I Tried Wearing Capris in 2025—As a Millennial, It Felt Weird

As a millennial, I’m an unapologetic capris hater—but it wasn’t always this way.

Once upon a pastel pink bedroom, I was captain of Team Capris. For the better part of a decade, my uniform was as follows: graphic tee, pedal pushers, Puma sneakers, a Duff Stuff backpack and an Eggo waffle in hand. Besides the obvious need to emulate Hilary Duff, the Olsen twins and other aught style icons, as a tall girl—and one that was especially tall for her age—wearing purposefully short pants felt intentional. I was showing off my ankles, not because I had grown 3 inches in one summer (which did in fact happen), but because I was making a fashion statement.

Then came puberty and social media, and I abandoned my so-called childish pursuits because, in my own words—and delusion—I was now a grown-up. I ditched the Disney Channel and adopted the early 2010s uniform: high-waisted skinny jeans, bubble necklaces, peplum tops and jersey minis. But even as those trends were swiftly replaced, my dislike for capris remained from my adolescent rebellion. And until now, I’ve never really questioned why.

Seemingly, others have gotten over their cropped pant hangups as capris flooded the Spring 2025 runways. Louis Vuitton went full pirate with striped pantaloons. Carolina Herrera kept it crisp and cropped. Tommy Hilfiger turned picnic tablecloths into red gingham moments.

And of course, we can’t forget about the influencers and street style stars, who have sparked an influx of pro-capris content. Even Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner have adopted the controversial crop. I’m left wondering: is it finally time to forgive the flood pants?

Unfortunately for me, my innate dislike of the garment made me the perfect candidate to try wearing them for a week. And though I tried to remain truthful to my closed-minded younger self, I have to admit: I may have actually been charmed by them. Below, see my highly scientific findings and a few tips for future capris wearers.

Day 1

For my first foray into the new world of capris, I opted for a pair of black cotton-blend cropped trousers from COS. Surprisingly formal (the fabric feels akin to a suit pant), I decided to lean all in and accessorize with my grey Babaton blazer, Steve Madden heels, Mejuri hoops and Target bag. As I left my apartment to go to a spring collection preview, I was feeling very self-conscious. The thought of venturing into the world in a garment I had long abandoned sent me into a full-body cringe, and I was grateful to be hidden in an Uber.

But when I arrived at the event, something unexpected happened. Looking at myself in the elevator mirror, I felt cool (shudder). Was it the slick bun? Maybe the protective wrapping of favorite outerwear? Though I regretted my underwear choice (make sure to size up on these COS capris, as the tight material shows everything), the approving compliments I got from a very trendy PR person—“You look like Meredith from The Parent Trap!”—got me through the day. Maybe these Gen Zs are onto something…

Day 2

I slept badly, the bus smelled bad and I made a social media faux pas—day two was off to a rough start. Looking at my Doris Day ensemble—plaid Reformation cardigan, Joe Fresh cardigan, Uniqlo tank, thrifted shoes and earrings—I was not in the mood to be sunshine personified. But as I got to the office and drank some much-needed caffeine, I was grateful for the comfort the elastic waist and extremely soft cotton provided.

Though I didn’t fully succumb to the optimism the ensemble projected, on a spring day where the weather fluctuates every hour, I was miraculously perfectly temperatured. Though it was 10°C in the morning and 18°C by lunch, my pants and cardigan pairing kept me covered for the cool and not sweating during the heat. I’ll consider that a win.

Day 3

Truth be told, I had a nearly identical pair of these capris back in the 2000s. While mine were more likely Forever 21 (RIP), and these ones are by the fabulous (and Canadian!) Eliza Faulkner, seeing them in person triggered something deep in me. Low-waisted and stretchy like leggings, I paired them with an oversized tee, black cap, jacket from Roots and shoes from Reformation.

For a day of running errands and meeting friends for food, the ensemble was pretty ideal. The pants were light as air and allowed for maximum movement. I also got approving smiles from my fellow millennials on the subway. One was so bold as to ask me where I got them as we reminisced about simpler times.

Takeaways

Although capris are not as bad as I believed, I wouldn’t consider myself a full convert. When wearing them, I couldn’t shake the deep, deep nostalgia that came every time I looked down at my calves. However I’m optimistic that with time, I will learn to accept the capris. Dare I say, even like them.

My advice for fellow millennials who want to try the cropped way of life is to anchor the styling with trendy 2025 items. Look for structured outer layers to play off the shortened length. Also, the width of your shoes drastically changes the look. Stick with skinnier silhouettes like mules, Mary Janes or slim sneakers. And don’t be surprised if a thong is required.