Fit school
Wide, barrel or harem: picking your loose
Loose is not one shape. The three cuts that anchor the TARSE range all give you room, but they put that room in different places, and they read very differently on the street. Choosing between them comes down to where you want the volume and what shoes you live in.
| Shape | In the closet | How it hangs | Best at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide / palazzo | 18 | Straight and flowing from the hip down | Long lines, hot days, dressing up a plain top |
| Barrel | 18 | Curves out at the thigh, tapers back at the ankle | The current street silhouette, sneakers, cuffed hems |
| Harem | 17 | Dropped crotch, gathered at the ankle | Sitting cross-legged, long travel days, studio classes |
Wide, the forgiving one
A palazzo leg falls straight from the widest point of your hip, which means it skims everything below it. It is the easiest of the three to size, the coolest in real heat, and the one that passes as dressed-up with a tucked blouse. If it is your first pair from the range, start here.
Barrel, the current one
The barrel cut carries its volume through the thigh and then pulls back in at the ankle, so you keep a visible shoe and a deliberate silhouette. It wants a fitted or tucked top for balance. Of the three, it is the most fashion-forward and the one that photographs best.
Harem, the comfortable one
The dropped crotch looks dramatic on the hanger and completely natural in motion. Nothing pulls when you squat, sit cross-legged or climb stairs two at a time, which is why reviewers keep buying them for travel and for teaching yoga. The gathered ankle keeps the drama tidy.
