How to recognise it
The legs widen from the hip and fall freely to the floor, so the trousers look almost like a maxi skirt. The waist is often high, with elastic or a wide band, sometimes with front pleats.
Where it comes from
In 1960 the Rome designer Irene Galitzine introduced "palazzo pyjamas": wide silk trousers for evenings in grand houses (Italian palazzo). In the 1970s they became everyday wear.
Who and when it suits
Palazzo pants are comfortable on a hot day and suit holidays, parties and the office in summer. Because they are wide, pair them with a fitted or tucked-in top.
Variations and look-alikes
They come in silk for evening, linen for summer or crepe for work, with elastic or a wide band, pleated or plain. With a matching top they make an elegant set. They differ from wide-leg trousers in widening from the hip and falling softly, and from culottes in reaching the floor.
How to style it
- Keep the top fitted or tucked in.
- Platform or heeled sandals make the legs look longer.
- The length should almost reach the floor in your shoes.
Similar styles
Frequently asked
01How are palazzo pants different from wide-leg trousers?
Palazzos widen from the hip and are very full, in a light fluid fabric; wide-leg trousers are straighter and more structured.
02Which shoes go with palazzo pants?
Platform or heeled sandals, espadrilles, and heels for the evening.