Fashion Glossary: Pants and Skirts from Cargo Pants to Midi Skirt

Cargo pants have patch pockets on the sides, culottes are wide-cut pants with short to mid-length legs and a midi skirt ends between the knee and the ankle. This fashion glossary explains 14 terms for pants and skirts in two to three sentences each.

When you browse, you come across words like paperbag pants, palazzo pants or pencil skirt that not everyone can place right away. For each term you will find what is behind it and what you can combine it with. Where the shop has matching items there is an example, so not every term is linked. Tops and knitwear are explained in the Fashion glossary: tops and knitwear.

Pants terms: cargo pants, culottes, paperbag, palazzo, chino and jogger

Cargo pants. Pants with patch pockets on the sides, the cargo pockets. The cut goes back to military clothing and stands for the utility look. The cargo pants in khaki have a wide leg, a high elastic waistband and side pockets. The fabric falls fluidly, it is made of viscose. How to style them is in the guide How to style cargo pants.

Culottes. Wide-cut pants with short to mid-length legs. The term is also used for the skort, more on that below. A slim top and flat shoes or small heels go with them.

Paperbag pants. Pants with a high waistband that is gathered with pleats and stands up slightly at the top. Hence the name: the waistband looks like a tied-up paper bag. It is often held at the waist with a ribbon or belt. A top tucked into the waistband shows the pleats.

Palazzo pants. Very wide-cut, long pants whose legs fall evenly and fluidly. In the shop, similar styles are often called baggy pants. The striped baggy pants in brown have a wide leg, vertical stripes and an elastic waistband with a drawstring. You will find ideas in the guide How to style wide-leg pants.

Chino. Pants with a straight leg made of firm cotton fabric. The chino sits between jeans and suit pants and can be worn with a shirt, blouse or knitwear.

Jogger. Relaxed pants with cuffs at the hem of the legs, derived from sweatpants. For everyday you wear the jogger with sneakers, a sweatshirt or a cardigan.

Skirt terms: midi skirt, maxi skirt, pencil skirt, A-line and cargo skirt

Midi skirt. A skirt that ends between the knee and the ankle, usually around the calf. Ankle boots, ballet flats or sneakers go with it. You will find more ideas in the guide How to style a skirt.

Maxi skirt. A long skirt that reaches the ankles or the floor. The maxi skirt in khaki is a long, flowing skirt made of a viscose blend with an elastic smocked waistband.

Pencil skirt. A slim, straight-cut skirt that usually ends at the knee. It counts as an office classic and goes with a blouse, fine knitwear and a blazer.

A-line skirt. A skirt that starts narrow at the waist and gets wider toward the bottom. The shape is reminiscent of the letter A. A shirt or blouse tucked into the waistband goes with it.

Cargo skirt. A skirt with patch pockets on the sides, which takes over the cargo pockets from the cargo pants. The cargo skirt in beige has side cargo pockets and an elastic waistband with a drawstring.

Pleats and hybrids: plissé, pleated skirt and skort

Plissé. A fabric with finely set, parallel pleats. It is used for pleated pants and pleated skirts. The pleated pants in black have a wide, flowing leg, fine pleats and an elastic waistband with a drawstring. The guide How to style pleated pants has ideas, and you will find more styles in the pleated pants.

Pleated skirt. A skirt with set-in pleats. In everyday use, pleated skirt and plissé skirt are often used to mean the same. Plissé refers especially to very fine, even pleats.

Skort. Pants with two separate legs that look like a skirt from the outside. The term skort (skirt + shorts) means about the same. The denim skort in camel has a short cut, a button placket, pockets and stretch denim made of cotton. The difference from a skirt is explained in the guide Skort or skirt, and you will find styles in the skorts.

How do I style pants and skirts?

• Wide meets slim. With wide pieces such as palazzo pants, culottes or a maxi skirt, the top stays slim. With the slim pencil skirt it can fall looser.
• Top into the waistband. With paperbag pants, a skort and an A-line skirt, a tucked-in top sets a clear line at the waist.
• One texture per outfit. Pleats, cargo pockets or stripes already catch the eye. The top above stays simple.

Matching items in the shop: cargo and maxi skirts.

Frequently asked questions

What are cargo pants?

Cargo pants are pants with patch pockets on the sides. The cut goes back to military clothing and stands for the utility look.

What are culottes?

Culottes are wide-cut pants with short to mid-length legs. The term is also used for the skort.

What are paperbag pants?

Paperbag pants have a high waistband gathered with pleats that stands up like a tied-up paper bag. It is often held with a ribbon or belt.

What is the difference between a midi skirt and a maxi skirt?

A midi skirt ends between the knee and the ankle, usually at calf height. A maxi skirt is longer and reaches the ankles or the floor.

What is the difference between a plissé skirt and a pleated skirt?

Both terms are often used to mean the same in everyday use. Plissé refers especially to very fine, evenly set pleats, a pleated skirt generally has set-in pleats.