Capri Pants
Clothing Definitions — definitions of garments and clothing terms from Apparel Search
Capri pants, often just called capris, are a style of trousers worn primarily during the summer, designed to end near the mid-calf or just below the calf. The style takes its name from the Italian island of Capri, where it became fashionable in the late 1940s and 1950s as resort wear, and its cropped length has been a warm-weather staple ever since. This page explains where the capri sits among cropped lengths, the details such as side slits and cuffs that finish the leg, and how the style is worn today.
Capri pants (often just called capris) are a style of trousers worn primarily by young women during the summer. They are designed to end near the mid-calf or just below the calf.
Capri pants became popular in the United States during the 1960's, largely due to the influence of the popular television series The Dick Van Dyke Show. Laura, the young housewife played by Mary Tyler Moore, caused a fashion sensation by wearing snug-fitting Capri pants in many episodes. After a drop in popularity during the 1970's through the 1990's, Capri pants again became a dominant trend during the early 21st century.
Read capri pant blog posts to learn more about this type of garment.
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Wearing Capri Pants
The mid-calf hem is the capri's strength and its styling challenge: the leg ends at the calf's widest point, so a slightly tapered leg and a hem that sits just above or just below that point give the cleanest line. Small side slits at the hem are a classic capri detail, letting the narrow leg move comfortably, and turn-up cuffs appear on casual versions. Flat shoes, sandals and low wedges all suit the length, which was designed for exactly the warm-weather, off-duty settings those shoes belong to.
Fabrics follow the season: cotton twill and stretch cotton for everyday pairs, linen for the coolest wear, and denim capris as a shortened alternative to jeans. Because the style shows the lower leg and ankle, fit through the calf matters more than in full-length trousers — the hem should skim rather than grip.
Capris sit in a family of shortened trousers whose names are often confused: pedal pushers end just below the knee and were named for cyclists, clam diggers are a looser mid-calf style, and capris are the tailored mid-calf version with the Capri resort heritage. Knowing the distinctions helps when reading vintage patterns or shopping, since the same mid-calf length is sold under several of these names.
Common Questions
Where do capri pants end?
Capri pants are designed to end near the mid-calf or just below the calf — clearly below the knee but well above the ankle. That mid-calf finish is the defining feature that separates capris from shorts, pedal pushers and full-length trousers.
Why are they called capri pants?
The style is named for the Italian island of Capri, the fashionable resort where the cropped trouser was popularized in the late 1940s and 1950s. The name stuck as the length became a standard summer style far beyond the island.
How are capris different from cropped pants generally?
All capris are cropped pants, but not all cropped pants are capris: the general term covers any trouser shortened to between knee and ankle, including wide-leg and ankle-length crops. Capris are the narrower, mid-calf style with the resort-wear heritage described on this page.