Cropped pants: what about the length on these?

JAileen

In Una's cropped pants post I mentioned that I feel tone deaf when it comes to length. I can't tell if a length is good or okay or bad.

Here are some cropped pants. I bought 1-4 this year from Kohl's. They are Lee curvy fit, and feel great. Length? I don't know. They are all woven with some stretch.

2 is denim.
3 is a pattern, detailed in 5.
4 has little ties at the bottom. I don't know if I should do anything with the ties.

6 are Lands End knit pants I bought last year. I also bought them in grey. While comfortable, I wish they had more pockets.

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7 years ago

Dressing

22 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I really like some of your tops on you -- the neckline in the tops in 1 and 3 and the pretty pattern of blues in the last top. Also love those bonus orange sandals -- they are the best wild card ever and they came free!!

As to the lengths, I honestly think it is tough to say since the angle of the photo makes it difficult to judge. In my mind, it's less about the length than about the shape of the pant at the bottom and how it is styled.

Pretty much any length will work with a low contrast top. Here the tops (and footwear) are all higher contrast, so if you have concerns about stumpification then that would be your first option -- to switch out tops for those with less contrast.

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Suz, thanks. I'll try to take some better pictures. The top in 1 and 3 was an Angie pick. It is the Eddie Bauer favorite sleeveless bateau. I like that it's kind of feminine, sleeveless, and not low cut. The top in 6 is from Lands End last year. The print is crazy, but the background is off white/beige which isn't that great with my grey hair.

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Hopefully, these pictures are more helpful. The pants are in the same order, with the same shoes. The tops are cropped off because I didn't put on the same tops.

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7 years ago

catgirl

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These are all lengths I see around here. My head is spinning!

But here's a thought relating to my world. Worn casually, I don't think there is any major style statement being made... That is conveyed by the fabric and details like cargo pockets or ripstop material. It would be confusing to wear these with stilettos and a silk shirt - fine and good for a blogger but not practical for a Costco run or a walk with my mom.

Now, silky crops or styled up denim worn to a party or event would be a different statement, and that to me is when the focused attention to details matter. I know it's sacrilege not to care all that much when it's just a "knocking around" outfit so I'm interested to hear how others feel.

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Una, thanks! I know I'm not fashion forward, that's for sure. My life is mostly dog walking and going to the grocery store. However, I might wear one of these outfits to a party. But our parties are pretty casual here.

7 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am with Una here. These are casual pants meant for super casual days. I'd consider your goals here. If you aim to be comfortable in the heat and covered, then they're meeting your aims. If you want to "fashion" them up a bit more or you have any figure flattery concerns, you can take special care with the footwear and aim for tops in the same tonal range.

I wear shorts that lots on YLF would not consider the best, I suspect. I wear them because on hot days when I'm working at home they are the most comfy for me.

I often change into something different when I go out. That's because I like to get more dressed up. Not because it's necessary but just because for me it is fun.

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Suz, I can tell from your kind and careful wording that you think these are the so called dreaded mom capris!!!

7 years ago

carter

Veteran

I think the length on 1-4 is just fine. Accurate or not, these are capris in my book...shorter than ankle pants and longer than clam diggers.

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Carter, thanks! I like your style, so if you like 1-4, then I'll wear them in public. I never wore the LE ones, mainly because of the lack of pockets.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Before you judge your selection too harshly, I suggest waiting for Angie to weigh in. They don't look like mom pants to me.

7 years ago

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Hate to say it, but I'm still finding the photos hard to comment on. In my mind, it's the front on view that can make or break them, with a possible unflattering cut of the calf... the first set the angle is a bit high to see that, and of course the second set is showing your legs from the side.

You do have some lovely tops... I esp like the blue one in #6.

7 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ha! I'm busted.

But not really. The truth is, I'm being diplomatic because I honestly have no idea! I actually really like the tie up long shorts (?) on you for casual wear. I have a pair of shorts that length, too. I think Angie also wears this length and so does Janet. And those Zella capris are kind of similar when pushed up on the leg, right?

