My grandma was one of my favorite people in the entire world. There are a million of her traits—her sassy wit, her fierce love of her family, her sixth sense for scoping out the best deals—that I hope she passed on to me. Her style is not one of those traits. Now, don’t get me wrong: She always looked impeccably put together, she just looked like, well, a grandmother who was in her 60s, 70s and, eventually, 80s. She was Talbot’s in human form, and come spring and summer, her petite frame was pretty much always draped in capris in all manner of colors and prints. Imagine my surprise, then, when I continue to see women my age and younger rocking capris as one of spring/summer’s biggest pants trends. I simply cannot get on board—here’s why.
Boomers Will Love this Spring Pant Trend (but It Gives Me the Ick)
I just can’t get on board
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Published May 2, 2025
Jeremy Moeller/getty images
christian vierig/getty images
As 21st century trends are wont to do, today’s version of capris is very loosely defined—in this case as a pant that his from below the knee to mid-calf, typically in a slim-fit cut. The style has been slowly but surely creeping up since last summer (we called out the trend in July 2024), and as temperatures rise this year, I’ve seen an alarming amount of shins on display throughout New York City. I’ve seen them styled in a number of different ways on a number of different body types, and honestly? I just think it’s a really awkward silhouette that brings to mind a Pink Ladies from Grease costume from Party City.
Perhaps I’m unfairly biased against short pants. Unlike my 5’3 grandma, I’m working with 6 feet of person, and over the years have tried dozens of pairs of “cropped” pants that look less intentionally abbreviated and more ‘oh my god, why is there so much space between that woman’s pants and her shoes?!’
That’s not to say I’m against any mid-length bottoms. While I love a full-length jean or ultra-short short (to Gen Z’s credit, micro shorts are that girl, IMO), I’m also all about an ankle crop chino pant or Bermuda-length short (which, yes, you can wear if you’re petite). There’s just something about the proportion of a capri pant that’s both slim-fit and cropped that rubs me the wrong way. Take a look at the cropped pants and Bermuda shorts outfits below and tell me they don’t look infinitely chicer than capris...
Edward Berthelot/getty images
Per usual, if you love capris and are thrilled about their return to the fashion forefront, I’m thrilled for you—keep wearing them. Personally, this is a trend I’m more than happy to skip. Sorry, grandma.
