Giving up on capris...

I've given capris more fashion chances than they deserve. It's like a footstool that you keep stubbing your toe on and you never move it. When do you finally DO something about it? 

So I'm moving capris (the footstool) out of my closet once and for all! Why are they so bad? Well, after telling women to wear them carefully...I've had enough of this hard to wear proportion in my own closet. SO OUT THEY GO!

Last week on my radio show a young woman asked if she can wear capris. The caller was 5'4" and an average hourglass shape. Instead of explaining how they can be hard to wear because they hit mid-calf and make it harder to balance your shape...I told this woman to go to the mall and sit. Watch women walk by in capris. Do ANY of these "capri wearing" women look good? Really...does anyone look good in them???

Capris have a way of sabotaging our wardrobes. They make it hard for you to look great. The proportion hits usually mid-calf which is bad if you are bottom heavy, have thick legs, are short, have a long torso....isn't this enough? Did I leave anyone out? How about the fact that they make your legs looks shorter, heavier--even if you are on the slender side? 

I understand the "comfort" factor of capris. They cover a multitude of sins. Spider veins, white legs, cellulite and anything else we don't like about our lower extremities. They are cooler than long pants and cover more than the average short. However....THEY DON'T LOOK GOOD!

Why not wear a short or skirt? Capris have become such a "go to" summer staple that we forgot they are OTHER choices we could wear in the summer. Capris are in every store, every price point because they sell! But why not wear an attractive short? Or a pretty floral skirt? A short around the knee is much more attractive because it gives you more leg length! I'm sure you can handle showing 6" more of your skin! You'll look so much better for it.


I'm kicking my capris to the curb this season. (Actually I'm shortening most of them to shorts or purging them from my closet). How about you? Are you with me? Are you ready to give up on capris?

Bad proportion: Capris

Good proportions: Shorts

Again, bye bye capris that make my legs look short and stumpy....

Do you agree with me? Capris don't do us any fashion favors.

Look Hot in White

 Not a size 6 but wondering if you can wear white pants and pull it off?

This warm weather dilemma haunts lots of women. Most women are afraid of white pants because they can show every bump and bulge and may be more of a “fashion faux pas” than a fashion “do”.

Lots of women cling to the color black like a security blanket (it is so slimming, you know) and can’t let go! Afraid to try something beside black bottoms? You are not alone.

Dear Missus Smarty Pants,

I am a wondering if white pants will make me look even bigger? I am a bit overweight but I would love to wear white pants or shorts. With warmer weather on the way I’d love to know how to wear white and look good.

I am a body type D, by the way.

Thanks for your help, Sylvia

Dear Sylvia,

This question pops up every spring/summer!

White is a great color to wear in the warmer summer months. White is light, bright and contrasts nicely with black and every bright color: lime, fuchsia, royal blue, sunny yellow, etc.

YOU can wear white pants, no matter your size! It’s a matter of finding the right white pants for you. The fit and style must be right.

Here are some tips to get you looking fabulous in white pants:

• Look for flat-front styles. NO PLEATS. Keep your style simple. Flat fronts keep you look smooth under all your shirts.

• Thinner fabrics like linens, silks, rayon-blends should ALWAYS be lined.

• The best choices for white pants/shorts are thicker fabrics. I like twills and a classic 5-pocket style. The thicker fabrics can give shape and structure to your shape.

• Look for pants with wider waistbands. A wide waistband of at least one and a half inches and in a firmer fabric helps minimize and hold in a tummy.

• White pants/shorts with side/slash pockets should be sewn shut. The “poofy” gaping pockets add attention and visual weight to your lower half!  Also remove pocket linings that show through. (They bring unwanted attention and you aren’t going to use your pockets anyways!)

• Choose a boot-cut style to balance out a tummy or larger hip area. This style makes your white pants look ultra-slimming!

• Last but not least…this is NOT the day to wear your underwear with the little pink flowers!!! DO NOT wear white underwear under white! This outlines your underwear—not a look you want! Wear underwear as close to your natural skin color that you can find. Consider a Spanx or other brand of panty shaper underneath for the smoothest look.

• White capris look best when worn with a heeled sandal or wedge shoe...

Remember; wear your white pants with a strong contrasting color (mentioned above). Or, go monochromatic (all white from head-to-toe) then add a colorful chunky necklace (maybe a shell necklace?) + cute colorful sandals to complete your on-trend outfit.

Love,

Leslie aka MissusSmartyPants