The Essentials: Culottes, Skirts That Are Just Clever Shorts

Bring a blast from the past (the forties, to be exact) with your sassy self to the office in a pair of streamlined culottes. Already trotted out for spring by designers like Marni and Etro, the culotte is a longer version of the skort (shorts disguised under a short skirt). Typically around mid-calf in length, the culotte offers a seamless marriage of the femininity of a pencil skirt and the mobility of pants. Tuck a crisp white blouse into a pair and add a skinny neon belt with ankle-strap pumps for subtle throwback flair.