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? am confused

always trying

Veteran

Why do wide leg capris, capris at different lengths, etc. look stumpy, or everyone thinks they are stumpifying when skirts, all those lengths of midis, don't? Please define stumpifying, unless it means just looking short legged. Doesn't how fat or thin ones legs look make a difference? Is it not a matter of proportion?

Before this forum I was finding a lot of capri bashing junk, which I largely ignored. Who started this stuff about how awful women looked in them anyhow? They are very popular almost everywhere, and I do not think most women look ay better or worse in them than a lot of other things they wear. AND many look a whole lot better in them than if they were wearing shorts...

Another ?-what is all this about leg lengthening anyhow? I have long legs for my height and have always thought I look too leggy, especially when I was very thin. Too bad now that I am old and heavier I did not appreciate how I looked back then.

General

19 replies

Latest reply was from frannieb

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

A few thoughts upfront, which might piece together some of the puzzle:

Please describe or link to what you call a "capri". That in itself these days is a confusing point of reference.
Midi skirts can look stumpy too.
For the most part, "stumpy" means short-legged, but also "hoof-like".
The narrowness or thickness of your legs seldom makes a difference with proportions. But the length does, which is why we talk a lot about how to visually manipulate that length.
Yes. Proportions are everything.
Items can be very popular, but unstylish and unflattering.
Conventionally flattering proportions are about "slimming and elongating" and elongating the leg line in-particular. But this is not the only way to look stylish. Not at all. Fashion and style has moved on from that (thankfully). It's much more about wearing outfits that are "just flattering enough". And this - like most of fashion - is a subjective point of view.

catgirl

Veteran

Here's a cranky but interesting article that breaks down a number of styles. I just posted a thread on capris the other day - around here they are worn like gear and I find them frumpy but necessary for hiking and such. What the article refers to as pedal pushers I would have thought were capris and I like them - they seem somewhere between ankle pants and capris. But my fave is the breeches!

http://retrorack.blogspot.com/.....-ugly.html

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Great question. Following...

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Retro rack picked the ugliest pants of each version for that post.

It is so hard te define all the different options. I always thought that this was the typical continuum: shorts, Bermudas, clam diggers, capris, crops, ankle pants, pants.

And I hate anything thst results in cold legs most of the year but am otherwise open to other possibilities as long as I might pretend not to look short.

Somehow capri makes me think of any unintentionally hemmed or left as-is pants, worn with unfashionable clumpy sneakers or sandals.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I like a lot of the style's in Una's articles including culottes. But I wear shorts exactly as she suggests at the end and they probably are the most conventionally flattering as Angie defined. General rules aren't so helpful here I think.

catgirl

Veteran

Yes, and here's a response that would be my attitude...

http://www.manrepeller.com/201.....pants.html

Suz

(website)

Veteran

UmmLila -- that is a great breakdown of the categories. Thank you.

Always trying -- I would agree that many women look no better and no worse in Capris than lots of other things they wear. It is all, always, in the styling and whether it is flattering to the individual.

One reason that midi skirts can seem less "stumpifying" (or leg shortening) than capris (or any short pants) is because the RISE is hidden in a skirt. This fools the eye into thinking that the legs go all the way up to the waist. Of course, that is impossible. But it's a visual proportion thing. When the rise is visible, we see exactly where the leg begins. And on those of us with shorter legs, this can make the legs look even shorter. Especially those (like me, alas) with short(ish) legs, a LONG rise, and a high waist. Whose calves are proportionately shorter than thighs.

I do think it is possible to look stylish in cropped pants and capris -- if they are in style, and worn with panache.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Quick drive by: when longer skirts came back in, a lot of people did think they were stumpifying, especially the ones that hit right at the bottom of the knee.

Cropped pants, in all their guises, are so useful that I don't think they'll ever go away, no matter what the fashion experts say.

Gaylene

Veteran

Great article, Una, and another vote for wearing what makes you happy. Personally, I think pants can be worn at ANY length and look stylish--depending on one's personal tastes and aesthetic perceptions. I find the whole notion of laying down "rules" to be questionable. Some of the most interesting outfits I've seen on this forum don't follow the conventional norms of what is "flattering". Fashion is constantly playing with visual proportions, volume, and shapes--what seems "right" to my eye today can seem "not quite right" a few months from now.

And just because I'm getting cranky, i'm starting to roll my eyes every time I see "frumpy" being used to describe something that reflects a personal dislike. It's fine not to like cropped pants with clunky shoes, but that doesn't mean people need to stop wearing that combination if it works for them. My dislikes are for me, not the rest of the world.

Astrid

Veteran

Here it has to do less with the shape of the pants on their own but with the rest of the outfit they are worn with, I think. When I see capris I mostly see them either on rather matronly dressed old ladies or on women who look like they have absolutely no interest in their clothes and couldn't care less what they are wearing. Going with the latter is perfectly fine of course, but the way I see them worn in everyday life doesn't make me see those pants as a legitimate choice for the stylish or fashion conscious. But of course they could be - why not?

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I like that piece by Leandra Medine. I don't always like what she wears, but I like the intentionality behind it.

And I have a similar pair of jeans to the ones she's wearing so I'm not criticizing there!

Anonymous

Astrid voiced my opinion perfectly.

always trying

Veteran

Gaylene--well said-

Laura-right, croppen pants of various lengths are here to satay-and rightfully so.

donnat

Veteran

I am with Astrid.

Olivegreen

I tend to use them as in between pants for in between weather. I have one pair, and very useful, as alaskagirl points out, as gear. Camping, hiking, trailering around, these things rock. Just covered enough. Younger women wear them very tight, older women looser. Culottes not even on the horizon.
Have worn breeches and knickerbockers and love them. Not at all flattering, but fun. Big thing in the sixties. Possible Retro Futurism

Daria

I'm with Astrid as well. I mostly see them on old, very conservatively dressed ladies, or on women who clearly could care less about style (paired with non-fashion sneakers and shapeless t-shirts).
I however agree that they are no more frumpy than leggings (on some women), baggy jeans, sweatpants worn outside of gym etc.

Sal

Veteran

For a style of pant that is presumably so unflattering they sure have a LOT of fans over a LONG number of years.

Here in NZ they are a trend that has had great longevity- there are variations of them from cargo style, to denim, classic Audrey Hepburn style, harem style etc...Some are definitely more fashionable, others more for comfort and practicality. I think many women are self conscious of showing their legs but jeans are too hot in the summer, so crops fit the bill nicely.

If flattery is the issue there is lots of information on the blog how to style them.

Lyn D.

Veteran

Interesting question, and well-covered here.
I am still grappling with the 'correct' length for cropped pants, but find that footwear is key when styling any item of clothing that ends above the ankle!

frannieb

Veteran

Great post and discussion on the topic. I continue to learn and for now I am going to keep my two pair of capri's - though over the years I have really come to love the ankle length pant.