Cropped pants have been mainstream for three years and there is no stopping the trend for Spring and Summer. Note that by cropped pants I mean lengths that finish just above the ankle bone or a few inches above it. They come in a wide variety of silhouettes, from tapered to flared hems and from fitted to baggy styles.

Cropped pants have a notorious potential for being unflattering by cutting the leg in a way that can be visually shortening and stumpifying. But after dressing numerous clients in an assortment of cropped pants styles it is clear to me that this isn’t always the case. You can often make cropped pants work by paying attention to one or more of the following five variables.

1. The footwear silhouette: Wearing heeled or flat footwear that in some way closes the gap on the ankle visually lengthens the length of the pants, which offsets the stump factor. Wear booties or sandal booties with higher shafts, or footwear with ankle straps that are positioned above the ankle bone. 
2. The length of the cropped pants: Most cropped pants are too long because the models are generally taller than average. If you are going to show your ankles, SHOW your ankles. Make the silhouette fashionably intentional so that it doesn’t look like you’re wearing normal length pants that are too short. This is especially true when you are wearing footwear that does not close the gap, like regular pumps, loafers, flats or sandals.
3. The contrast between your pants hem and your footwear: Creating a low colour contrast between pants and footwear elongates the leg line. This is most effective when wearing footwear that closes the gap like ankle strap styles or booties with higher shafts.  
4. The height of your top: Wearing a tucked top, semi-tucked top, or a cropped top that showcases the waistband of the pants lengthens the leg line from the thighs up. 
5. The height of your heels: Higher heels generally lengthen the leg line and make you look taller.

Here are some examples to make things more clear.

In this first picture the Zara model is wearing heeled, high shaft sandal booties that close the gap thereby, satisfying #1 and #5. The cropped pants are also a little shorter, which satisfies #2. There is however, a high contrast between the booties and the pants, and the top does not expose the waistband of the pants. #3 and #4 have not been employed, but the look is just flattering enough. The leg line would look even longer if the sandal booties were white (low contrast).

The Ann Taylor model is wearing her crops shorter than ankle length with a tucked top and heeled pumps, satisfying #2, #4 and #5. The gap has not been closed with high shaft footwear, nor do the pumps create a low contrast with the pants.

The second Zara model is wearing flared cropped pants with ankle strap flats that are low contrast to the colour of the pants, satisfying #1 and #3. Although the top is untucked, the top and bottom are low contrast to each other and create a column of colour that further elongates the leg line.

The Free People model is wearing her cropped flares shorter than ankle length with a partially tucked top, satisfying #2 and #4. The shorter length makes the style look deliberate, and not like she’s wearing bootcuts that are too short.

The second Free People model is wearing her kick crops shorter with a tucked top which satisfies #2 and #4. The column of white lengthens the line of the outfit, but she could have left the top untucked for a similar effect. Although not strictly heels, the flatforms do add a bit of height.

The Nordstrom model is wearing black ankle length flared trousers with heeled black sandal booties and a tucked top, satisfying #1, #3, #4 and #5. Note that the same would have been true if she was wearing flats.

I wear high-shafted ankle booties with my shorter length, high-waisted cropped pants. I also tuck my top, which means that I’m employing #1, #2, #4 and #5. In warm weather, I will wear white ankle strap flats (Franco Sarto Holts) with a white tucked shirt. In this way I will be employing #1, #2, #3 and #4, because the white ankle strap flats create a low contrast against the floral pants. 

Feel free to ask questions below if anything isn’t clear.

A new outfit from Amber McNaught of Forever Amber, who we introduced to YLF in July 2014.

Tucking a fluid top into a form-fitting, high-waisted pencil skirt is one way to create waist definition in 2015. When the waist of a garment comes higher up, this shortens the torso and lengthens the leg line. Amber rebalances her shorter torso by pairing the skirt with a turtleneck and sassy leather jacket in tonal greens. The fun plaid midi also creates vertical integrity, and sporting nude fishnets with high-heeled pointy toe pumps further lengthens the leg line. A classic bag with big girly bow finishes off this retro ladylike outfit.

The comfortable footwear trends continue, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it. My favourite heel heights are up to an inch and a half, with the ideal being one inch. I don’t like my flats too flat either, because those lack support and feel too close to the ground. Most of these flats are closed toed, and quite supportive because they have a substantial flat heel and sole. They are ALL made of soft leather and have cushioning footbeds, although some styles are softer than others. Browse through all the colour options because there are many to choose from.

