Can I Wear Capris If I’m Petite? We Asked a Stylist

Katie Collins is a Los Angeles-based wardrobe stylist and creative director whose inspiration has been shaped by decades of travel and street fashion in New York, London and Paris. She’s styled runway shows and editorial shoots for publications like Elle and Harper’s Bazaar and works with A-List actors ranging from Jennifer Aniston to Kerry Washington.

One of the biggest mistakes petite women can make with a capri pant is to have it hit mid-calf, which is the least flattering point of the leg, Collins explains. This is where tailoring counts for a lot. “Getting the right fit is crucial,” she says. “The best fit is to have the hem fall a few inches above the ankle—almost like it’s more of a cropped silhouette.” Ultimately, the goal is to not cut yourself off by creating a horizontal line at an awkward place, which can make a petite gal appear even shorter. “This is about modifying the traditional capri,” Collins adds. “When you’re petite, any style that hits below the knee or right at the calf is not going to be flattering.”

According to Collins, when you’re petite and dabbling in wearing capris, a more fitted style is ideal. “The silhouette is really crucial and I’d say a straight leg—not a skinny—is the way to go,” she says. “If you choose a capri with a high waist and a slimmer cut throughout the hips, it’s going to deliver a nice clean line all the way down to where it hits a few inches above the ankle, which gives the illusion of height.”

Just like with the fit of your chosen capri, you want to choose a material that won’t add too much volume, Collins says. “Structure counts for a lot when you’re on the shorter side,” she explains. “I love denim or a capri in a trouser fabric. Of course, the goal is to be comfortable, so the right athleisure material could also work, but you want to choose a fabric that holds its shape and doesn’t slouch.”

A billowy blouse, a tank, a fun tee—they all work with a capri pant when you’re petite. The key, says Collins, is to make sure they hit at the waistline or right above. “You don’t want to wear a long T-shirt or a button-down that’s untucked. If you do, this creates another line that cuts you in half at the wrong place,” she describes. This doesn’t mean you can’t tuck a too-long shirt in. “A button-down that’s tucked—or French tucked—is totally cute,” Collins says. “I also love a boatneck tee with a capri. As long as you’re giving the visual of a defined waist with the capri pant, it works.”

Spring and summer are coming—the perfect time to wear a capri. “Sandals are the ideal shoe to pair with a capri since they create a bit of space between that above-the-ankle hem,” Collins says. Other options: a flat, a wedge, anything that’s strappy. “The more that’s showing off a bit of skin on the bottom, the better.”