Céline Dion has done her bit to popularise perhaps the last word in outré legwear. But will they take off with the general public?

Sartorial asymmetry is a tricky needle to thread. For every deliberately uneven Comme des Garçons showstopper, there is the one-shoulder Topshop number you forked out an ill-advised tenner for in a moment of sale-induced delusion. Thanks to Céline Dion’s fashion mega-reach, there could be more iffy purchases in the offing. The singer stepped out of a shiny black suburban at the last Paris Fashion Week in a pair of Ksenia Schaider’s asymmetrical blue jeans, and they have now hit the shelves. For about £400, you too can wow the world with one leg skinny and the other wide. Would you, though? We took to the streets at lunchtime to gauge the opinion of the general public (including some fashion students).



Janys Lomax, retired, 70

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Janys Lomax Photograph: Sarah Lee/The Guardian

I quite like classic things, and this is not it. I’m very particular about jeans: they have to fit really well; straight, not skinny, high waisted, good length, not rolled up. I think these are terrible. Also, it depends how old you are, but wouldn’t I trip on that length, on the wide side? Styling wouldn’t make much of a difference. They’re just wrong to begin with. What’s the point?

Viktor Hartmann, menswear student, Central St Martins, 19

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Viktor Hartmann. Photograph: Sarah Lee/The Guardian

The whole split-trouser thing has just been overdone. Usually it’s with different colours – and that’s all over fashion week at the moment. If you look at just the wide side, that’s a cool pair of jeans. But the other side is really not.

Tosin Ojumu, market researcher, 39

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tosin Ojumu. Photograph: Sarah Lee/The Guardian

Not a fan. I think they look awful. I mean, why? WHY? I don’t understand why it can’t be one or the other. But then, you appreciate that different people have different tastes, and some might wear it and you might think: “Oh that actually looks better than expected …” But no, not for me.

Alba Mas, womenswear student, Central St Martins, 20

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Alba Mas. Photograph: Sarah Lee/The Guardian

I like the wide leg side way more than the skinny side, because I’m not the biggest fan of tight trousers, but honestly, I feel like they’re not much more than a funny idea. I don’t like them. Something’s off about them. They’re confusing, but not in a “what’s that?” kind of way, more in a “why?” kind of way.

Eloise Piper, business owner and fitness instructor, 32

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Eloise Piper and Penelope. Photograph: Sarah Lee/The Guardian

I’m not one for fashion, as you can tell – I’m in my gym kit most days. I think they’re lovely, if you’ve got very long legs and a small waist. I’m not sure I could pull them off. I think it works, but it’s just not my style.

Jeffrey Lyons, company director, 55

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Jeffrey Lyons. Photograph: Sarah Lee/The Guardian

I couldn’t imagine wearing something like that. They look very interesting. I mean, they don’t strike me as something I would do, or something I would give a second thought to, to be frank. But if they make the wearer happy, then I’m all for it.