Sandeep Salter may very well be one of Brooklyn’s most stylish women.
If you’re lucky enough to have frequented her homeware-cum-housewares store Salter House, you may have observed this for yourself. Her flowing locks swish about as she offers you coffee and cake or a perusal of her amazing butter dishes and waffle towels sourced straight from Italy. Her style is lifted from a ballerina’s playbook: wraparound cardigans, delicate eyelet embossed singlets, and more recently—and interestingly—cotton bloomers.
In black and white, they are three-quarter cropped and ruffled, accented with ties on either side. On anyone else, they’re perhaps a tricky proposition for every day; on her, they’re an ingenious and more put-together solution for the girl who loves to wear sweatpants and call it a day (a.k.a. me). I thought to myself that it came so naturally to Sandeep, perhaps a challenge to style and wear the bloomers myself could bear fruit. After a couple of false starts, thanks to ruthless New York living (they were swiped from my Brooklyn stoop), the bloomers in black and accompanying ruffle skirt (Sandeep insisted) arrived on my door.
Initially, they felt like they fit snugger to the leg than I’d imagined, but in a good way. They look elegant and less infantile than they might if they billowed out. Still, I thought long and hard about what might work. On my first day, I paired my brand-new Dries Van Noten jacquard magenta coat with the bloomers, ruffle skirt, oversize sweater, and playful topknot hat for a work lunch, a day of meetings, and commuting back home. The look was a hit. Pairing them with a monochromatic base made them a lot less daunting, and I was pleased to find out that with a soft loafer, they were really lovely as an everyday option on my bottom half.
They are the sort of pant option that could work for all occasions—a fun option for work, with enough flair and sophistication for the evening when paired with the right accessories and worn with heels—but I had to test for myself.
For my second style trial, I tried them out with my Maryam Nassir Zadeh Perspex wedges, my tried and true vintage Erykah Badu tee for a day at work, and a black Tory Burch bomber for when it got cold in the evening. I feel like the look still worked and would be a viable option for times when I need something more dressed up, like cocktail hour. If you want to start slow, though, Suzie Kondi and Cou Cou intimates have great options for trying the trend in the comfort of your own home. Chloé and Free People also are great calls for more lacy and delicate versions of the trend. My final thoughts? To my surprise, I think I am a convert. Bloomers are utilitarian and sporty and had me feeling less like a Victorian child and more like a wanton woman with whimsy in her step. I’d encourage you to give bloomers a try!
Shop Bloomers
Salter House Black Cotton Tie Bloomer Pants
Salter House Black Silk Bloomers
Salter House Black Corduroy Bloomers
Salter House Black Cotton Bloomers
Salter House Organic Cotton Ruffle
Free People Forever Young Pants
Chloé Fluid Cropped Pants
Cou Cou Intimates The Bloomer
