How to Style Capri Pants: Tops, Shoes and Proportion

To style capri pants, balance the shorter leg with the right top and shoe: pair slim capris with a looser top and wide capris with a fitted one, and choose shoes that leave the ankle visible, such as pointed flats, slingbacks, heeled mules and minimal sandals. Tuck the top in, at least at the front, so the high waist shows and the leg looks longer. Keep the colours close from waist to shoe for the longest line.

Capri pants are trousers that end between the bottom of the knee and the middle of the calf, usually with a slim, straight leg and often a small split at the hem. They were a 1950s wardrobe classic, faded out for years, and have returned in force. This guide covers what tops to wear, shoes by heel height, proportion, capris for work and how capris differ from cropped trousers, using Posse pieces newly arrived at Coveti, including the Mina Capri in Black, as worked examples.

What are capri pants?

Capri pants are close fitting trousers that stop below the knee and above the ankle. The name comes from the Italian island of Capri, where the style became popular as resort wear in the 1950s. Classic capris are slim through the leg, sit high on the waist and finish with a short side split so they move freely over the calf.

The Mina Capri is a textbook example. Posse describes it as a high waisted, knee length capri with a close body silhouette, an elasticated waistband, a side zip with hook and eye closure and side splits at the hem. It is cut in cotton with a little elastane, so it holds its shape without bagging at the knee.

Why are capris coming back?

Capris are back because the wider fashion cycle has swung toward slimmer, shorter trousers after several years of long, wide legs, and because a capri shows off the ballet flats, Mary Janes and slim sandals that are everywhere right now. They also solve a practical problem: a capri is cooler than a full length trouser in summer and smarter than a short. Designers have reworked the shape in stretch cottons, knits and pleated fabrics, which gives it a modern edge.

What tops to wear with capri pants

The proportion rule for capris is simple: contrast the fit. Slim capris want a top with some ease, while straight and wider capris want a top that is closer to the body. Either way, a defined waist matters, because a capri that is hidden under a long, loose top cuts the leg in two places.

• Oversized shirts and long sleeve tees. Tuck the front only. The Maeve Long Sleeve Top in Vintage White has an oversized fit, a dropped shoulder and buttons at the centre front of a rounded neck, which makes it an easy partner for a slim black capri.
• Fitted knits. A close fitting top gives a clean 1950s line. The Indi Top in Grey has a scalloped neckline, a fitted silhouette and three quarter sleeves; with a capri, the sleeve and trouser lengths echo each other.
• Relaxed sweaters. The Ellis Sweater in Cream is an oversized cotton knit with a wide neckline. Push the sleeves up and half tuck it so the waistband of the capri shows.
• Halter tops and tanks. For summer, a close fitting sleeveless top keeps everything streamlined. See how to wear a halter top for options.
• Baby tees. A short, cropped tee sits right on the high waist of a capri. Read how to style a baby tee for more on the shape.

What shoes to wear with capri pants

The best shoes for capri pants leave the ankle bare and continue the line of the leg. A low vamp, a pointed toe and a shoe close to your skin tone, the trouser colour too, all make the leg look longer.

Avoid ankle straps that sit low on a short leg, chunky trainers with a slim capri, and ankle boots, which cover the gap that makes a capri look deliberate. Browse designer flats, mules and sandals for shapes that suit.

Capri pants vs cropped trousers: what is the difference?

The difference is length and cut. Capri pants end between the knee and mid calf and are usually slim, while cropped trousers end just above the ankle and can be any cut, from slim to wide.

The Posse drop has one of each mood. The Micah Pant in Red Gingham is a straight leg capri in a structured knit with an elasticated waist, a close to body fit and scalloped edges. The Jane Pant in Peach Sorbet is a three quarter length trouser with knife pleats at the side, a flutter hem and ladder lace, so it sits between a capri and a cropped trouser in feel. For more trouser shapes, browse designer pants.

How to style capri pants as a set

Matching a capri to its top in the same fabric creates one long column, which is the most flattering way to wear a shorter trouser. Posse designs in sets, sold separately, so you can wear the pieces together and apart.

