Last summer, pants looked a little different. Call it the Alaïa effect: after the brand showed harem styles in its spring 2026 collection, it seems that Pieter Mulier struck a nerve with women. With billowing legs that cinched at the ankle and paired with crop tops and tanks, the easy yet stylish combination felt like a runway look that readily translated to reality. Suddenly you saw a slew of labels, from designer to more affordable options creating their own takes. And it seems like a year later, that fascination shows no sign of stopping. You only need to look at Charlize Theron’s recent outfits for her “Apex” press tour as proof.
Styled by Leslie Fremar, Theron was seen on the streets of New York City in a Givenchy by Sarah Burton look consisting of roomy black trousers and an oversized shirt. She followed that outfit up with similar white pants, topped with a denim jacket. “She continues to show how powerful playing with proportion can be, balancing volume with clean, minimal tops and sharp accessories, which keeps the looks polished and directional,” says Sherri McMullen, who owns McMullen boutique in Oakland, Calif.
With their origins dating to Persia and the Middle East, modern iterations of harem pants have traditionally skewed bohemian but that perception has shifted, as designers look to the style as a source of inspiration for relaxed takes on tailoring. And for McMullen, that fluid, refined sensibility makes sense, as her boutique has picked up versions from a number of designers to great success.
Alaïa, spring 2025
Courtesy of Alaïa
“Christopher John Rogers showed the silhouette as a head to toe printed look that sold out immediately and we’re seeing that momentum carry through into next fall,” she explains. Also on her radar? A crisp white balloon style from Rohe as well as a rich brown version by Michael Kors, both of which are readily available at her boutique.
To McMullen, it’s only fitting that last summer’s trendiest trousers would continue on as a popular item this year. “It’s an ideal warm weather silhouette: fluid, effortless and inherently travel-ready.” As for how to style the piece, she advises approaching your outfit with intention. Given its volume on the bottom, a structured or sleek top be it a tailored shirt or sleek blazer gives the look structure — you only need to look at Theron as evidence that this combination works. Also consider the color palette: neutrals tend to work better to keep it visually balanced. And finally, to finish, strong accessories in the form of large sunglasses or sharp shoes to ground the ensemble.
