Dear middle-aged women: capri pants do nothing for you.

[Anonymous]

Dear Millennial or Gen Z,

One day you’ll reach the point where you just don’t care what anyone thinks anymore. That day is glorious! Until then, keep living for the approval of your Insta or Tik-Tok followers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jackie O looked good in capri pants, but they weren't short and tight like today's pants, er, leggings, are. They were actual pants.

True, the fit and cut of the pants matter but also Jackie O looked great in almost everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear Millennial or Gen Z,

One day you’ll reach the point where you just don’t care what anyone thinks anymore. That day is glorious! Until then, keep living for the approval of your Insta or Tik-Tok followers.

Haha this hit home. Fellow Gen Xer here.

I still don’t get what is unappealing about capri length pants. I’m not a fan of the style that is tight and hits high on the shin, but I still those were last sold in a Jersey mall circa 1990. But I have lots of capri length (a little above the ankle) straight legged pants that are great this time of year. Further advice to the millenials, when you hit age 50 you may not be as quick to want to wear shorts (I’m not overweight but have prominent leg veins…).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not someone reviving a 14 year old thread.

But I agree: capri pants are awful. On everyone. I don’t even like capri leggings for the gym. Long or short - pick a lane, people!

It gets revived every spring. It's tradition.

I also hate capri leggings at the gym. Just do bike shorts, or a thin full length legging. Those capri leggings that hit right at the calf are so hideous.

I’m curious about the ages of the posters saying they don’t like cropped leggings for the gym. I can’t gauge whether you’re young or old.

I am 45 and do not like capri length leggings.

To be clear, I'm not body shaming anyone and it's less to me about thinking they make people look bad (though I do think they are unflattering on a lot of body types) but more that I think they look dumb. It just looks weird to me to wear short pants that stop right at your calf. The 7/8 leggings that a lot of places sell make more sense to me. It just seems like you either want to stop above the knee or above the ankle, and anything in between looks weird, like you bought child-size pants by accident.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Millennial or Gen Z,

One day you’ll reach the point where you just don’t care what anyone thinks anymore. That day is glorious! Until then, keep living for the approval of your Insta or Tik-Tok followers.

Haha this hit home. Fellow Gen Xer here.

I still don’t get what is unappealing about capri length pants. I’m not a fan of the style that is tight and hits high on the shin, but I still those were last sold in a Jersey mall circa 1990. But I have lots of capri length (a little above the ankle) straight legged pants that are great this time of year. Further advice to the millenials, when you hit age 50 you may not be as quick to want to wear shorts (I’m not overweight but have prominent leg veins…).

That sounds more like cropped pants vs capri. Or maybe I just want them to be cropped (and not capri) because that’s what I wear, too, in place of shorts!

At 52, I’ve got veins for days — and my mom’s cellulite. I feel too self conscious to wear shorts out of the house, so I wear what I feel good in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not someone reviving a 14 year old thread.

But I agree: capri pants are awful. On everyone. I don’t even like capri leggings for the gym. Long or short - pick a lane, people!

It gets revived every spring. It's tradition.

I also hate capri leggings at the gym. Just do bike shorts, or a thin full length legging. Those capri leggings that hit right at the calf are so hideous.

I’m curious about the ages of the posters saying they don’t like cropped leggings for the gym. I can’t gauge whether you’re young or old.

I am 45 and do not like capri length leggings.

To be clear, I'm not body shaming anyone and it's less to me about thinking they make people look bad (though I do think they are unflattering on a lot of body types) but more that I think they look dumb. It just looks weird to me to wear short pants that stop right at your calf. The 7/8 leggings that a lot of places sell make more sense to me. It just seems like you either want to stop above the knee or above the ankle, and anything in between looks weird, like you bought child-size pants by accident.

DP. Leggings above the ankle look good because they are tight. Regular opening pants above the ankle don’t look great. But honestly I’m not someone who cares what other people wear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fit of Capri pants really does matter. You can get away with a bad fit more in longer pants because then you at least get a longer line.

For some reason, women often get Capri pants very fitted. Why? This just makes your legs look bigger and emphasizes thick ankles or large feet. Would you buy a skin tight midi wiggle skirt? If no, why are you wearing the pant equivalent?

Also if the goal is to stay cool, a lighter weight fabric that floats further from the body is going to be more comfortable.

And don't buy khaki capris! Black is also not great if you don't have a tan. Navy and white are good neutrals. Olive if you have the right skin tone. Red is fun. NOT khaki.

I think tapered/fitted mid calf capris are flattering on lots of people. The wide just above ankle length are not.

Fitted and hit mid-calf? No, those are not flattering on anyone. Not even models look good in that! Why would you want to stop at the widest part of your calf? That instantly makes you look shorter and wider.

I think the super wide ankle length pants don't work unless you are super slim and the fabric is somewhat drapey (so not like stiff denim or canvas). But ankle length with a slimmer leg is universally more flattering than something that is going to hug the largest part of your calf. I think if you like that length, just wear a midi skirt where the fabric is going to graze but not be snug to the leg.

[Anonymous]

Here are fitted capri pants on three runway models (all probably 5'10 or taller, size 0-2). Please review these photos and then explain how this type of pant is flattering on 99% of women.

Please note all three of these women are also wearing at least 3 inch heels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not someone reviving a 14 year old thread.

But I agree: capri pants are awful. On everyone. I don’t even like capri leggings for the gym. Long or short - pick a lane, people!

It gets revived every spring. It's tradition.

I also hate capri leggings at the gym. Just do bike shorts, or a thin full length legging. Those capri leggings that hit right at the calf are so hideous.

