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Dear Readers,
I've said it before and I'll say it again only LOUDER this time. Capri pants are not very flattering. So, why do women continue to wear them? My friends tell me that they like capris for two reasons: first, they think capris are much cooler than full length pants; second, they have a closet full of them, so why not wear them now while cropped pants are all the rage. Cropped? Capris? They're both basically the same, right?
Wrong.
Allow me to illustrate:
Here are some capris from Talbot's and they're not only unflattering, they are tres passé. Sorry about that.
And here are some trendy cropped pants from Ann Taylor and I must admit, they look pretty darn good!
But here's the thing.
When it comes to looking good in your clothes, height is a distinct advantage. So what's the point of being 5' 8" if you're going to become 5' 5" in a nanosecond just by putting on a pair of cropped pants? And no, my friends, high heels won't help. Sadly, optical illusion is at play here.
Being a skin cancer prone redhead, I wear long pants all year 'round for obvious reasons. Yes, I'm often miserable in hot weather. However, I don't think an additional 3 inches of bare leg will necessarily make me feel cooler, especially when I look shorter and somewhat stumpy. The very thought makes me sweat.
Take a look at this model (style.com) wearing a variety of pant styles. In which outfit does she look the tallest, the slimmest, the best proportioned and most leggy?
If you chose the middle photo, you win. That's why I like a wide-leg high rise pant as opposed to a slim-cut low rise crop.
If staying cool this summer is the issue, then why not wear skirts? Unlike pants of any length, skirts hide a multitude of sins especially in the rear view mirror. As a matter of fact, skirts are a fabulous idea for beating the heat and looking cute no matter your shape, your age or your budget.
I think I'll start a skirt campaign and boycott cropped pants. As long as I use a decent self tanning cream, my legs are ok, so why not? This denim pencil skirt from Austin is adorable!
The truth is, I have neither the time nor the money to shop for new skirts. I don't own any capris, but I do have a pair of slim very slightly cropped (they hit just above the ankle bone) white pants in my closet.
Chances are I'll be wearing them quite a bit this summer.
But I won't be happy about it.
(Read my monthly Style Central columns on patch.com)
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