All that seems fine if you have long, thin legs. But show me one picture of a woman with short muscular thighs that looks good in long shorts. For now I am sticking with short shorts – or better just a skirt.

I agree with you, Angie. I don’t think it’s appropriate to wear short-shorts over the age of 40 except for in the sporting situations you mention. These days, I’ll wear shorter shorts (even longer than the pair on the far left, but still short to me) at the lake only, or maybe for gardening. Otherwise, it’s clams or bermudas.

Kendall Farr is right on with the comment you’re quoting!

By the way, are shorts still fairly unusual in Europe? That was my impression when I wore them in my 20s on a summer trip to France!

I agree with Debbie. I’m short, 5′2, but my inseam is 31 inches. I have muscular legs from years of biking and running. I have a slender line to my figure though and at age 37, I’m proud of my body. I have no cellulite and I’ve been told that I look 25 (I’ve stayed out of the sun, ate well, worked out, and taken great care of myself.) Even so, I wouldn’t wear short shorts to certain functions, but just kicking around in casual environments with family and friends, I’m going to wear short shorts. Or, if it’s hot in the summer or on my Hawaiian vacations

I totally agree with you Angie. Its sort of one of those things that when you have to ask, you probably shouldn’t. A cute skirt goes a long way after 40.

Ah, looks like the sides are battling. I’m with Debbie and Lisa. Maybe it is because if my Hawaii casual background. Maybe it is because I spend a lot of my non-work time in “gear” with my dogs. I think a nice pair of legs no matter the age should feel free to wear shorter shorts.

Okay, I should state that my definition of shorter shorts is a bit longer than the second gal pictured, but still shorter than Angie and Kendall. I am thinking of 5 to 7 inch inseam to cover the upper portion of the thigh, not showing cheeks!

I tossed my short-shorts when I came to YLF. I’m just 30 and Angie is right, it’s just not flattering on me anymore. I’m much more comfortable in my walk shorts (I have the 3rd pair pictured and LOVE them!) and clammies. For me, short shorts are for camping, recreation & that’s about it! Thanks Angie!!

I hear mixed messages here. At first, you make a move to debunk the age-based prohibitions in favor of contextual ones, then roll right back to age cutoffs (pun intended I suppose ).

As with dressing “sexy,” I believe that context is much more important than age when it comes to deciding on appropriateness of dress. I LOL’d at your jibe at middle-aged women wearing Forever 21 dresses – I saw one yesterday I’m planning to add to my collection. I’m 45, but will pretty much always be junior-sized…I can “pull it off” (or, as they used to say, “get away with it”). Of course, I always let taste (such as I see it) be my guide, but I also did so when younger.

Aaanyway…as with any fashion rules, one has to consider each instance on its own merits, but I have always chafed at age limits on these things. In many cases what you shouldn’t wear after 40 you really shouldn’t beforehand either…or it can be made to work assembled with a different combo of items. I pulled a black lace minidress out of my closet the other day that I wouldn’t now wear except for clubbing, but – popped over some slim jeans it turns out to really work!

I’m 34 and have begun to wear longer shorts. I don’t think it appropriate to attend a family barbecue and have on the same length shorts as my 20-year-old cousins.

I’m very torn on this issue. Being overweight all of my life kept me far and away from shorts of any kind. After moving to a much warmer climate, I decided jeans would not work in the summers and opted for walk shorts. I agree with Debbie above though that walk or bermuda style shorts do not look that great on my muscular thighs – even after the weight loss. I’ve gone up as far as two sizes and it still looks unflattering. I have two pair of shorts at the length on the far left and wear those for weekends with the family. For all other occasions I just stick to knee length skirts or dresses and clams. I still don’t know why bermuda/walk shorts don’t work for me like I think they should. Perhaps because I’m a pear?

I tend to have the same problem as Sarah. Some of my walking shorts make my thighs look very wide. I’m only 5′4″ and if I wear flats with them I feel extremely “dumpy”. I even try to iron in a crease (yikes) to make them look more narrow. My thighs aren’t even where I carry my weight – I carry it more in my stomach (apple/rectangle). Is this not a good look for me either????

I’m 5′3″ and 36 years old, I have a few pairs of short shorts that I like to wear around the house, at the park, and camping this weekend. But now for casual summer wear, I am looking to buy shorts that have an inseam of 4″ or longer…with cute tops and shoes, I can still avoid looking like a suburbia mom and dressing the part of the city girl that I am!

