In one of the rare instances where I left my flat for something other than the office, a work event, or a birthday dinner, I went bar-hopping and dancing with friends last weekend – and I couldn’t stop noticing what everyone was wearing. It felt like one out of every 10 girls (not a real statistic, just one I made up for dramatic effect) was in a pair of denim capri pants.
As a 29-year-old zillennial, I couldn't decide whether I was excited or horrified. But it almost didn't matter. Standing there, it was obvious a trend was brewing right before my eyes, and there was no ignoring it. People are loving the nostalgic, pedal pusher jeans from the street style set to celebrities.
The Y2K aesthetic is by no means new to the fashion landscape. If anything, I’d argue nostalgic fashion hits have taken over, with low-rise silhouettes, micro-mini skirts, and jelly shoes making an unexpected return. And now capris, specifically the denim variety, are the latest once-cringey trend that's been quietly bubbling back up in the style world. It was only a matter of time before it made its way from nostalgic throwback to full-blown comeback.
Lately, I’ve been seeing them styled with a very early-2000s feel: baby tees, cool graphic shirts, and punchy-colored tops. But I’ve also seen them dressed up in a more elevated way with button-up tops, blouses, and strappy heels for an office siren vibe. I personally love that they can so easily transition from day to night, which is honestly more than ideal for someone who rarely has time to change in between plans. Just swap out your shoes or switch up the top, and boom, you’ve got a completely different look.
After seeing them everywhere, I’ve officially hopped on the bandwagon. I've been on the hunt for the perfect pair, and spotted this sale find from Boden that are still in stock in every size! The under-£35 price tag definitely won me over, but I’m also loving the dark indigo wash, which makes them easier to wear and dress up for occasions if you're still a little apprehensive about the look.
Below, find more denim capri pants I’m shopping:
Aligne Gracey Denim Capri Pants
Reformation Zoee Stretch Mid Rise Capri Jeans
Chloé Capri Mid-Rise Slim-Leg Organic Jeans
Megan Uy is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.
Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
