great on you. Anything nipped in at the waist works well, especially if you’re pear shaped or petite although bear in mind that Cos seems to have taken the somewhat controversial step of denying the existence of waists altogether. Medical professionals and belt-makers alike will be up in arms. Meanwhile, I’ll be submitting this picture to Subway for their next ad campaign…

Looking beyond the obvious sizing issue, I think the Cos culottes (£69) could be a good buy (provided I had them altered). They have a sturdy fabric which gives them an edge and would work well with similarly minimalist shirt or top and some zany shoes, of which Cos have some excellent examples at the moment.

Interestingly, Zara’s culottes, £29.99 from their premium denim collection, were very snug around the hips which would normally put me off. But the high waist worked with my curves and I have to say, standing in that cramped changing room, I felt like a whole lotta woman.

Now, after my stringent research I feel like a true expert, nodding knowingly at random strangers in culottes as I walk down Oxford Street. I’m also completely sold on this strange and wonderful piece of fashion. They’re versatile, easy to wear and can be surprisingly flattering. My bet is they won’t have long in the limelight, so I’ll be getting them while I can. It’s not often fashion and comfort come together so conveniently.

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