Capris

[Stella]

Jorts? Japris? Say it ain't so!!

[DCJenn]

Capris- Have some, yes they make me look short and wide. and yes there are times when it's 100+ degrees and I have to go to the grocery store and it's better to look short and fat than have my legs exposed to the general public. ESPECIALLY if I'm going on post. I don't care what the other spouses do and believe me there are some seriously fashion-challenged military spouses out there but- I represent my spouse and god forbid someone think, "man, she's a tart." (on top of my obvious Husseydom)

My preference is a cotton skirt, preferably to the knee, floaty but not Grateful Dead show floaty, with a blouse or a layered t-shirt for public occasions but there are some times in a girls life when pants are preferable. If you know what I mean.

and sorry, the feet are in Birks. But I do have some incredibly fun birks.

[Bittersweet]

I'm firmly in the anti-capri camp, but as someone who isn't in love with my legs I get their appeal. I say if you like them and feel comfy in them -go for it. If you can pair a heal (wedge) with them even better, if not who cares.

[mommax3]

I have several pairs of Dockers capris (wide and loose) and I love them. :nana: I generally wear wedge sandals with them, but have been known to pair them with sparkly flip-flops (also with a wedge heel) if I am not going to be doing a lot of walking. When I got hired and had to pull together a teaching wardrobe in literally a weekend, I lucked out in that Kohl's had a bunch of summer stuff on clearance.....hence the Dockers in every color hanging in my closet. They got me through the first six weeks of school, no joke.

Kids (at least my kids) and skirts are not a great combination, imo. There is too much bending over (and sometimes running) involved in parenting for skirts to be viable for me. Also, when my boys were younger, they couldn't resist the temptation to lift the hem of any skirt I happened to be wearing, in order to hide underneath, or just for the heck of it....who knows? :huh: Anyway, that was a lesson I didn't take too long to learn.

I do have a question, though. I have seen capris, which are shorter (ending at about the knee) and tighter, and then I have seen crop pants, which are longer (mid calf) and looser.....this is how I would describe what I have. So when you all say "capris", are you referring to anything shorter than pants and longer than shorts, or is there another category for crops?

Sally

[Vishenka69]

Crops should hit around the ankle, capris fall somewhere around mid-calf and bermuda shorts are knee-length. Does that help?

I personally have the most problem with mid-calf length, I don't think it's flattering on anyone. I know Stella also strongly dislikes knee-length but I think that really depends on style and body type and could be pulled off well in some instances.

[Rapunzel]

I don't wear capris. I DO like my legs - BUT I have to accept their limits. And, for someone who is thin and long I have surprisingly BIG calves (as in my calf muscles are almost as big as my thigh muscles! ). Now, this means my thighs are a bit on the thinner side. I have exactly TWO choices for length of bottoms (skirt, dress, or pants/shorts): ankle length and one or two inches above the knee.

When you wear pants, shorts, or a skirt there is a big horizontal line cutting across your body. If that horizontal line hits a "thicker" portion of your body it will make you look thicker overall. So the trick is to have the cut-off lines for your clothing hit the thinnest parts of your body possible (on my legs that is my knee and ankle joints).

My sister looks fabulous in capris and mid-calf length skirts. She has what she always called "chicken legs" - her thighs are larger and her lower legs are super-thin. Her legs look fantastic if they have that horizontal line at mid-calf or just under the knee (both awful spots on my own body).

I think capris work best on thin people with those "chicken legs" . In other words - people with very thin lower legs.

So, even though I don't wear capris and, in fact, look terrible in them I don't think they're the devil. There are definitely women who look great in them - I'm just not one of them!

[Rapunzel]

Since I don't wear capris and I honestly HATE shorts (don't own a single pair and refuse to!!!) I DO wear skirts in the summer. Ventilation is sooooo nice!

I have found that the best casual summer skirts are those that are fuller (don't even think about wearing a tight skirt to chase down a toddler - and remember ventilation is what I'm going for!), of a light fabric (cotton blend or rayon blend being great), and ankle length (got that whole bohemian thing going for them :P and, anything shorter and you flash everyone when you bend over to pick up the toddler's sippy cup ). Skirts like that look so great with a light-weight summer sweater, scoop-neck t-shirt, or something along those lines. The key to keeping the hippy-vibe from entering the picture is to wear a very fitted top (like a well-fitting scoop neck tshirt, for example). Then it looks more "beachy" and less Grateful Dead.

I definitely prefer long, flowing, casual skirts in the summer (especially in Texas!) to ANY pants!

[Amiens]

I wear bermuda length shorts, and I hate anything shorter than that. When I am pregnant I wear cropped pants, and I have a couple of pairs of capris, but they don't hit me mid-calf, probably a bit higher, just below my knee.

I have a hard time wearing skirts when chasing after my kids, let alone finding a length that I even like.

[Phoebe]

I do capris. I am not thin, but I am over 5'9. In fact, I just bought two pairs of capris today since I don't fit into any of my clothes yet. They may fall into the cropped category. I tried on some skirts, but felt too hippy (aka wide load) in them.

For not being a fashion do for most people, cropped pants and gouchos are certainly in this season.

Jennifer

[SuzySunshine]

Love them. :nana:

[Vanquisher]

Thank goodness so many of us are coming out of the woodwork in support of capris!!

[Vishenka69]

Girls, can we get back to one of the main rules of WNTW - just because it comes in your size doesn't mean you have to buy it. Do I need to mail out laminated wallet cards with all the rules?

[DCJenn]

Would you?

That would help immensely. Seriously.

Jenn

[SuzySunshine]

The argument of capris in lieu of shorts is nonsensical. I can't believe that airing your ankles gives such substantial relief from summer heat. Going with this theory, is it okay to wear a t-shirt cut into tassles with beads on the sleeves because the air in between the tassles will reduce my body temp?!

Wow!

So are these off limits? These are what most of mine look like:
http://www.anntaylorloft.com/atlLMPr...duct_Id=110265
Most of mine are at least that open at the bottom if not more so. I really don't understand why they're so much of a fashion don't.

[Vanquisher]

Capris are great for sitting "criss cross applesauce" and crawling after toddlers that shoot off. Skirts get lifted to show everyone that "My Mommy's wearing pink panties today. She's a big girl." You will flash someone in shorts/skirts if you spend a lot of time on the floor cross legged and holding/chasing the littlest ones. I just find capris more modest defintiely cooler than jeans in the summer.