Capri Pants?
 

I have read a number of posts on herre suggesting to wear capri pants in Europe. I am not familiar with that type of pants (at least by that name). Can anyone explain what they are. Thank you.

I don't know what Capri pants are. But I do have a related survey for all posters to take. <BR> <BR>Please answer yes to ONE of the following: <BR> <BR>A - Have you been to Capri AND worn capri pants? <BR> <BR>B - Have you been to Capri but NOT worn capri pants? <BR> <BR>C - Have you NOT been to Capri but HAVE worn capri pants? <BR> <BR>D - Have you NOT been to Capri NOR have worn Capri pants? <BR> <BR>For me the answer is B. <BR> <BR>By the way, if you have any questions regarding Campania, please ask!!

Hiho, if you don't know what Capri pants are, how do you know you weren't wearing them when you were on Capri?? Answer for me is B, but I saw lots of women wearing them while I was there which I found amusing. <BR>Anne, I'm not a fashion expert but I believe they are women's pants, something between shorts and long pants, tightly fitted and fall just below the knees. Think Annette Funicello (or whatever her name is) and 1950's beach movies.

Paige - you make a good point in your first sentence. But after your clarification of what they are...my answer is still B! I guess it was a lucky guess the first time.

I can still remember a pair of bright red capri pants and a pair of hand-made thong sandals which I bought and wore on a trip to Capri in the '70's. The pants were at least two sizes smaller than my usual (the sales girl assured me that if I could zip them while lying on my back, they were the right size!) and the sandals cut my feet in half, but they somehow looked and felt just right while I was there. Once I got off the island, I looked at these articles of clothing with bewilderment and never wore them again! I think the island bewitched me.

Anne: <BR>Paige is right about what capri pants are, except not all are tight. They fall anywhere from just below the knee to a couple of inches above the ankle. Some are tightly fitted; some are looser. When I was in Italy last month, I saw tons of women wearing capris and sandals. Most men (including my husband) seem to hate them, but I love them! They're very popular right now.

If you are older you probably called them <BR>pedal pushers!

Anne, I love capris, cropped pants...whatever.....they are a perfect alternative to the shorts/pants controversy IMO.....Jody: I remember the term "clamdiggers" too! Boy, does that age me...... ;-) Judy

to follow up on the last post, it does seem strange that most men hate capri pants. I love them, they are comfortable and you look more dressed up than wearing shorts but remain cool. Could some men out there please explain the aversion?

Forget capri pants - let's hear it for Skorts!!!

When "capri pants" first arrived on the fashion scene, those many years ago, we also called them toreador pants. Mid calf length in many fabrics and colors. <BR> <BR>As I noted on another thread when someone asked what they were, "Don't ever throw any clothes away; they soon return to the fashion scene." The only problem in my case is that they wouldn't fit anymore!

Ok, I will give you a man's opinion. Actually, I like the tighter fitting ones better (figure it out) but am really not against any ot them. Believe it or not, I remember seeing a long comment from another man on the Internet regarding why he thought they were not appealing. He said they were revealing just enough that he wanted to see more (so not as good as a skirt) and not long enough to be pants. In other words, they confused the heck out of him. I like Capri too but haven't been there. Begs the question: Do you have to wear Capri pants on Capri or Bermuda shorts on Bermuda to fit in with the locals? <BR> <BR>I think this post shows that I really stick to my guns when I say I always give my real name and address.

I think Joanne , Judy and JOdy have all given their age away.. Mine wouldn;t fit either Joanne!!

Weird, my husband love capri pants on women... true to form, I think he prefers the tighter ones. If you are sure the retailer Old Navy has been running a bizillion ads for capris with a slight flare at the cuff. You can also get them at any department store and should not have to spend more then $25.00 for them, in late summer sales, unless of course, you live in NYC and shop up town.

Oh Boy, was that a wacked out post... must be really here in LA.... try my husband LOVES capri pants... and try "if you are UNsure".....sorry all.

I remember thinking back when Capri pants came back into vouge years ago now, "There is no way I'm ever wearing those dorky pants outta' 1965." Now they look great to me and I wear them all the time. Go figure. Fashion is tyranny.

Skooter skirts. There ya go. Yep, I'm THAT old.

My husband does not like capri pants. He says they only look good on Ally McBeall-skinny women.

I'm old enough to remember toreador pants and skorts. And those currently popular pants have been called pedal pushers (1950's - see "poodle skirts"), then capri pants (early 60's - see "Brigitte Bardot" and "Audrey Hepburn").

Man's View - the reason we don't like them is we forget what they are because you have dozens of names for them. When we get confused, we get grumpy; when we get grumpy we often answer questions like "Dear, how do you like my Capri, Pedalpusher, Toreador, Clamdigger, etc. pants?" with something like "who cares!"