I’m curious about the ages of the posters saying they don’t like cropped leggings for the gym. I can’t gauge whether you’re young or old.

I am 45 and do not like capri length leggings.

To be clear, I'm not body shaming anyone and it's less to me about thinking they make people look bad (though I do think they are unflattering on a lot of body types) but more that I think they look dumb. It just looks weird to me to wear short pants that stop right at your calf. The 7/8 leggings that a lot of places sell make more sense to me. It just seems like you either want to stop above the knee or above the ankle, and anything in between looks weird, like you bought child-size pants by accident.

DP. Leggings above the ankle look good because they are tight. Regular opening pants above the ankle don’t look great. But honestly I’m not someone who cares what other people wear.

I think a lot of people falsely believe that tight clothes are slimming. The opposite is true. You don't want baggy or oversized, but if you want to make a body part appear slimmer than it is, you don't wear something skin tight on it. Especially not if the garment is going to end and expose skin. You want something a bit wider than the body part so that your body will look slimmer by comparison.

I know, I know, you don't believe me. But it's true. Super tight only works if you are looking to emphasize the real width of your body. So if you have super thin legs or a teeny tiny waist and you want to show it off, by all means, go body con. Most of us are not in that position though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear Millennial or Gen Z,

One day you’ll reach the point where you just don’t care what anyone thinks anymore. That day is glorious! Until then, keep living for the approval of your Insta or Tik-Tok followers.

GenXer here. Don't do tik tok or Insta. However. I still like to look nice. So if what you are saying is that people will 'reach the point where you just don’t care what anyone thinks anymore' means that people don't care if they look good, i.e., become fat, stop wearing make up and dyeing hair - speak for yourself. I think it's sad that people reach that point. My grandmother wore Chanel and pearls until she died. She was gorgeous.

Capris do nothing for 99% of the people who wear them (me included). So, unless you don't mind looking like you don't care, don't wear them. If you're the type to 'let yourself go' as you age, that's on you - it speaks volumes about yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here are fitted capri pants on three runway models (all probably 5'10 or taller, size 0-2). Please review these photos and then explain how this type of pant is flattering on 99% of women.

Please note all three of these women are also wearing at least 3 inch heels.

They are hideous!
I bought two pairs of long shorts that hit just below the knee. My legs are veiny, but it was so hot when I bought them, that I thought they were a good compromise. What a mistake! I only wear them around the house or when I'm gardening. I won't even wear them for a quick run to the store.
Now that I'm over 50, I wear wide linen pants or nearly ankle length dresses in the summer. I don't want anyone to suffer by looking at my veiny legs. Linen is cool and lightweight, though wrinkly. And dresses are always cool when they're loose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Millennial or Gen Z,

One day you’ll reach the point where you just don’t care what anyone thinks anymore. That day is glorious! Until then, keep living for the approval of your Insta or Tik-Tok followers.

GenXer here. Don't do tik tok or Insta. However. I still like to look nice. So if what you are saying is that people will 'reach the point where you just don’t care what anyone thinks anymore' means that people don't care if they look good, i.e., become fat, stop wearing make up and dyeing hair - speak for yourself. I think it's sad that people reach that point. My grandmother wore Chanel and pearls until she died. She was gorgeous.

Capris do nothing for 99% of the people who wear them (me included). So, unless you don't mind looking like you don't care, don't wear them. If you're the type to 'let yourself go' as you age, that's on you - it speaks volumes about yourself.

FYI, I make more of an effort now that I'm older. I used to throw on anything, but no more. It feels disrespectful to dress badly, so I don't. And I've never worn capris, even when young and thin. Always thought they cut me in half and made me look fat and dumpy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are fitted capri pants on three runway models (all probably 5'10 or taller, size 0-2). Please review these photos and then explain how this type of pant is flattering on 99% of women.

Please note all three of these women are also wearing at least 3 inch heels.

They are hideous!
I bought two pairs of long shorts that hit just below the knee. My legs are veiny, but it was so hot when I bought them, that I thought they were a good compromise. What a mistake! I only wear them around the house or when I'm gardening. I won't even wear them for a quick run to the store.
Now that I'm over 50, I wear wide linen pants or nearly ankle length dresses in the summer. I don't want anyone to suffer by looking at my veiny legs. Linen is cool and lightweight, though wrinkly. And dresses are always cool when they're loose.

+1
As we age our fashion should change. It doesn't mean we stop looking nice. Our body changes and we roll with the change. I used to be able to wear cute tight tank tops and look like a Rockstar. Menopause hit and my upper arms are not slim and muscular looking, so I don't wear the tanks. Plenty of cute non-tank shirts for me to wear.

[Anonymous]

I’m Gen X. I think some of you don’t understand that pants that you call crops are actually capris (google images of Audrey Hepburn or Mary Tyler Moore/Dick Van Dyke Show and capris). As are the skin tight high calf pants, and my guess is this style is what most of you are objecting to.

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/01/mary-tyler-moore-pants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m Gen X. I think some of you don’t understand that pants that you call crops are actually capris (google images of Audrey Hepburn or Mary Tyler Moore/Dick Van Dyke Show and capris). As are the skin tight high calf pants, and my guess is this style is what most of you are objecting to.

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/01/mary-tyler-moore-pants

I'm objecting to all capris. Mary Tyler Moore was so slim and beautiful and these pants didn't do her many favors either. Geez, if she can't rock them and models can't rock them, what hope do us normal people have?

Ok ok Jackie O did rock them. She's the only one who can wear them and she's dead. The rest of us - no.