1. Micah, worn together. The Micah Pant with the Micah Halter Top in Red Gingham gives a full gingham look for summer. Add flat sandals and a straw bag.
2. Micah, layered. Add the Micah Cardigan in Red Gingham, which is slightly cropped, for a three piece set that carries into autumn.
3. Jane, worn together. The Jane Pant with the Jane Top in Peach Sorbet, a knife pleated halter, makes a soft evening outfit with heeled sandals.
4. Broken apart. Wear the Micah Pant with a plain white tee, then the Mina Capri with the Micah halter. Mixing a solid with a print is the fastest way to stretch a set.

Coveti’s guide on how to style a matching set has more ways to split a set into separate outfits.

How to wear capri pants to work

Capris work in the office when they are in a plain, opaque fabric, sit at the true waist and are paired with tailoring. Black, navy, grey and cream capris all read as smart.

• With a vest. The Dakota Vest in Ivory is a tailored linen waistcoat with a close fitting neckline, front and back darts and buttons at the centre front. Worn as a top with the black Mina Capri and slingbacks, it is a polished summer office outfit.
• With a knit. A fine sweater tucked into the waistband and a pair of loafers.
• With a jacket. A short jacket ending at the hip keeps the proportion; a long coat swamps a capri. See designer jackets for cropped styles.

What body type looks good in capris?

Every body type can wear capris; the trick is choosing where the hem falls and what shoe sits below it. These adjustments help.

• Petite. Choose a capri that ends just below the knee, not mid calf, and wear a pointed flat and a low heel in a nude tone. A high waist and a tucked top add length.
• Tall. You can wear any length, including mid calf, and wide capris look especially good.
• Curvy. A straight leg with a little stretch, like Mina’s cotton and elastane, sits smoothly over hips and thighs. Pair it with a top that defines the waist.
• Athletic. A side split at the hem, like Mina’s, softens a slim capri over the calf.

The hem should land at the narrowest part of the leg you want to show, just below the knee and above the widest point of the calf. If a capri hits the fullest part of the calf, have it hemmed slightly shorter.

How to style grey and other coloured capris

Grey capri pants are as easy as black. Wear them with white, cream, pale pink and soft blue tops for daytime, and black for a sharper finish. A grey capri with the grey Indi Top is a tonal outfit that looks expensive with simple black flats. Bright capris, like the red gingham Micah Pant, need a plain partner: white, ivory and navy keep them grounded.

Fit and sizing for Posse capris

Posse sizes run XXS to XXL in letters, and the brand describes the Mina Capri, the Micah Pant and the Jane Pant as fitting true to size, so take your usual size. Because Mina is close to the body, size for your hips. If you are curious about the label itself, read who is Posse, and browse the full range on the Posse brand page.

Frequently asked questions

What do you wear with capri pants?

Wear slim capri pants with a looser top and wider capris with a fitted top, tucked in at the front. Finish with shoes that show the ankle, such as ballet flats, slingbacks, mules and minimal sandals.

Why are capris coming back?

The fashion cycle has moved toward slimmer, shorter trousers after years of long, wide legs. Capris also show off the flats and slim sandals that are popular now, and they stay cool in summer.

What is the difference between capri pants and cropped trousers?

Capri pants end between the knee and mid calf and are usually slim. Cropped trousers end just above the ankle and can have a slim, straight and wide leg.

What body type looks good in capris?

Every body type can wear capris when the hem lands at a narrow point of the leg. Petite frames suit a hem just below the knee with a pointed flat, and curvy frames suit a straight leg with a little stretch.

What shoes look best with capri pants?

Pointed ballet flats, kitten heel slingbacks, heeled mules and minimal sandals look best. Avoid ankle boots and chunky trainers, which shorten the leg.

Can you wear capri pants to work?

Yes. Choose a plain, opaque capri that sits at the waist and pair it with tailoring, such as a vest, a fine knit and a short jacket, plus loafers and slingbacks.