Of all the articles I’ve ever published, this one about my contempt for capri pants, originally written on a whim a decade ago, is my most popular.
I haven’t shared this post in several years since it looked like capris were finally officially out of style.
Sure, you could still buy them at some mass retailers, but they weren’t a sartorial consideration.
And then this year something inexplicable happened and they started to creep back around.
So here we go again.
What I find both odd and fascinating about this conversation is that my saying, “Hey, capris pants aren’t flattering. We can do better. Here are some alternatives.” sparks WILD comments.
With capri-pant lovers in the comments calling me all sorts of terrible names, and LOTS of comments on my body and weight, one lady even called me a “Heffer.”
And the emails and Pinterest comments I get are even worse, one women wrote that she would “punch me in the face if she ever saw me on the street”. Like, what? 😮 lol.
Comically wild.
In all my years as a stylist, I’ve deemed countless pieces of clothing less than flattering, but only capris garner so much vitriol.
Believe me when I say the comments don’t bother me. I like myself and have lived enough to know what feedback to take seriously, but it’s weird, right?
So, may I gently remind everyone that this is a website about fashion, specifically for women over 40 who are interested in keeping their personal style updated and modern, who want to look and feel great in their clothes and feel confident in their choices.
Our goal is to help you do that while explaining why some things work and some don’t.
If you fall in the camp of “don’t tell me what to wear,” I’m probably not for you.
So here we go again, let’s talk about why I (still) hate capris and what you can wear instead.
Why I Hate Capris (And What to Wear Instead)

I’ve been doing this for over 20 years.
I spent the first half of my career in corporate retail as a buyer before becoming a personal stylist and then eventually created The Well Dressed Life.
My first buying job out of college was at Charming Shoppes, the parent company of stores like Catherine’s and the now-closed Fashion Bug.
I worked as an assistant-to-the-assistant buyer in the bottoms department for Fashion Bug.
Then, I became a buyer for a small, high-end boutique and eventually landed at QVC before starting my company.
But it was at Charming that, despite it being my least glamorous gig, I learned about garment construction.
Our department focused on casual fabrics, including denim and twill.
We sourced merchandise from manufacturers and also produced items in-house.
Before approving final runs, we had to check the production samples’ fit to ensure they met quality standards.
I was responsible for keeping all the samples organized and worked with the fit model and design teams to ensure the fit was correct.
Granted, at Fashion Bug we were selling sweatshirts with Betty Boop on them, so it wasn’t exactly known for its high-quality standards or high-style.
Basically, if it didn’t fall apart in the wash and met size standards, you could get something passed.
And we sold a ton of capris.
However, our head of QA was well-trained and often frustrated that items were ordered despite looking awful. Capris were her least favorite garment.
Because of that experience and subsequent relationships with tailors and clothing makers over the years, I learned the nuances between good and bad design and why an item is sometimes inherently unflattering from a construction standpoint.
Related: What to Wear When You Don’t Wear Shorts
Why I Hate Capris

There are a lot of comments below about how these are not capris.
Let me assure you, they are.
It says so on the label.
These were being marketed and sold as CAPRIS.
For context, I am 5’10, and I wear a solid size 8.
Why Capris Are Ill-Fitting
Capris were a notoriously challenging style to get through the QA approval process because their design is inherently imperfect.
Technically speaking, most capris are made with a leg opening that becomes too narrow too quickly, almost like there is not enough runway, as it moves down the leg, making them bunch at the knee and hug the thighs (see above).
The narrowness of the leg doesn’t allow the material to fall correctly, so the back of the pants “collapses.”
“Collapse” is the technical term used to explain what happens when a pant is constructed in a way that makes the back of the pant bunch and lay on the back of your legs.
Why Capris Are Not Flattering
They do the body, regardless of shape or size, no favors from a proportion standpoint.
In all of our style-related posts, I try to teach readers how to create the most flattering, proportional look, regardless of your personal style, body type, budget, etc.
The capri makes this impossible because of where the hem cuts at the leg, usually right through the top to the widest part of the calf, making the legs look stumpy and cutting the line of the body at its most awkward point.
I read somewhere that they make you look like you are standing in a ditch and I couldn’t agree more.
To make matters worse, designers often add ridiculous embellishments that only cheapen the item further, like oversized pockets, cargo straps, zippers, grommets, and cuffs (above).
Aside from doing nothing to enhance your look, the length visually chops off your height, instantly making you look frumpy.
It’s hard to make me look short.
In heels, I’m 6′ tall. Yet, these pants diminish my height significantly.
We can do better.
Why Do Retailers Still Make Capris?

The ugly truth is that capris are cheap pants and anything that is cheap to make has a high margin.
And because they cost little to make, there’s little care for quality.
Yet women keep buying them because they think they are the only warm weather alternative to shorts.
But there are SO MANY other options that provide the same coverage with infinitely better design.
What To Wear Instead Of Capris

The biggest reason I hear for wearing capris is that they are more comfortable than shorts, are good for the summer heat and cover your knees.
Fair enough, you shouldn’t be uncomfortable or feel self conscious.
But there are so many other options with better fit in a more modern style that can accomplish that.
To compare apple to apples, let’s look at the difference between capris and cropped pants both in a lightweight denim for about the same price (you can pretend these are twill, khaki or any other fabric).
There is about a 3″ difference in length, that’s it, but the fit is night and day.
The capris (a pair of Levi’s I bought on Amazon) cling, and the cuff is tight around my calf. I tried on three different sizes, each one the waist got bigger and bigger on me, but the leg stayed the same. Hence, their flawed design.
The cropped jeans are from Gap Factory. They fit well in the waistband and hips, just skim my body and slightly flair at the bottom, creating a sense of balance for my shoulders and waist.
It was a HOT day when I shot these looks, and I can tell you I’d rather spend my day in the Gap Factory jeans than the capris.
The Difference Between Capri, Cropped and Ankle Pants
The difference is as simple as the inseam.
Typically capris have an inseam of 23″ – 25″, a cropped pant is about 26″ and should hit two to four fingers above your ankle.
And ankle pants have a 28″ inseam and should hit at your ankle.
As you can see, there is a small difference between the three options that make a big difference in fit.
Some of the push back I get when I say to avoid capris is that they “keep you cool.”
To which I say, wear a cropped or ankle pant in a breathable fabric.
It’s a difference of about an inch or two and looks a thousand times better.
Of course, retail calls things whatever they want, but these are the standard inseams for each style of pant.

See: What to Wear When You Don’t Wear Shorts
Final Thoughts on Capris
Dressing well is all about finding the cuts and proportions that work for you and your unique shape and frame. Which is really hard to do because the decision makers at the helm of retail don’t care what is good for you. They’re not interested in what will work for you. They aren’t even thinking of you.
Capris, unfortunately, falls short in so many ways.
But if they are your favorite pants, just go ahead and ignore me.

Leave a Comment