From the Vault: Palazzo pants return for summer

Swishy luxury a perfect patio companion

From the Vault is a new feature in Style in which we pick some of our favourite photos from way, way back in the Journal fashion files and show you how they’ve been reinvented today. The result: a then-and-now picture of fashion trends, and a reminder that in the fickle world of fashion, almost everything old is (eventually) new again. The need for a pair of comfy, airy, I-can-eat-10-cheeseburgers-in-these pants is timeless.

The palazzo pant, a wide-leg trouser that features an A-line flare from the hip, looked like glorified pajama bottom then and continues to resemble snazzy loungewear now.

Coup Garment Boutique (10137 104th St.) owner Anna McDonough is happy to see the palazzo pant make a comeback this season. She owns two pairs and loves wearing them at work or while strolling around downtown.

The light, drapey garment makes for the perfect patio companion on warm, breezy summer nights. Since most are (and were) made of silk, they don’t cling. They also act as a slight wind breaker.

“Today, honestly, I think our customer, come summer, they don’t want anything that constrains like nylons, leggings or denim,” McDonough says. “They just want something that’s comfortable and flowing and they’re perfect for that.”

McDonough says the palazzo pant first became popular in the ’60s and ’70s, inspired by the wide-legged trousers worn by forward-thinking women like Katharine Hepburn who were rebelling against skirts and dresses. From certain angles, the palazzo pant can be mistaken for a long, floorlength maxi.

She says the palazzo’s palatial comeback has to do with our current obsession with luxury and comfort. On the one hand, they’re incredibly freeing. On the other hand, they’ve evolved as a dressy number.

Palazzo pants come in a variety of colours and patterns, such as black with cream polka dots or white speckled with blue. Coup offers them from designers like 3.1 Phillip Lim and 10 Crosby by Derek Lam.

“It’s something you can throw on and because of the fabric and prints, it’s still considered a more fashion-forward style.”

Today’s palazzo pant features a bit of a lower rise and relaxed fit. In addition, they’re a bit narrower than the original palazzo pant. McDonough says they can be dressed up or down with the switch of a shoe. Flats give them a more casual look, while pumps can, well, pump up your look.

If you’re looking to slip into some of these silky bottoms, make sure you’re aware of their short lifespan, especially in Edmonton where summer only lasts a few months.

“They’re not as easy in the winter because they’re long and drag on the ground. But for summer, they’re the perfect option for something other than a dress or a skirt, especially in Edmonton.

“It’s so windy now, so if you’re doing any amount of walking, it’s a good option to wear a nice airy palazzo pant.”

Greg Southam/ Edmonton Journal Palazzo pants, like these printed ones, can also be dressed up for an evening of cocktails by adding a blazer and a pair of pumps.

Theatre Guild/ The Associated Press Katharine Hepburn, shown in a 1939 photo publicizing the Broadway version of The Philadelphia Story, helped define pants as not only practical but fashionable.

Greg Southam/ Edmonton Journal Coup Garment Boutique owner Anna McDonough shows how a pair of palazzo pants can be dressed down for a casual wander.

Supplied A white tulle beaded jacket with palazzo pants offered coverage in the miniskirt era.

Supplied The palazzo pants of yore were much wider than they are today.

Supplied Silk palazzo pants were matched with a white linen jacket by Ralph Lauren.