Fashion
Capri Pants Are Making a Comeback— Here Are Four Ways I’m Styling Them
When it comes to the most polarizing fashion trends as of late, capri pants arguably reign supreme. Time and time again, mid-calf hemlines are pushed to the back of our drawers only to be pulled to the front again a few seasons later. Over the summer, the sartorial pendulum swung once again, and, like it or not, capri pants are making a serious comeback for fall 2024.
Trend barometers like Bella Hadid and Julia Fox have quietly been wearing cropped pants all year. Fashion darling Daisy Edgar-Jones made pedal pushers a cornerstone of her Twisters press tour style. And, capris of all kinds were seen at the latest Copenhagen Fashion Week, which serves as a testing ground for emerging street style trends. As a studied fashion historian, I’m fascinated by controversial items such as this, so naturally, I took Reformation’s Posie Pedal Pusher Pant for a test drive.
Bella Hadid in New York City, July 2024
Daisy Edgar-Jones at a press appearance for Twisters
To the delight of millennials everywhere, this year’s capris are more akin to pedal pushers worn by mid-century starlets like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Brigitte Bardot than the gauchos, cuffed denim capris, and cropped cargo joggers that plagued red carpets during the early 2000s. Paired with timeless basics and quiet luxury knits, fall offerings from Chanel and The Row feel more demure than daring.
A look from Chanel’s Fall 2024 runway
A look from The Row’s Fall 2024 collection
Capri pants and blazers were a frequent pairing at Copenhagen Fashion Week, so I decided my trusty J.Crew blazer was the best starting point. Coincidentally, my capri pants’ first outing fell during an unseasonably cold week, allowing me to dip into my sweater drawer for the first time in months.
A guest at Copenhagen Fashion Week SS25
A guest at Copenhagen Fashion Week SS25
Look 1
To keep the monochrome color palette from feeling bland, I threw on shiny silver ballet flats from Naturalizer and sparkly, oval-shaped INDY sunglasses with a subtle ’60s vibe. As I played with various shoe pairings, I noticed ballet flats and kitten heels (arguably two of the year’s biggest footwear trends) helped cement my capri pants outfits as being distinctly mid-century-inspired.
Look 2
The next time I donned my Reformation pedal pushers, I leaned into the Old Hollywood look with a scarf-neck silk blouse from Tory Burch, gold Birdies ballet flats, and a woven leather Bottega Veneta tote. I earned more compliments on my outfit that day than I had in ages.
Look 3
After such flattery, it only felt natural to style my pedal pushers with a wide, Bardot-esque headband, so I tried a modern spin on 60s casual for a weekend outing in Brooklyn. A cropped Levi’s denim jacket, Marcella kitten heel mules, and a cherry red Urban Sophistication Crayon Bag made me feel equal parts Kendall Jenner, J.Lo, and Jackie O.
Look 4
My misconceptions about capris being unflattering were banished once and for all when I slipped on a simple black tank that accentuated the fitted, high-rise silhouette. The contrast of a minimalist suede jacket I sourced through The Narrative Vintage kept the otherwise simple black outfit interesting, as did a playful pair of puffy JW Anderson heels and a chunky chain necklace.
By now, my Reformation capris feel right at home in my early fall wardrobe. In fact, I’ve even expanded my collection with capri yoga pants from Artizia’s IYKYK sale section. Next, I’m planning to pick up a looser fit like that at Loewe or try a unique fabrication like Donni’s rib knit pedal pushers or Beaufille’s lacy leggings. Perhaps, I’ll even try a pair of designer denim capris from Mulger. Below, you’ll find a curation of my top capri pants for fall.
Shop Editor-Approved Capri Pants for Fall
Loewe Cropped Trousers in Wool
Retrofete Padma Capri Jean
Now 73% Off
Mugler High-Rise Cropped Jeans
Now 51% Off
Donni The Rib Pedal Pusher
Now 32% Off
Beaufille Cassia Capri Legging
Alo Yoga High-Waist Airlift Capri
Sarah Maberry is a commerce writer for Hearst Magazines, where she covers fashion, beauty and pop culture. A seasoned trend forecaster and fashion historian, she analyzes viral products and trends on a deeper level. When she’s not writing for Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s BAZAAR, House Beautiful, Town & Country, Delish and other publications, she can be found roaming the Museum at FIT (her alma matter) or sewing her own couture while she binge-watches reality TV.
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