The others, I still can't completely tell -- I think I might style them with different footwear or tops, just as I said, but I don't think there's anything wrong with them in themselves. YLF.

7 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

All these lengths look good to me, JAileen. NOT leg shortening. This is absolutely FINE for uber casual in hot weather. Why not!

#1 and #3 = most fashionable of this group, and my favourites.

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Angie, thanks for your opinion. I feel the same about 1 and 3. Did you notice they're not baggy? That's because I found a curvy fit. Yeah!

Sterling, you were so right! Thanks for your thoughts.

Elizabeth, I'm still working on taking better pictures. Thank you for your thoughts, too.

Suz, I'm wearing the tie up shorts right now. I really like them. But what should I do with the ties?

7 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Re the ties: I like to tie mine in tiiiiny little bows and leave the ends to flop around like a very, very minimal bit of fringe

7 years ago

Anonymous

I find this whole subject highly fascinating in how polarizing and seemingly confusing it is. I was sitting in a busy medical clinic waiting room this afternoon and of course checking people out. It's hot here today : 32C ish. EVERY single woman (except me) , including the therapists and receptionists were wearing capris. Every last one of them. I so badly wanted to snap some anonymous photos and might have tried to had not eagle-eyed DD been sitting right beside me noticing everything I did. The women working at the clinic were wearing athletic versions of capris, and the ones in the waiting room were wearing versions of what Una has posted in her thread. This is kind of an interesting sociological study - I can't think of another garment that has people up in arms the way these pants do. I don't wear them, and don't want to - so I give them no thought beyond that.

7 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Lisa, you are right...this garment is polarizing in a weird way.

Here's the reason I can see for capris (or whatever they are called - cropped pants, pedal pushers, clamdiggers, etc.). This is why many women love them.

They are cooler than full length pants by far, but if one should find oneself in a polar vortex of AC, one will not freeze into a block of ice awaiting revival in the ICU.

They disguise the troubling portion of the legs of women like me who feel our knees or our thighs are not our best feature (to say the least). Cellulite disappears under their smoothing fabric.

They feel more modest than shorts. They will not offend the sensibilities of anyone except the most conservative dressers.

At their best, they make you feel like Audrey Hepburn.

Why are they so reviled?

Because they are man repellers.

7 years ago

Anonymous

There you go. And one quibble about the Audrey Hepburn link: only if they are fitted from hip to calf. THOSE are true capris in my mind. The others just evolved accidentally

And on that note - I'm out of this discussion.

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Aida, thanks. I've tied them in tiny bows!

Lisa, I appreciate your honest thoughts. Please don't feel like you have to walk away. I look at these as an alternative to shorts. I am older than you, and I don't want to wear short shorts. So I will be wearing them with sleeveless tops and sandals most of the time. It gets pretty hot here. Not including today, 6/9/16, we've already had eleven days over 90, and five of those were 95 or over.

BTW, I just got back from the vet, and all the women that work there (actually there's only one man who works there, one of the vets) were wearing scrubs.

Suz, thanks for your thoughts, too! I don't care if I wear man repeller pants! My husband doesn't care. He has some hand me down cargo shorts from our son. So who's he to talk, right?

7 years ago

jill58

Veteran

JAileen, I feel that I'm like you--a bit tone deaf when it comes to length. Everything Suz said is true for me with the exception that they don't ever make me feel like Audrey Hepburn. Like you I look at them as an alternative to shorts.

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Jill, me either! Here's Audrey Hepburn from Funny Face. She was 28, the same age as my son.

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7 years ago

Suz

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If the most important man in a woman's world is not repelled, then that is all that counts in my book. Mr. Suz has nothing negative to say about these pants in principle either, by the way. He might object to particular ones on a particular person, but overall he does not think they are any worse per se than skirts, long pants, shorts, or any other article of clothing. They are "bottoms." Full stop.

7 years ago

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