Well, we hadn’t seen it coming, but pedal pushers have turned out to be one of the biggest trouser trends to come out of 2024 thus far. Just when we thought that cargo pants would be the only nostalgic throwback to grace our legs, the calf-hugging capri is working its way back into our wardrobes, but how do you wear pedal pushers without feeling like a teenager? We’ve got the answer.
After looking up runway references and scouring street style, the consensus seems to be that we can style these trousers in much the same way we would treat skinny jeans or leggings. That is, it’s all about playing with proportions.
Twenty years ago we might have been happy to throw on a baby tee or a halter neck with our pedal pushers, but the 2024 way to elevate the look is with longline tops, boxy jackets and polished accessories. (Think high/low, business/casual luxury styling). For me, the winning formula is as simple as boxy blazer + white tee + pedal pushers + kitten heel mules, but there’s a dressy outfit for every style, and as a rule of thumb, if it looks good with leggings, it’ll work for pedal pushers too.
So, should your interest in pedal pushers be piqued and you’re wondering how to make them work for weekends, work and play, keep scrolling to 5 ways to wear pedal pushers this year.
Style Notes: In the chilly in-between while we wait for spring to come into full effect, we’re still wearing winter knits with everything, and a chunky, slouchy knit is perfect with a pair of pedal pushers and dressed up with a glossy slingback. Screenshot this for your next office outfit.
So elegant.
Now the high street have caught onto the capri jean.
A hot topic in the Who What Wear office.
You can’t go wrong with a suede tote.
Style Notes: Everyone has a denim jacket in their wardrobe, and throwing it over a simple white tee and leggings is the easy to way to style up a lazy weekend ‘fit. Just add mules to take the look from loungewear to lunch date.
This collarless style feels so fresh.
A wardrobe staple.
It’s easy to understand why Mango’s archive collection made a hero of the capri.
We can’t believe that these aren’t three times the price.
Stylish simplicity.
Style Notes: When the day gets off to a cold start but warms up in the afternoon, shoulder-robe a classic navy knit over an Oxford shirt. The bigger, the better, so size up your shirt for a “borrowed from the boys” look. Swapping out chunky loafers for a pair of cute ballerina flats will keep things light, the ideal option for spring.
We want one in every colour.
With Nothing Underneath are experts in shirting.
The split hem is so 90s.
We’re obsessed with this colour.
The perfect finishing touch.
Style Notes: Whether you call it loud luxury or the “mob wife” aesthetic, opulent outfits are taking over socials, and the easiest way to nod to the trend is with a fluffy faux fur coat and a great tote bag as seen on the streets of Milan. Extra points if you add retro gold jewellery and a pointed shoe. Ciao, bella.
How to nail “cosy-chic”.
Topshop’s famous Joni jeans are back in capri fit.
Demellier bags manage to make every outfit look expensive.
You heard it here first, white shoes are the It shoe choice for Parisians.
Peak loud luxury.
Style Notes: Just like full length leggings, pedal pushers lend themselves well to athleisure practicality. When you want more coverage than shorts but still need room for movement, a pair of cropped training leggings deserve space in your gym bag. They’ll look just as good on the treadmill as they do in the airport, at home, running errands… the possibilities are endless.
