Harem Pants - Do You Love Harem Pants Or Loathe Them?

Harem pants originate from the Middle East as far back as the 16th century when there were two main powers in control, these being the Ottomans of Turkey and the Safavids of Persia. Their clothing was very similar in design and the overall outfit consisted of low crotch pants worn under closed tunics and open robes. Ottoman rule was very broad, reaching across the Middle East, Europe and North Africa and the styles worn by the Ottomans were introduced into the political areas that they ruled. Many illustrations show people, mainly men, wearing full pants which today we commonly refer to as harem pants. The Safavids took control of Persia and the silk trail and it was rumoured that harem pants originated here. The pants were full at the top, and down to the knee region and then tapered to the ankle. The full part was to make sitting down and general movements easier.

Harem Pants were made popular again in the early 20th century during the Orientalism Movement. Paul Poiret was very inspired by the Orient and Ballet Russes; from the jewel encrusted lampshade tunics to tapered harem pants. He encouraged women to remove themselves from the constrains of corsets and be less inhibited in exotic clothing.

Talitha Getty was pictured wearing an exceedingly chic pair of white harem pants on a Marrakech rooftop with her husband, John Paul Getty, at the beginning of 1969. It was a photograph that has since inspired countless designers to work some bohemian magic into their designs.

It is not stated where Talitha bought her chic harem pants but it could well have been Yves Saint Laurent, who was enthralled and inspired by her, describing her as a romantised wild child of Morocco.