Should You Wear Cropped Pants?

I think it's an interesting question. For while low-risepants tend to flatter very few women, cropped pants canwork well on a variety of figures, provided they follow afew simple guidelines.

Before we get to them, however, let me define exactly thestyle I'm referring to, so that we're all on the same page.

Cropped pants, also known as pedal pushers, clam diggers,and Capris, are a style of pants that ends somewherebetween the knee and the ankle, usually at mid-calf. They've gone in and out of fashion several times since the1950's, and are currently enjoying renewed popularity.

They are not for everyone, however.

Because of where they hit on the leg, they can emphasizeseveral things. For example:

*If you're petite, they can make you look shorter.

*If you're bottom heavy, they can make you look heavier.

*If you have short legs, they can make them look shorter.

*If you have thick ankles, they can make them look thicker.

Notice that I said, “can” in every situation. This isn't agiven. Much of it can depend on the color, cut, style ofhem, and shoes that you choose.

Let's look at these one by one:

COLOR

Dark or muted colors will make you look smaller, light orbright colors will make you look bigger. Small prints workbetter on small bodies, large prints work better on largeor tall bodies.

CUT

The most flattering cut for trim bodies of all heightstends to be flat front with tapered legs. This styleelongates the body and offers a chic, uncluttered line -which is why it was favored by the likes of JacquelineKennedy and Audrey Hepburn during their summer vacations,and promptly copied the world over.

The least flattering cut tends to be the drawstring lookwith straight or flared hem. While many women choose thisstyle for comfort, it creates a rectangular block of fabricfrom waist to hem, visually adding pounds and subtractingheight. If you are petite, heavy, or have thick ankles,this style will magnify all of these things.

STYLE OF HEM

The most flattering hem for most women is plain andtapered. The least flattering is flared with a cuff. Theformer will elongate, the latter will shorten and widen.

If you're a bit heavy and feel that a tapered hem makesyour hips or upper thighs look bigger, try a straight legstyle instead. Do NOT opt for a flared hem to try tooffset your hips - unless you want to look the same sizefrom hips to hem.

SHOES

For years, the ballerina flat was the shoe of choice towear with cropped pants. In recent years, high heels,sandals, slides, and flip-flops have found their way on tothe team as well.

Your best shoe choices create an unbroken line from hem totoe with minimal material that compliments -- rather thancompetes with - your pants. Shoes that are the same coloras pants, white, or flesh-colored are all good choices.

Avoid chunky, heavy shoes, or shoes that compete with yourhem. All of these will call attention to your feet, chopyou up visually, and make you look shorter.

Cropped pants are a great warm weather alternative toshorts for those chilly nights, dressy casual occasions, orfor women who just hate to bare their legs in shorts. Theylook great on women of many heights, sizes, and ages,provided they're chosen with care.

If you look for styles that flatter your figure andelongate your body, you'll look great AND stylish. Sodon't necessarily cross these off your list. Just take alittle time to find the looks that work best for you.