Wide-Leg Trousers

Marlene trousers fit close to the body at the waist and hips, then fall straight and wide right down over the shoe. Their signature features are a high waistband, pressed creases and fluid suiting fabrics. They owe their name to Marlene Dietrich, who challenged the gender conventions of the 1930s by confidently wearing men's trousers. To this day, the Marlene trouser stands for feminine self-assurance. Its long, clean line visually lengthens the legs, making it the perfect partner for blouses, fitted tops and elegant blazers.

With palazzo trousers, the width begins right at the hip. Their generously cut, usually floor-length legs move almost like a skirt. The silhouette rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s, when designers created luxurious "palazzo pyjamas" as an alternative to the evening gown. Flowing fabrics, prints and vibrant colours underline their glamorous character. A slim top keeps the silhouette clean; worn as a coordinated set, they unfold their full fashion impact.

Barrel pants are wide at the hips and thighs, curve gently outwards and taper again towards the ankle. Their rounded shape recalls a barrel – hence the name. There are historical echoes of riding, work and utility trousers, yet it is only in recent years that the barrel silhouette has become a runway favourite. It looks less flowing than a palazzo or Marlene trouser, but modern and sculptural instead. It looks especially cool with short, close-fitting tops, tucked-in blouses or a sharply cut blazer.

The trouser skirt is constructed like a true pair of trousers, yet its generous leg width makes it look like a skirt. Its predecessors, known as "divided skirts", made cycling and riding easier for women at the end of the 19th century – and so became a symbol of newfound freedom of movement. Today this fusion of skirt and trousers is also known as a "skant". Flowing materials and softly falling drapes enhance the skirt effect. The trouser skirt comes in midi or ankle length and combines feminine lightness with the easy comfort of a pair of trousers.

Culottes are wide-cut trousers that usually end between the knee and the ankle. Originally, "culotte" was the name for the knee-length breeches worn by male French aristocrats. In the 20th century, the shortened style was reinterpreted for women and had become a true fashion statement by the 1960s at the latest. Unlike the trouser skirt, culottes do not need to look like a skirt: their trouser legs may remain clearly visible. The bare ankle lends them lightness and elegantly shows off loafers, slingbacks, ankle boots or sandals.