• Franco Sarto Holt: An extremely comfy ankle strap flat with genius back criss-cross strap detailing. The top and bottom straps are attached to each other, which makes the style more stable to walk in because the straps stay put.
• Naturalizer Jazzy: Wow. What a comfy flat despite the peep-toe detailing. The dear little wedge is a supportive delight. It comes in narrow sizes for low volume feet, and wide sizes for extra high volume feet. The floral pattern is super fun, but my heart is with the white.
• Attilio Giusti Leombruni Pointy Toe Ballet Flat: This deliciously comfortable classic is a winner with clients who are on their feet for hours or who travel for work and walk long distances in airports. Buttery heaven on your feet. Works for both low and high volume feet.
• Aquatalia By Marvin K. 'Yoveta' Flat (Women): Stable, versatile and elegant. It's amazing how dressy this shoe looks on the foot despite its sporty integrity.
• Boden Lille Lace-up Point: The criss-cross lace-up flat might become the next "it" shoe, which means that Boden is ahead of the curve. I have not seen this style in person yet, but expect the suede versions to be a little softer than the metallic.
• DOGMA Ballet flats: This style comes in four unique colour combinations. Despite the extra pointy toe, there is room in the toe box. I like the Asian vibe of the embroideries. A well-made and unique shoe.
• Eileen Fisher 'Allot' Flat: A great flat for high volume feet and wider ankles. The elastic insert on the ankle is very forgiving and comfortable. I love this shoe worn with self-colour ankle length pants and jeans.
• Corso Como 'Mystic' Cutout Flat (Women): Strappy yet covered. It's a roomy flat despite its dainty vibe. Modern Retro.
• Jessica Simpson 'Mandalaye' Leather Flat: A strappy flat that looks like a ballet shoe. The snip-toe is a super way to wear an elegant square toe.
• Mephisto 'Baline' Mary Jane Flat: A fashion sneaker that looks more girly than the lace-up styles. Sporty Luxe with a feminine touch.
• Calvin Klein Evonna: These work well on a higher volume foot. They are extremely lightweight, but the leather is not as soft as I would have liked it to be. Still quite comfortable though, but not good for low volume feet.
• Opening Ceremony 'Grunge' Slip-On Platform Sneaker (Women): A platform slip-on sneaker with rave reviews.
• Attilio Giusti Leombruni Cap Toe Smoking Flat: The gushing reviews on this loafer are well worth it. (My clients will attest to that too). Feels like a slipper, but is supportive AND dressy. All colours are fab. A brilliant comfy shoe for the office.

I bought the Franco Sarto Holt flats because they’re the most comfortable version of this style I’ve found after searching all of last season with no luck. I’m a sucker for that ankle strap because I like the pretty effect, and the way it closes the gap when wearing ankle pants.

Zappos

Franco Sarto Holt

$79.00

View Info

Top Pick

20

Zappos

Naturalizer Jazzy

$79.00

View Info

Top Pick

17

Nordstrom

Attilio Giusti Leombruni Pointy Toe Ballet Flat

$325.00 $162.49

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

12

Nordstrom

Aquatalia By Marvin K. 'Yoveta' Flat (Women)

$395.00 $236.98

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

12

Boden

Lille Lace-up Point

View Info

Top Pick

14

Yoox

DOGMA Ballet flats

View Info

Top Pick

9

Nordstrom

Eileen Fisher 'Allot' Flat

$195.00 $116.90

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

16

Nordstrom

Corso Como 'Mystic' Cutout Flat (Women)

$118.95

View Info

Top Pick

12

Nordstrom

Jessica Simpson 'Mandalaye' Leather Flat

View Info

Top Pick

1

Nordstrom

Mephisto 'Baline' Mary Jane Flat

$294.95 $176.96

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

4

Zappos

Calvin Klein Evonna

$89.00

View Info

Top Pick

12

Nordstrom

Opening Ceremony 'Grunge' Slip-On Platform Sneaker (Women)

$195.00

View Info

Top Pick

5

Nordstrom

Attilio Giusti Leombruni Cap Toe Smoking Flat

$298.00

View Info

Top Pick

6

Visit the collection page to see the items alongside my descriptions.

Most of us shop for individual items. Even when we buy several items in one shopping session, they often don’t work together. While we (hopefully) do have outfits in mind, the pieces we will pair them with are in our closet at home. Sometimes we have a future plan for our new purchases, like when we introduce a new colour or silhouette and their support acts are a work in progress. This approach to creating outfits takes more discipline and time, but it can be effective. The search for the next fabulous piece is in itself a fun process, especially when you have a knack for putting together cohesive outfits. 

Shopping for complete outfits in a single session is less common. I have clients who prefer to work this way because they want to work efficiently, and they want to be certain that their purchases don’t become wardrobe orphans. To quote one of my clients, “outfits are outstanding, pieces are problematic”. With some of my clients we take this a step further and shop for an entire mix-and-match capsule in one session, making sure that all items we purchase can be combined in multiple ways to create several cohesive outfits.

Sometimes we shop for outfits or capsules that will work with my client’s existing footwear and accessories. In this case we bring along a few pairs of shoes and bags we have in mind as starting points, or we bring photos of my client’s current footwear and accessories. Sometimes we will shop separately for the footwear that will complete an outfit or capsule.

My clients who prefer to shop for complete outfits tend to shop less frequently, and their shopping trips are longer. More stamina and patience are required, and more money is spent in one go. When they do occasionally buy an individual item, they do so because they know exactly where it will fit into their existing outfits and capsules.

Shopping this way does restrict your options. First, you are limited to what you can find on shopping day, be it on sale or at full price. This means the best time to shop for complete outfits is near the beginning of mid-season offerings when assortments and sizes are abundant. Second, it’s hard to shop this way online because you need to be trying on the items together as you go.

These marathon shopping sessions are not for everyone. But they work well for my professional clients who want to work very efficiently and dedicate a small amount of time to shopping each season. Especially if my client does not want to spend too much time at home experimenting with outfit combinations.

Over to you. Do you purchase a few pieces at a time thereby completing the outfits at home, or do you purchase complete outfits in one shopping session?