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If extreme style in your office means a pashmina shawl, then it's probably not the place to wear your new drapy pants.

And anyway, why would you want to wear something that adds volume to the hips, crotch and rear end? The look has been the, er, butt of jokes since it emerged two seasons ago, as a counterpoint to the surfeit of super skinny jeans. The message was eighties-meets-exotic, equal parts Hammer and harem. But the trend stuck. And now there are plenty of options, in everything from cashmere to jersey.

But there's a fine line between directional fashion and droopy drawers. This is a look best suited to the tall and slim, not the curvy and short. As a rule, the volume works better at the sides (think jodhpur) than down below. Balance it with a classic black sweater or a jacket that grazes the waist. Booties may be your only option for footwear; flats are too Princess Jasmine, high boots too Pirates of the Caribbean.

Then again, maybe you want that look. Corporate raiders, anyone?

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