News + Trends

For all those who like to do things by halves: Capri trousers are back

2.6.2023

Translation: machine translated

Neither fish nor bird. Neither shorts nor trousers. If you find it difficult to decide, this summer you can make a trendy compromise.

I was 15 or 16 when I secretly rummaged through my (cool) older sister's wardrobe for her grey Capri trousers. It was illegal to try them on before investing your own hard-earned pocket money. As far as I know, I didn't get caught, but there was still not enough enthusiasm on my part to buy my own pair.

I still feel very similar today. I'm coming across the mid-calf trousers more and more often on social media and catwalks and I don't really know what to think about recycling this already recycled trend. After all, the non-shorts-not-trousers textile made its first big appearance back in the 1950s and 1960s.

The short history of shorts

Sonja de Lennart, who was born in Poland, was behind the design of the half-trouser made of fabric and didn't care that women's legs didn't have to be tucked into trousers at the time. In 1945, she opened her first boutique in Munich, with a collection named after her favourite holiday destination: Capri. It wasn't long before her slim, calf-length trousers were hyped, copied by all designers and worn by pre-social media influencers such as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe.

Audrey Hepburn in colourful striped capri trousers.
Source: Instagram @rareaudreyhepburn

Film star Marilyn Monroe also wore trousers once. Capri pants. — Audrey Hepburn in colourful striped capri trousers.
Source: Instagram @rareaudreyhepburn

And now she's back once again, having been spotted at Acne Studios' spring/summer show and on model Maya Stepper. Good for all those who either like to indulge in nostalgia and want to embellish their summer with a little Audrey Marilyn feeling, or who once again can't make up their mind with all that's on sale. Between long or short, showing skin or covering up.

Maya Stepper in capri leggings.
Source: Instagram @mayastepper

Acne Studios Spring/Summer 23 — Maya Stepper in capri leggings.
Source: Instagram @mayastepper

Styling tip: As the trousers end at mid-calf, they can make your legs look shorter. If you want to counteract this effect, it's best to wear open shoes or shoes with a "low neckline" that reveal a lot of the foot and thus visually lengthen the leg. Heels also visually elongate the leg.