Capri Pants Are Tricky—Here’s How I’m Making Them Work

And how not to look like you’re boarding a cruise ship.

collage of women wearing capri pants
(Image credit: Future)

Cropped, close-fitting, and slightly controversial, capri pants are officially back for another spin around fashion’s trend cycle. Once championed by '60s-era Hollywood starlets, like Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot, this calf-skimming trend has since made its way onto the Spring 2025 runways of modern labels like Sandy Liang, OpéraSPORT, and Filippa K. To no surprise, the style has trickled down from designer catwalks to the coveted closets of fashion enthusiasts.

Marie Claire Fashion Features Editor Emma Childs tells me that she’s a staunch advocate for capri pants. “I consider the cropped pants a cult classic—up there with ballet flats and Breton stripe shirts,” she says. “I own a pair of black stretchy capris from H&M and typically wear them with either a button-down shirt or a minimal black long-sleeve (à la Audrey) with my favorite Prada kitten heels to tie the vintage-inspired look together.”

Like my savvy colleague, I prefer a polished approach to wearing capris, often coordinating them with sharp blazers and lofty mules for days in the office. However, if I’m in a laid-back mood, I’ll pair these pants with oversized T-shirts and retro sneakers for errand runs and casual city strolls. As for my chosen style, I opt for high-waisted capri pants with lengthy mid-calf hems, which create an elongated look, considering I'm borderline petite at 5 feet 4 inches.

With endless styling options available this season, there’s no better time than now to indulge in the capri pants trend. Scroll on for 20 options that will help you do just that, from neutral variations to statement-making alternatives featuring pinstripes, gingham prints, and lace.

Shop the Capri Pants Trend:

Lauren Tappan
Fashion Editor

Lauren K. Tappan is the Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, where she covers trend forecasting and shopping stories, highlighting runway-inspired styles and a blend of emerging and established brands. Prior to joining Marie Claire, she worked as a freelance editor for Harper’s Bazaar and ELLE, specializing in e-commerce content and curating seasonal trend reports. Earlier in her career, she worked at Town & Country, developing a strong portfolio of fashion roundups and designer profiles.

Lauren holds a bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in journalism from the University of Pennsylvania. While at Penn, she served as editor-in-chief of The Walk, the university's fashion magazine, and completed internships at Philadelphia Style Magazine and EveryStylishGirl.