Cargo capris and longer summer skirts - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

Cargo capris and longer summer skirts

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Are these items completely and totally not fab under any circumstances?

I've opened the pandora's box of my spring/summer wardrobe (pre-YLF). I don't think I'll have many clothes left by the time this particular closet sweep is done!

If the cargo capris hit me in the correct place (between knee and widest part of the calf), are they okay? Or are cargos a complete no-no?

And I have multiple summer skirts in breezy, lightweight fabrics that are calf length. I wore them with short-sleeved blouses or tees (not fab, I know) and flat sandals. Are those automatic give-aways?

You won't hurt my feelings if you say they have to go ...

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from Laura

Patience

Veteran

Laura, I am wondering the same thing about cargos. They seem like a good *casual* option to me, but maybe I am wrong. I just think this outfit is so cute and want it (the girl in the front of the outfit pic):

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....veforlater

Laura

(website)

Veteran

That outfit is so you, Patience! The colors, the ruching style of the cargos, the shoes -- everything. I can completely see you in it! You would look amazing in the top.

I have to admit to being in a bit of pain over letting these items go - some of the cargo capris are too long and not hem-able, so I am willing to say good-bye to those and replace them with clams. But I love the feeling of a breezy skirt in the summer. Hmmmm. I guess I could consider hemming those to knee length.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I know they're not smart casual, but I love the olive-green color of cargo pants. It goes with so many colors I adore: deep purple, pumpkin, yellow...

Tanya

Veteran

Laura, I'd say definitely hem all the skirts that you otherwise like.

As for the cargo capris, I'd also hem the ones where that is possible. I'll admit that I also like the idea of the right olive cargo pants for casual wear. They would have to have the right pockets ( e.g. the cargo pocket should not sit on the widest part of the hip). I loove that whole outfit Patience linked to. I am actually seriously considering getting a right pair of olive cargo pants ( full length), for casual summer wear, something like this ( I wouldn't wear them rolled):

http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Brows...../14784.jsp

Laura

(website)

Veteran

The fabric and color of those JCrew cargos is great - I'd love to see if they come out with a shorter length for summer, even if the pants had to be hemmed a bit.

Yes Kristen, olive goes with so many summer colors - I usually wear mine with a coral tank and a short-sleeved white swiss dot blouse. Purple is a good idea too!

Elika

I actually have a pair of smallish-camouflageprint cargo capris. That must sound horrible, but it actually looks ok. Paired with heels and a feminine top, the girly-vs-tough contrast is very nice, and the capris+heels makes my shortish legs look much longer (had them hemmed at just longer than knee-length after reading Angie's posts on this, and the effect was immediate

Two of my most fashionable friends said they liked the look, so I guess it can work. With the right feminine details thrown in, cargos can be a cute edgy/arty look.

As for skirts, I think it's the general guideline that kneelength is always more flattering. Still, I think that summery skirts that are a bit longer can be nice too (again, probably best with heels), so I'm interested in what Angie and other think about this.

Ariadne

Veteran

I agree that cargoes (capri/clam or regular) paired with feminine tops and accessories can be very edgy and arty. I've even seen true men's cargoes worn well by women. We'll see what Angie says!

marianne

I am still holding on to my cargo pants as well. Nice outfit, Patience! Hmm I'll try working on new outfit combinations with mine.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have clients running around in cargo capris at the correct length. It can work on the right body type. You need to be a slim inverted triangle or rectangle and preferably regular height or taller. I’m not saying that the look can’t work for petites – lasses in Hong Kong wear them with heels and silk tops and look sensational (that’s my favorite way of sporting cargos). But many of the woman in that neck of the woods are slim rectangles, which is why the look works for them. Pretty pears, don’t even think about it. So I guess I’m saying that the item can work, but be very careful. Of course, I suspect that most of you want to sport the look casually.

Elika

Thanks for the explanation Angie! I seem to be in between inverted triangle and hourglass, but my legs are quite shapely and I'm 5"6 and a half, so I hope that fits the bill :). Oh, and in my book they are definitely only to be worn very casual AND preferably with heels.

Laura, have you decided what to do? I think creating a 'new' post-ylf summer wardrobe is something a lot of people are working on right now... Hope you found a fab solution

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'd love to see you sport the look, Elika.

Laura, as far as your calf length skirts go – you very well might get away with it. It really depends on the style of the skirt. Give it a bash.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

The cargos Patience linked to are knee length - is that appropriate for pear/hourglass, or should I avoid cargos all together?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sarah, the picture Patience posted is not what I’d call cargo pocket pants. They’re clamdiggers with side ruching and I’ve seen them in the flesh. I’ve had examples of this style in blog posts before. Very sweet. You could definitely give those a try.

What Tanya posted is “combat style”, and those are cargos. See how the look is sported with dressy heels. That’s what I was talking about. Very Hong Kong!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Based on everyone's input it seems the answer is that all of my cargos have to go ... I don't think my body type can wear them well enough. I'm officially on the hunt for clams in white and denim!

But Angie gives me hope that all might not be lost: Maybe the longer skirts will be fab enough, or at least hem-able. And I will always be looking for casual cotton dresses (like everyone else here, based on the responses to Angie's post!).