- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 9
-
Sparkle (0)
Sonja has a question about capris for the petite woman:
They're really big this summer, but I'm really small - 5'3". I had
thought to ban them from my wardrobe, but I'm working at Ann Taylor and
that's a huge chunk of what they're showing... and I'm in steamy
Florida. So can capris work on a petite but otherwise slim
proportioned woman?
Ah, capri pants: the uniform of women everywhere who don't want to wear shorts any more but don't want to die of heat exhaustion during the spring and summer. Chances are, you own a pair (or three) and wear them often. So how do you know if you're wearing the right length and style?
No matter how tall you are or what length hemline you are considering, keep the basic rules in mind: look for a mid-rise, a flat front, and a leg that falls straight from the widest part of your hips. And then take a look at your legs. Yes, really! In order to choose the length that will work for you, be honest about the size and shape of your legs. Unless you are twelve, you probably have hips and thighs; cropped pants that taper, at any length, are not going to be your best look, as they will make your hips and thighs look wider. The slimmest part of your leg is most likely your ankle; chances are you also have pretty nice calves or great knees. Choose cropped pants that emphasize the best part of your legs.
Look for a hemline that hits near the slimmest part of your leg, to draw the eye to that part. Or think about it this way: avoid any hemline that cuts across the wider parts of your leg, as that will make that section look wider. No matter what length pants or shorts you choose, steer clear of cuffs; they will cut your legs off and make them look shorter, which isn't what we're going for.
So what exactly constitute "capri pants"? Let's get our terms (and hems) straight.
Shorts hit above the knee; the most flattering length falls somewhere between the knee and the slimmest part of your thigh. If you opt for a shorter length, be sure to check the hem when you are sitting to be sure you're not showing anything you might not want to show. Shorts are always casual wear, but a longer hemline is more polished and less picnic-y than the shorter option.
Pedal pushers hit just below the knee. This can be a tough length to wear if you have hips or thighs, as tapered pedal pushers lend themselves to the ice cream cone look (skinny on the bottom but wider through the middle) while wider pedal pushers will make it appear that your hips and thighs sit directly on your calves, making you look a wee bit like a popsicle. Pedal pushers are for casual wear, period.
Capri pants hit anywhere from mid-calf to the high ankle. Use caution when wearing capris that hit at the calf; even if you have slim legs -- or slim calves -- pants that cut across the widest part of your calves will make them look, well, wide. Look for a hemline that hits at the slimmest part of your calf for the slimmest possible leg line; opt for a straight or slightly wider leg to balance hips and thighs. Pair with sandals or flats with a low vamp, again for the longest possible leg line.
Cropped pants hit at the ankle bone. Always opt for a trouser that hits ABOVE the ankle bone; this way the hemline looks intentional, rather than looking like an unfortunate dryer incident. Cropped pants can be dressed up more easily than any other length, as long as they are not a very casual fabric (velvet, say, rather than cotton). Wear with flats or heels -- more on this tomorrow.
What length will work best for you? That depends on your shape. Look for the hemline that creates the longest, slimmest leg line; don't assume that your capris make your legs look slimmer just because they cover more leg than a pair of shorts. Sometimes shorter really is better, and sometimes, longer is.
Pants from Ann Taylor.
I'm not the only one with an
