Should You Wear Cropped Pants?
by
Diana
Pemberton-Sikes
zone3
“I watched a fashion show last night,” a reader wrote merecently. “They
said you should never wear Capris. I am5' 7", long legs, slim size 8. I
understand that they might not be flattering to everyone, but what about
forme? I just ordered a pair online. Tell me, what do you think?”
I think it's an interesting question. For while low-risepants tend to
flatter very few women, cropped pants can work well on a variety of
figures, provided they follow a few simple guidelines.
Before we get to them, however, let me define exactly the style I'm
referring to, so that we're all on the same page.
Cropped pants, also known as pedal pushers, clam diggers,and Capris,
are a style of pants that ends somewhere between the knee and the ankle,
usually at mid-calf. They've gone in and out of fashion several times
since the1950's, and are currently enjoying renewed popularity.
They are not for everyone, however.
Because of where they hit on the leg, they can emphasize several things.
For example:
*If you're petite, they can make you look shorter.
*If you're bottom heavy, they can make you look heavier.
*If you have short legs, they can make them look shorter.
*If you have thick ankles, they can make them look thicker.
Notice that I said, “can” in every situation. This isn't agiven. Much
of it can depend on the color, cut, style ofhem, and shoes that you
choose.
Let's look at these one by one:
COLOR
Dark or muted colors will make you look smaller, light or bright colors
will make you look bigger. Small prints work better on small bodies, large
prints work better on largeor tall bodies.
CUT
The most flattering cut for trim bodies of all height stends to be flat
front with tapered legs. This style elongates the body and offers a chic,
uncluttered line -which is why it was favored by the likes of
Jacqueline Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn during their summer vacations,and
promptly copied the world over.
The least flattering cut tends to be the draw string look with straight
or flared hem. While many women choose this style for comfort, it creates a
rectangular block of fabric from waist to hem, visually adding pounds and
subtracting height. If you are petite, heavy, or have thick ankles, this
style will magnify all of these things.
STYLE OF HEM
The most flattering hem for most women is plain and tapered. The least
flattering is flared with a cuff. The former will elongate, the latter will
shorten and widen.
If you're a bit heavy and feel that a tapered hem makes your hips or
upper thighs look bigger, try a straight leg style instead. Do NOT opt for
a flared hem to try to offset your hips - unless you want to look the same
size from hips to hem.
SHOES
For years, the ballerina flat was the shoe of choice to wear with
cropped pants. In recent years, high heels,sandals, slides, and flip-flops
have found their way on to the team as well.
Your best shoe choices create an unbroken line from hem to toe with
minimal material that compliments -- rather than competes with - your
pants. Shoes that are the same coloras pants, white, or flesh-colored are
all good choices.
Avoid chunky, heavy shoes, or shoes that compete with your hem. All of
these will call attention to your feet, chop you up visually, and make you
look shorter.
Cropped pants are a great warm weather alternative to shorts for those
chilly nights, dressy casual occasions, or for women who just hate to bare
their legs in shorts. They look great on women of many heights, sizes, and
ages, provided they're chosen with care.
If you look for styles that flatter your figure and elongate your body,
you'll look great AND stylish. So don't necessarily cross these off your
list. Just take a little time to find the looks that work best for you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Have designer tastes but a discount budget? Diana Pemberton-Sikes has
helped thousands of women create a stunning style on limited funds with
her fun, fresh approach to fashion. Sign up for her popular weekly ezine.
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