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Do you remember gaucho pants? They were these horrid loose knit pants with wide legs that ended mid-calf and were all the rage in the mid-2000s. I remember them vividly because I was in middle school—a time when it is so easy to succumb to peer pressure—and gaucho pants were the trend of the pre-teen. Even back then I hated them, and it was then that I learned that just because something is trendy it doesn't mean it's a good look.

Anyways, I bring up gaucho pants because lately the culotte has made a serious comeback. Upon first glance the culotte and the gaucho pant are virtually the same: wide leg pants/shorts that end anywhere from the knee to the ankle. But the culotte is the chic older cousin of the gaucho pant, and somehow I love it while still despising the gaucho pant.

It's all in the material, and, as always, what the culotte is styled with. I'm sure Leandra Medine could have made gaucho pants look stylish with her amazing talent to create unique looks, just as a pair of culottes could go horribly awry with the wrong pairings.

In my humble opinion culottes work best with structured box tops and heels. If you want to be daring you can play up the oversized proportions by adding an oversized sweater, but for a polished, work-appropriate look I would stick with some structure and balance. Heels add sophistication to the outfit, but a smart pair of loafers or oxfords could work nicely.

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There is certainly potential for cool looks with a pair of culottes. And with winter approaching they're a nice alternative to boring structured pants if you are yearning for a break from them. 

Summer is in full swing, my friends, and that means the mercury is staying high for a good while longer. Presently in Los Angeles (about ten miles inland) it is a balmy 80 degrees, with an expected high of 90 for tomorrow. And believe me, I know there are some of you reading this who would kill to have it be that "cool" right now.

It's times like these when I just can't believe how few tank tops, shorts, and sleeveless dresses I have (which is a total lie because I have plenty, but I go through them so quickly when the weather is this warm, and then it's awful because I have nothing to wear) and I just want to take all my pants and turn them into cute little cut-offs. In fact, sometimes I ask myself why I was so stupid to buy all these pants. When will I ever use them? (And then I remember January when I cursed myself for having so many dresses because I was tired of wearing my favorite jeans over and over again). C'est la vie, I suppose.

But if you can spare an old pair of pants - or better yet, score an old pair of Levi's at a vintage or thrift store - I highly recommend getting a little crafty and preparing yourself a pair of cute cut-offs to get through the rest of summer. They are all the rage right now (clearly, if street style mavens like Miroslava Duma and young starlet AnnaSophia Robb are rocking them) and it seems easy enough to turn a pair of worn jeans into perfect summer shorts.