How “Looking Like Someone’s Auntie” Went from an Insult to a Compliment 

Whether she’s your aunt, tia, titi or auntie — you probably didn’t want to look like her a few years ago. Seemingly outdated capris and a kitten heel have come back in full swing into the mainstream. As someone who used to hate this aesthetic but has now come to appreciate it, I can’t help but wonder: what changed? 

Obviously, this style is nothing new. Capris date back to the 1940s and were created by Sonja de Lennart, a German fashion designer. She designed the capri as a style of pants exclusively for women during a time when pants were deemed exclusive to men. From there, Audrey Hepburn popularized capris, wearing them in movies like “Roman Holiday” and “Sabrina.” Similarly, Hepburn also popularized kitten heels in the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Thanks to Hepburn, capris and kitten heels became synonymous with elegance and class.  

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the capris and kitten heel combination was everywhere. Celebrities wore them on the red carpet, and the biggest actors wore them on screen. They were still associated with the class and elegance of the 1950s while also providing comfort for daily wear. The combination could easily be dressed up for important events or worn more casually for day-to-day wear. Eventually, capris and kitten heels were in every woman’s closet, including your aunt’s.  

By the late 2010s, we saw a major shift in fashion: athleisure and streetwear dominated the fashion industry. While these styles weren’t new to high fashion, they were suddenly seen everywhere. Comfortability had become the biggest priority in fashion, and there wasn’t much desire to dress up when runways and red carpets featured sneakers, leggings and tracksuits. At the time, dressing up meant you looked outdated and overdressed, and capris and kitten heels weren’t casual or comfy enough to stay in style. You didn’t want to look like your aunt who was stuck in the past. 

Now, things have shifted once again. Although athleisure and streetwear are still very prominent in high fashion and most closets, the idea of elegance and a classy, timeless look is catching women’s attention again. As fashion trends cycle through each decade, the fashion of the 1990s and 2000s has been a huge inspiration for the 2020s. Looking decades back for an enduring, classic look, the obvious choice is the capri and kitten heel. The perfect combination of comfort and elegance that’s made for any occasion. In the end, our aunts were onto something after all.