10 Slimming Ways to Wear Capris
Love them or hate them, capris can be tricky. The wrong pair can make your legs look shorter and your silhouette wider, but the right ones can be cute and flattering when it’s hot out, and you don’t want to wear shorts or pants. The secret? It’s all about fit, length, and styling. I’ve got ten tips to help you wear capris in the best way possible.
How to Wear Capri Pants
1. Find Your Perfect Length
Capris come in varying lengths, from just below the knee to 4 or 5 above the ankle. The key to finding your perfect length is to avoid wearing ones that stop in the middle of your calves. Capris that end at this widest point will make your legs look shorter and thicker. (The one exception is if you have skinny legs.)
Capris should end at the slimmest part of your calves—if you’re tall, that will be below your calf muscle; if you’re petite, it may be just below your knee, above the calf muscle. If you have very muscular calves, you may want to skip capris altogether.
2. Choose a Slim Fit
Wide or baggy capri pants shorten and widen. They can also make you look bulky, especially with flowy ones that have an elastic waistband. Instead, choose slim, tailored capri pants for a leg-lengthening effect. Tapered or straight-leg cuts that follow the natural shape of your legs create a streamlined effect.
3. Be Conscious of Color
Darker shades like black, navy, or brown create a more slimming appearance, while whites, pastels, and beiges highlight curves (although there is a slimming way to wear them! See #9 Monochromatic)
4. Opt for High-Rise Styles
High-waisted capris elongate your legs and define your waist, giving a more flattering silhouette. Avoid low-rise styles, which can create an unflattering muffin-top effect.
5. Balance Your Top and Bottom
We expect our legs to appear longer than our bodies, but since capris shorten our legs, we need to counteract that to achieve the right proportions. If you have a slim, long waist, tuck your top into your capris to create the illusion of a higher waist. If you have a shorter body or a wider waist, your top should end at or just above your hipbone. Average proportions—you have options.
6. Wear Nude or Low-Vamp Shoes
Shoes that match your skin tone or have a low vamp (show more of the foot) create the illusion of longer legs. Avoid ankle straps, as they can disrupt the leg line. A small heel, such as a kitten heel or small block heel, looks great in a sandal. If you’re going with sneakers, opt for slim, finer ones that are currently popular rather than big, chunky, platform-style models.
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7. Go for Vertical Details
Vertical seams, side stripes, or elongated patterns can help create a longer, leaner look. Avoid horizontal prints that can make the legs appear wider. Also, avoid cuffed capris, which cut your legs horizontally.
8. Monochrome Magic
Wearing capris and a top in the same color creates a long, uninterrupted line, making you look taller and slimmer. For added contrast, consider pairing a lightweight, open-front cardigan or jacket in a similar tone to maintain the elongating effect.
9. Avoid Heavy Pockets or Embellishments
Bulky pockets, cargo styles, zippers, flaps, big buttons, or embellishments around the hips or thighs can add unnecessary volume. Keep capri pants simple and sleek. I love the flat-front pull-on kind with added stretch.
10. Use Shapewear if Needed
If you want extra smoothness and definition, consider wearing lightweight shapewear underneath to conceal any lumps and bumps and achieve a seamless, slimming look.
Over to you!
Do you wear capris, and if so, how? I’d love to know.
You can read more about Capris here:
- Are Capris in or out of Style?
- White Denim Capris that Don’t Stain
- 3 Ways to Style Capri Leggings in Summer
Do you prefer cropped pants over capris? Check out How to Style Cropped Pants.
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Good! I love capris in the spring and summer when it is too hot to wear pants.
I am so sick of this hideous pant length.! When will designers stop making them? I have never seen anyone, even the tall willowy woman in sports capris or crop pants, not have their legs appear noticeably shorter. Offering solutions to pair them with tops and shoes that will elongate the leg is ridiculous. Why do women keep accepting fashions that no one fashionable would dare to wear?
I, for one, still absolutely love capris in the summer. I have thicker legs with spider veins, and skirts don’t look good unless they’re mid-calf length. Long pants are just too hot in the summer. I don’t care if they make my 5’4″ frame look even shorter; why do we have to try to look tall anyway? Who cares?
I agree. A woman “of an age” doesn’t want to wear shortie shorts, and skirts aren’t sporty enough for some events. A word to designers: Capris — style them, so we WANT them! Super lightweight, hip pockets for sure, slim around the calf and ending between the top and midpoint of the calf muscle. Side ruching welcome, but no tabs! IMHO.
I’m 70 and have a fat tummy; my knees are not pretty. Therefore, I feel capris or cropped trousers would look better.
I’m 5’5/6, but I would like advice on the type of trousers to get, please
This is a fabulous article. We need more like it that shows us how not to dress (with pictures), then how to dress (with graphics). Thanks so much. I’ve always felt that wide bottom capris were unflattering; I didn’t know why!
Excellent advice. I’m on the short side (5’2″), and Capri Pants tend to make my legs look even faster than they are, but some of your hints counteract that problem. Thank you. Other than that, I love the ease of Capris.
Why bother to wear Capri pants when you have to take measures to “counteract the problem.” The solution to the problem is to eliminate them from your wardrobe. What is wrong with wearing shorts?
Shorts are not appropriate to wear everywhere, i.e., at work. Some people do not like to wear skirts or dresses. I love capris in the spring and summer when it is too hot to wear pants.
Great advice! I see so many ladies who get it wrong with capris, and they can look fab, as you have shown. Thanks.
I am not a big fan of Capri & cropped styles, but this makes the best out of a problematic length to wear. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Deborah, for asking me to guest post!
I love having you, and if any of you gals in Australia need an image consultant, I highly recommend Imogen!