Hi Nikki,

I love your style tips; they’re so useful and you’re amazing ^__^. Anyway, I’m a 5′3 very skinny guy who really likes Asian fashion. I really love skinny jeans but sometimes I want to dress in something else. I actually kinda like harem pants and was wondering whether a short guy can pull these off. Your help is much appreciated. I’m your fan from New Zealand (no hobbit jokes!)!

Patrick

I’ve been into fashion for a long time now and I plan to go to FIDM in LA for college but I recently just started getting into Asian fashion. What really stood out to me while browsing the men’s selections were the harem pants. I just recently got a pair of harem pants and wore them a couple of times and I got compliments from them. However, I don’t feel that I have the right outfits that compliment the harem pants. So please, Nikki, how do you find the right outfits to go with harem pants?

Martin

I love fan mail! And I love my fans! You send my little heart all a-flutter with your nice words! By the way, the title is not meant to encourage you to start hiding people in your closets, okay? Nikki wants her fans to be good boys and girls.

Ah, harem pants. They seem to be all over the place suddenly, right? For people who grew up in the 80s, “harem pants” are synonymous with this famous rap star during that era and of course, Aladdin. Now they’re back for a whole new generation of hipsters.

Harem pants are tricky to wear, whether you’re a guy or a girl. They’re not exactly figure-friendly and if worn the wrong way, can spell disaster for the rest of your social life. But then who cares? You’ll never know if a style or trend works for you unless you give it a try!

Harem pants have different styles – there’s the low-crotch and the really low crotch. If you’re short, go for a mid-thigh crotch. Anything lower and more baggy will make you look smaller. However, there are also harem pants that look like your regular pair of trousers or even sweatpants, but just designed to be more loose fitting.

Choose tops that hit your waist and skim your physique. No to oversized T-shirts or tops! To add more polish, consider pairing a form-fitting V-neck tee or tank top with a cropped jacket or a nice blazer that sits at the waist.

Choose fabrics with care. The right material will determine how your pants will drape, and therefore, how you’ll look. Heavy cotton, linen, denim and T-shirt fabrics tend to sag. Lycra, silks and some delicate fabrics will provide a more tailored look. Experimenting with lengths – from ankle-length and mid-calf to knee or shorts-length – will also help you find out what flatters your figure the most.

Most harem pants look good with high-top sneakers if you want to go very, very casual. Edgy boots do just as well. Want to look a little more polished? Pointy loafers or leather mocs can do the trick, too. Don’t be afraid to show a little ankle but please make sure they’re worth seeing!

Now, I’m not asking that you suddenly bust a move at the bus stop or impulsively keep a pet monkey named Abu. However, I would recommend you try running in them to check their comfort level. Good luck, boys!

Nikki

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