Fashion nostalgia is trending, and cropped trousers are making a comeback. In a romantic ode to the icons of the ’50s, this season’s style du jour is the Capri pant. The cropped trouser silhouette was made fashionable by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot and it enjoyed a momentary resurgence in the ’90s, when I vividly remember making pedal pushes my entire personality for the length of one school holiday. They were probably lime green, and I probably wore them with Vans. Needless to say, that isn’t how to wear capri pants for SS26.
The silhouette, which sits somewhere below the knee but no further than mid-way down the calf and often comes punctuated with a slit at the hem, is European city break perfection. If you’re packing for a trip in the coming weeks or months, slotting a pair in your suitcase is a shortcut to styling success. Prints and colours are relatively muted, and while black cropped trousers are the obvious choice, there’s something more playful about a checked or gingham pair.
On top, volume is key, so if you’re heading to Florence, Madrid or Nice, embrace the season’s oversized leather jackets and wear them with a low-heel slingback shoe. Alternatively, go sporty and layer a sweatshirt over a classic white shirt, adding comfy dad trainers to explore the streets of Amsterdam and Helsinki. Slim sunglasses, chunky jewellery and a slouchy clutch bag will complete a pulled-together look.
This is our edit of the best black Capri trousers and the best printed capri trousers to buy now, plus what to wear them with.