John: you need to answer like my husband has "learned" to answer after 30 years...."they look fine" whether they do or not. It took him a while, but he finally caught on! ;-D <BR> And I knew the weight issue would rear it's ugly head......how many of "us" even remotely are like Ally McBeal, hmmmmmm? (or even wannabe)? <BR> Judy ;-/

Dear John - we feel you pain. <BR> <BR>Does anyone remember that horror of the seventies - Gaucho pants? Yuk, no one looked good in those. <BR> <BR>Personally, I like the looser fit capris that are popular now - they seem a little more "grown up" for those of us pushing 40. I see them everywhere on women my age (I hate that phrase!) and they look nice with some stylish shoes. <BR> <BR>Audrey

JOdy & Judy: <BR> <BR>Indeed I did give away my age. It looks as if Elvira is also in our "peer group." <BR> <BR>Incidentally, please enlighten me on what gaucho pants are. The name sounds familiar, but I can't for the life of me picture what they looked like. <BR> <BR>thanks, Joanne

Capri Pants can be found; with a picture for all to view on <BR> <BR>www.gap.com <BR>or <BR>www.oldnavy.com <BR> <BR>They are listed under Women's Capri Pants. They are huge and very comfortable and pack great! I can fit 4 in my case as if they were two pairs of jeans. They come in jeans and cotton. <BR> <BR>

John, *LOL*!! <BR> <BR>Never worn Capri pants, or been to Capri (yet)...but my first car was a Mercury Capri. And personally, I like ANY kind of clothing that shows off a wonderful feminine form. <BR> <BR> <BR>Here's a little something on Capri pants I found on a website, that mentions their origin... <BR> <BR>By the 1950’s, Italy had already influenced the short pincurl cut, the stand up collar on crisp cotton shirts, and now the slim calf-length pants known as capris made their way to the American shores. Italy’s island of Capri was a popular tourist spot during the 50’s, and the traditional mid-calf style pants worn by the shapely Italian gals drove the guys and the girls capri crazy. <BR> <BR>Pants on women were still considered shocking after their arrival in the 1930's, but became acceptable casual wear for girls in the 50’s. Capri pants followed the slim, body-conscious silhouette of the 50’s, but offered ladies more freedom from the constictive waists of dresses and poofy, crinolined skirts. The capri pant was slim and sophisticated, and back in the days when smoking was considered chic, the longer, ankle-length version was dubbed the 'cigarette pant.' <BR> <BR>Capris returned in the 90's as the hottest retro-return fashion from the 50's. They were modernized with embroidery, bejewelled, and tied off with side bows. Hemlines rose and fell like high and low tide, but they always remained capris. <BR> <BR>_________________________ <BR> <BR> <BR>Also, here's a funny Jim Hightower commentary on Capri Pants for men. (Hightower writes that Harry Belafonte wore them in the 50's) <BR> <BR>http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=9319

Joanne --maybe we need to form a club!! <BR>As i recall gaucho pants, came to about mid-calf and were full, kind of looked like a shkirt if you kept your knees together,,,remember your mother saying that!!

Capri pants are as out of date as when they were first introduced. UGGGLY. <BR>

Who cares what husbands think---If you are over 160 lbs don't bother unless you wear an oversized top-Capri were last seasons hot item and still worn. However pedal pushers are shorter(just below the knee),and a bit tighter and are not as fashionable a least to me- Get some solid ones not to tight If you havent seen them everywhere in the store then you are living in the wilderness!

JOdy-I'll gladly join the club, but only if our periodic meetings are held in Capri!! <BR> <BR>Joanne

Gaucho pants? They looked fine with knee length boots, but why oh why did women insist upon wearing them with sheer nylons and high heeled sling backs? <BR> <BR>Anybody remember the Pucci palazzo pants? And jumpsuits, where you had to completely disrobe to use the toilet?

Lets also return to Leisure Suits!!

Elvira -- I like jumpsuits, but you're right about disrobing. It's so naked to sit on a toilet with all your clothes between your knees and ankles. And bibs? That strap can fall in the bowl WAY-Y-Y too easy. <BR> <BR>(I have short, muscular legs and look a lot better in shorts than I do in capris.) <BR> <BR>Art -- it might be easy to return to leisure suits. They were made to be indestructible -- that polyester lasts like steel. Please post a picture of you wearing one. (Bonus points if it's powder blue!) <BR>

Re: capri pants for men, Jude Law looked fabulous in them in "The Talented Mr. Ripley."

I personally liked Palazzo pants. They reappeared again a few years ago. <BR> <BR>How about the ever popular Nehru jacket? <BR> <BR>Joanne

AmericanWoman - I think that I threw all pictures of me in leisure suits away years ago, Plus I was at my heaviest weight of my life then as well as sporting a full beard. I actually did have 2, a powder blue and a maroon one. <BR>Cheers <BR> <BR>

So, for clothing named after geographic locations, we have Capri pants, Bermuda shorts, and the bikini, to name three. <BR> <BR>Any others anyone can think of? <BR> <BR>Regarding the bikini... It was, as most of you probably know, named after the Bikini atoll in the South Pacific, where nuclear tests were conducted. There's a specific connection with the tests too. The inventor, who I believe was a Frenchman, thought his new swimsuit was "explosive", hence he chose the name bikini because of these nuclear tests on that atoll.

Capo - Interesting. I guess he could also have named it "fallout", "radiation" or something like that. <BR>Talk about learning something new every day!! <BR>

Capo - Interesting. I guess he could also have named it "fallout", "radiation" or something like that. <BR>Talk about learning something new every day!! <BR>

Cuban heels? <BR>Denims?

Well, I suppose he could've...but I think bikini sounds far better than radiation or fallout (or mushroom cloud). <BR> <BR>Another parallel with nuclear tests... if a very attractive woman in a bikini walks by, I imagine there might be some wives or girlfriends who would want their husbands or boyfriends to do what one would do during a nuclear test: be as far away as possible and cover your eyes! :~)