Clamdiggers: the Summer skinny
May 14th, 2008Clamdiggers are the warm weather alternative to skinny and straight leg jeans. They are a capri that fits snugly through the thigh and knee, finishing somewhere just below the knee, or on the widest part of the calf. They’re worn in the same way as skinnies but at a ventilating cropped length.
Dress clamdiggers up or down with heels or flats and a top that works for your body type. They are an obvious choice for rectangles and inverted triangles, but don’t think that you can’t wear the look if you’re a little curvier at the bottom. My hot hourglass and pretty pear shaped clients sport clamdiggers with style when they wear the right combination of top and shoe. Sleek shirt dresses, tunics, baby dolls, voluminous tops, welted tops, knitted tops and wrap tops work beautifully. Add a jacket for a sophisticated edge and Bob’s your uncle. I love a smart casual look with an unexpected twist.
I can’t wait to haul out my clamdiggers. An arctic Seattle Spring has left them hibernating for longer than usual. But a clamdigger-friendly heat wave is supposed to be on the way. On the other hand, I might want to haul out my orphan dress. Oh no. Which should I wear?
Clamdiggers are my favourite style of cropped pant because I prefer a streamlined look. I get loads of mileage out of my dark denim pair because they look great with knee high boots in Autumn. No tucking!
May 14th, 2008 at 7:08 am
I really like this look, but I am short and have short legs. Should I avoid this trend, and stick to skirts and walk shorts that come to right above my knee?
May 14th, 2008 at 7:13 am
This is off the subject, but I just had a shirt shortened that was the length of the shirt in the first picture top row. Do you think that shirt is too long? I thought mine was. It is now at the tailor getting fixed. Did I make a mistake? I don’t think this girl looks bad in the longer top. I felt like mine was maternity.
May 14th, 2008 at 7:27 am
I really like them, but don’t own any (yet). I am also not sure about wearing them with shorter tops, but I’ll try. Even the right length would be something I’ll to figure out. *sigh* Have you by any chance seen a super dark denim one anywhere other than J Crew?
May 14th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Not necessarily Ana. Experiment. Try wearing clamdiggers a little shorter (just over the knee as opposed to on the calf) and tops at YOUR sweet length. If you like the look of a tunic, sport a heel and wear the tunic a little shorter. Give it go and let us know what you thought.
It will depend on your body type, Shannon. Tunics are supposed to come over the bottom. Perhaps your top was actually too short and you needed it to be a little longer? But shorter could also work. It’s hard to tell without seeing the ensemble.
May 14th, 2008 at 7:33 am
Hi Angie,
I am 5′4″ do you think I could wear these pants at my height? I would love to get a white pr. and wear them with heels. I see them in the stores but never really thought I could pull it off.
May 14th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Please excuse my final question, I’m still waking up and the colors look strange on my monitor. I might give a try to that ArdenB pait you have posted. I’m worried that the rise might be too short and the inseam too long, but I’ll see.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:13 am
So funny! Just before clicking over here I was musing on a pair of cropped riding pants at Peruvian Connection: http://tinyurl.com/43r8bj
I agree, the look seems modern and appealing right now.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Indeed funny NancyF!
Tanya, you can absolutely wear clams with a shorter top. They are EVERYWHERE at the moment. From Saks to Bluefly to Zara to Nordstrom. Savvy internet blood hound like yourself will have a bargain spotted in no time.
Marianna, of course you can sport the look. I’ve got 5ft clients looking fab in clamdiggers with a one inch heel. You’ve got to get the length of the top and the length of the bottom right. This is key.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:37 am
I need another pair! I’ve worn my jcrew pair a few times now and I think they are going to be my go to bottom this summer. My shrunken white matchsticks are being hemmed now. I was actually considering duplicating the dark wash pair, but I think I will try another brand like the Halogen or ArdenB. The jcrew ones did ease up a bit but I think they still look fine; they just feel looser. I’m so excited about these, especially now that I’m confirmed a rectangle. Now, to find that great tunic…
May 14th, 2008 at 8:41 am
I know that you’ll look great in this style, Patience. By all means double up, (I believe in PURE duplication). If you live in hot weather climate , you could easily make use of 4 pairs.
May 14th, 2008 at 9:58 am
How timely! I was just thinking about starting a forum thread on where to find black clamdiggers. I bought the J. Crew matchstick ones in dark blue denim and can’t wait to wear them. If you have tips on where to find black ones (for a hippy hourglass - so stores like Arden B won’t have the right cut) I’m all ears.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:00 am
A friend of mine who is very fit but still slightly pear-shaped wore clamdiggers with heels and a black top this weekend and she looked great. I’m still wary of this look for myself, though, because I have thick calves and ankles. I think I’d be more inclined to buy walk shorts that are wider in the leg. However, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try these on just to see what they’re like.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:31 am
i am wearing my clam diggers today in this Marin heat wave!
May 14th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I love the idea of wearing clam diggers with boots in fall, Angie. Do you have a photo of that look? Anything to watch out for/avoid? (Maybe I should just ask that question again in September, I’m so jumping the gun here, sorry. We haven’t even had a true spring yet…)
May 14th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I am a bit confused as to how these differ from regular capris. Is it just the fact that they fit more snugly? Wouldn’t some body types benefit from a slightly looser leg?
May 14th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
I’m with Maya, Angie. Can you explain why you favor these but not capris?
May 14th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Clamdiggers are a type of capri, just like skinnies are a type of jeans. Clamdiggers differ in that they are snug throughout the leg and knee. They are like “cropped skinnies”. Other styles can flare out like boot cuts, or tie at the hem like pedal pushers. Dressy capris made of suit fabric are a little looser all round, much like a pair of slacks. And culottes are like “cropped flared leg pants”. (Remember that when I refer to capris, I’m taking about capris that are ABOVE the widest part of the calf).
In some instances, the person will feel more comfortable in a roomier silhouette like Bermudas, straighter capri’s or culottes. But so far in my experience, clamdiggers have not disappointed any body type if the components with which they are matched are right (tops and shoes). And some clamdiggers won’t fit as tightly as these on the models either. I hope that makes things a little clearer.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I have my size one pair picked out at Old Navy but have not bought it yet. On the list of things to do. I have a lot of shorts and dress options but tend to fall back on the clam diggers because I have thigh anxiety. With wedges they make me feel very thin and cool.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:04 am
Umm, I have to be honest but I really do not like clamdiggers. At least over here this screams the late 90’s and is kind of outdated. The most recent similar item was 3/4 leggings which are totally outdated now. Funny how fashion & style varies from one country to the other.
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:48 am
How interesting Marianne. I was in your country last week. Loads of people in Paris are still wearing leggings and clamdiggers are all over stores. But you’re right in that fashion and style does vary from country to country. I love this aspect about what we wear.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:47 am
[…] casual pants are a missed retail opportunity. Apart from jeans and cropped pants (clamdiggers and walk shorts), the options are […]
September 29th, 2008 at 7:04 am
[…] Clamdiggers with knee-high boots eliminate “tucking-fuss” and are quite a hip expression if the variables are right. This is not a flop-proof look: The clamdiggers need to be long-ish, and the boots have to fit snugly against the calf. Here are some “dos” and “don’ts” for the combination: […]