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Capri pants ("capris") are a style of pants usually worn in warm weather. They are also known as long shorts or three-quarters in some areas of the world and longer versions are called high-waters. They are designed to end mid-calf or just below the calf. Though capri pants are most popular with women, they have become popular among men in many countries, especially in Europe and Latin America. Capri pants designed for men are informally termed manpri (or man-pri) pants (also guypri pants) in North America^[1]. Manpri is a portmanteau term consisting of the words man and capri. They have recently begun to be worn by men in North America.

Capri pants were first designed by European fashion designer, Sonja de Lennart^{[2][3][4][5][6][7] [8]}, in 1948 and they became popular in the United States during the 1960s, largely due to the influence of the popular television series The Dick Van Dyke Show. The character of 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. After a drop in popularity during the 1970s through the 1990s (though Uma Thurman wore them in Pulp Fiction), capri pants again became a dominant trend during the 2000s. Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal wore capri pants in the majority of his matches before 2009.

The pants' name originated from the Italian isle of Capri, where they were first made popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s.^[9].^[2] They are also known as clam diggers.

Capri pants, frontal view

Capri pants, left view

Capri pants, back view

Capri pants, right back view

See also

• Pedal pushers
• Knickerbockers (clothing)
• Overalls

References

External links

• July 18, 2003 / sw Abbildung: The Fifties (Fashionsourcebooks), Paperback Verlag
• Sonja de Lennart
• Official Site for Sonja de Lennart
• Destination: Capri - Capri Pants Aren't Just For The Resort Set Anymore