My absolute favorite type of vintage style, or any style, pant is the Capri Pants of the late 1950s / early 1960s. This style of pants made a comeback during the 1980s and 1990s and really never left. They are very popular today at the many different vintage inspired shops like Hell Bunny and VooDooVixen but also at main stream shops like Torrid and Shein.
When I was at Texas A&M University, I had Capri pants in all kinds of bright pretty colors from Express. I was able to find matching fitted tank tops in each of the colors and paired that with pretty cardigans. Even then, in the mid 1990s, I had vintage minded style of dress. I wish I could find some old photos of me back then to share.
“Capri pants were introduced by fashion designer Sonja de Lennart in 1948, and were popularized by her and English couturier Bunny Roger. The name of the pants is derived from the Italian isle of Capri, where they rose to popularity in the late 1950s and early ’60s. The actress Audrey Hepburn was among the first movie stars who wore Capris, and the pants quickly became synonymous with her classic style. The French actress Brigitte Bardot notoriously wore Capri pants at a time when trousers were still a new thing for women. Marilyn Monroe always travelled with Capris” (Wikipedia).
I have found the perfect pants to give me this style at Torrid. They are called Pixie Pants or Skinny Pants. They have the high waist, tight fit, and come cropped at the ankle or full length. Here is a video of the ones I have recently bought.
Here are some action shots from TikTok of me in these pants. The first one is with me wearing the black ones not shown in the YouTube video.
Links of the pants featured: (I purchased each of these in a size 20)
Studio Signature Premium Ponte Leopard Skinny Ankle Pant
Studio Signature Stretch Light Taupe Plaid Double Knit Ankle Skinny Pant
Black & Teal Plaid Ponte Multi Zip Skinny Ankle Pant
Studio Brushed Ponte Slim Fix Black Pull-On Pixie Pant
Studio Signature Stretch Black Premium Ponte Ankle Skinny Pant
Fun Fact!!!
Mary Tyler Moore created quiet the controversy during the early days of the Dick Van Dyke Show filming. “Capris’ acceptance in the United States was influenced by the 1960s television series The Dick Van Dyke Show. The character Laura Petrie, the young housewife played by Mary Tyler Moore, caused a fashion sensation – and some mild controversy – by wearing snug-fitting Capri pants during the show’s run” (Wikipedia). I remember it being said on a TV program I watched, that they actually said they were too “butt cupping”. I wish I could remember the name of that program to give proper credit where it is due.