Harem Pants

Silk harem pants, cut for a wardrobe with standards

Harem pants are usually a choice between looking good and being comfortable. Something Pretty cuts them in a silk and viscose blend so you stop choosing. One customer put it better than we could: "absolutely stunning and on top of that so comfortable and flattering." The blend is 30% silk and 70% viscose, fully lined. Silk gives the surface its quiet sheen, viscose gives the fluid drape, and the lining means nothing clings. The tapered ankle keeps the shape deliberate, so the volume reads as design rather than accident.

The Blue Silk Harem Pant and the Black Silk Harem Pant are the two that leave first each season, both fully lined with a fold-over waistband.

Will harem pants make me look shapeless?

No, provided two things are true: the hem is tapered and the top half is fitted. Those two rules are what separate a tailored trouser from a hippie one. The volume sits away from the hip and thigh, then the narrow ankle draws the eye to the slimmest part of the leg, which is why the cut flatters far more people than its reputation suggests. Anyone who has written harem pants off almost certainly met a slouchy cotton pair with no taper, worn under a loose top, which adds volume everywhere at once.

What are harem pants?

Harem pants are trousers gathered through the hip and seat, then tapered to a narrow ankle. The shape has been worn across South Asia and the Middle East for centuries and entered western dressing in the early 1900s. Something Pretty stocks them in a lined silk and viscose blend rather than the unlined cotton that fills most of the South African market.

How to style silk harem pants

Keep the top half close to the body. Because the volume sits low and full, a fitted cami such as the Burgundy Lisa Cami, a fine knit or a silk shell is the right partner, tucked in or grazing the waistband. A flat sandal with a linen shirt thrown over reads as daytime. A heel, a bare shoulder and one gold chain turns the same trouser into dinner.

Colour does most of the work. Black and ink take a jewel-tone top and a strong lip. The Taupe Silk Harem Pant sits beautifully against cream, camel and soft olive. Layer a piece from the silk scarves edit at the neck, or a Black Silk Poncho over the shoulders, and the outfit stops reading as separates.

Are these harem pants practical in a South African summer?

A silk and viscose blend handles heat better than either cotton or linen. Viscose is made from plant cellulose, so it breathes and stays cool against the skin, and it drapes far more fluidly than cotton. Silk adds the surface sheen and takes dye deeply, which is why the colours read rich rather than flat. The blend also resists the deep creasing that makes linen difficult by mid-morning, which matters in a Cape Town February. If you want the same fabric in another shape, the silk skirts and silk dresses edits run on the same principle, and how silk actually behaves is worth two minutes before you buy.

How should I size harem pants?

Size to your natural waist, not your hip. The cut is deliberately generous through the seat and thigh, so the waistband is the only measurement that decides the fit. Anyone between two sizes should take the smaller one. Something Pretty publishes exact measurements in the size guide, and our team will measure the actual pair before it ships.

Caring for silk you actually wear

Cool hand wash or a gentle dry clean, then hang damp and let gravity do the pressing. Keep a hot iron off the surface, because viscose scorches more easily than cotton. Do not wring, and do not tumble dry. The fabric relaxes on the body within minutes of wearing, so travel creases settle on their own. Store folded rather than hung so the waistband holds its shape.

Where can I buy harem pants in Cape Town?

Something Pretty sells harem pants online at somethingpretty.co.za and in three Cape Town stores: Constantia Village, Cavendish Square and Sea Point. Every pair hangs in store before it goes online. Our store details and trading hours are here, and the Sea Point boutique is the newest of the three, opened after the Sea Point launch.

Something Pretty buys four colourways properly rather than twelve badly, so when a colour sells through it is usually gone for the season. Choose yours and we will wrap it and send it tracked anywhere in South Africa, free over R1,500. For the same fluid feeling in a wider leg, the wide leg pants edit is the alternative, and linen pants covers the crisper end of summer dressing.

Last updated: 4 August 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What are harem pants?

Harem pants are trousers gathered through the hip and seat, then tapered to a narrow ankle. The volume sits away from the body and the narrow hem draws the eye to the slimmest part of the leg. The shape comes from South Asia and the Middle East and entered western dressing in the early 1900s.

Do harem pants suit everyone?

Harem pants flatter most shapes, provided the hem is tapered and the top half is fitted. The cut skims the hip and thigh rather than gripping. The version that does not work is a slouchy cotton pair with an untapered hem worn under a loose top, which adds volume everywhere at once.

How should I size silk harem pants?

Size to your natural waist, not your hip. The cut is generous through the seat and thigh, so the waistband decides the fit. Between two sizes, take the smaller. Our size guide lists exact measurements, and our team will measure the actual pair for you before it ships.

Are these harem pants suitable for hot weather?

A silk and viscose blend handles heat well. Viscose is plant-based, breathes and stays cool against the skin. Silk adds the sheen. The blend resists the deep creasing that makes linen difficult by mid-morning, so it travels better than almost anything else in a suitcase.

What are Something Pretty harem pants made of?

The shell is 30% silk and 70% viscose. The lining is 95% viscose and 5% elastane, and the waistband folds over. Silk gives the surface its sheen, viscose gives the drape, and the lining means the trouser never clings. All four colourways use the same blend.

How do I wash them?

Cool hand wash with a gentle detergent, or a light dry clean. Do not wring or tumble dry. Hang them damp and the weight of the water presses out most creases. Keep a hot iron off the surface, because viscose scorches more easily than cotton.

What do I wear with harem pants in the evening?

Keep the top half close to the body so the trouser stays the focal point. A fitted silk cami or fine knit, tucked in. Add a heel to lengthen the line and one strong piece of jewellery. If the evening cools, a silk poncho across the shoulders finishes it without bulk.

Where can I buy harem pants in South Africa?

Something Pretty sells silk blend harem pants online with tracked nationwide delivery, free over R1,500, and in three Cape Town stores: Constantia Village, Cavendish Square and Sea Point. Most South African harem pants are unlined cotton, so a lined and tapered pair is a much smaller field.