I saw a few Mum’s here in the hot australian summer wearing fairly short shorts (more #1 than 2#) with woven voluminous tops(with a structed neckline). I liked the look on them, and was very practical in the hot weather, although the thought was running through my head that “Angie would not like this”.

As another here with larger thighs, I have often thought short shorts were more flattering because they seemed to disguise exactly where the thigh flared out to, whereas longer shorts can hug this area.

I am 5′4″ and love bermudas, which are sort of long on my legs and cover up some of my knee … its like the sweet spot for skirt hems. I have been wearing long shorts for a few years now, and do remember my eye wasn’t very used to the look at first.

As for gear/hiking/camping, I bought some long cargo shorts. They are perfect! I like them better than short shorts too … less sunburn, more pockets, more coverage for sitting down on a rock.

Great comments, ladies. As always, I enjoy hearing your perspectives.

Debbie, that’s a very important point and thanks for bringing it up. The shorter you are, the shorter you can and should wear dresses, skirts and shorts as it makes aesthetic proportional sense. I suggested going three inches above the knee cap in the post, which is quite a bit shorter than what the pictures show. A longer version of short shorts if you like

Someone, I 100% believe that wearing certain wardrobe items is contextual: http://youlookfab.com/2009/04/.....r-do-they/. But I also believe that there are fewer contextual boundaries when you’re young, and more as you get older. And on top of that viewpoint there are always exceptions to guidelines. Kendall’s reference to Forever 21 was extreme but I do understand her point of view. I too am forced to shop in Junior departments at times just because their clothes actually fit a little better, but I stay away from items that teenagers are wearing. At the end of the day, ageless style is a package deal. It’s all in HOW you wear the items you bought in junior stores and what you wear them with.

Sarah and Niecey, sticking to frocks and dresses is the ideal solution if you feel prettier in those items. It’s a flop proof look for pretty pear shaped lasses for sure – much more flattering than walk shorts.

Laura, I haven’t spent a Summer in Europe for six years (always seem to be going in the other three seasons because it’s less touristy) so I don’t know whether things have changed. But short shorts are not common on older women in that neck of the woods. Skirts, walk shorts and dresses were the norm.

I’m fiftysomething and 5′6″ tall and still look good in short shorts. However, I feel like I look very inappropriate, even though I live in Florida (and we’re baking here already!). I think I can get away with shorts a couple of inches shorter than the third and fourth pairs pictured above, although I rarely wear shorts out of the house. Just don’t feel comfortable, unless it is an extremely casual event. Angie and Kendall are pretty much right on target, in my opinion.

“beef-jerky–dressed-as- a calf” – I love this! I live in LaLa Land (Los Angeles) where everyone wants to look young. It’s not often I see anyone, male or female, dressed appropriately, let alone elegantly.

This year I’m really struggling with daytime casual/smart casual for my age (51) in the hot weather. I need tops that are cool (weather-wise), and are not too cutesy. I’d love to know where others my age are shopping!

If I had legs like the woman in the second image, I’d wear short shorts till my grave. Seriously, in a casual context I see nothing wrong with short shorts; for me those contexts are not limited to beach & sports but can also include BBQs, picnics, picking up your kids from school etc. Honestly, I look at leggy women in short shorts with envy rather than a style-censoring mind, but that might just be me…

I think you missed the mark here, Angie. If you have the legs for it, and the situation is casual, short shorts are great on women over 40. Longer shorts are rarely flattering and with the high heels you’re picturing, they look ridiculous.

I tried to post and got an error. I think I’m with Antje on this one. I have always looked MUCH better in short shorts like photo #2 and stumpy & dumpy in all the rest. I think that’s a factor of being only 5′0, having nice legs and thighs (one of my best features), no varicose veins or cellulite, and a small butt that doesn’t hang out the back. I actually like to have my shorts hit at the widest part of my thigh, to make my thighs look bigger so I have more of an hourglass proportion.

With that said, I am down to only one pair of shorts, a pair of khaki Jcrews’ I’ve owned for 20 years. They’ve seen better days but I still rely on them for boating, hiking, and other outside activities when it’s hot and I don’t want to muss my nicer clothes.

I also have several pair of short shorts for exercise – made of high-tech fabrics. This includes bike shorts that have only a 3 inch inseam. This inseam simply looks much, much more flattering on me than longer bike shorts, which look horrible on me.

Outside of exercising and boating, since finding YLF, I am learning the pleasures of wearing denim clams, and knee-length skirts and dresses in the summer instead of shorts. I just think I look more polished for my lifestyle. Yes, I would absolutely choose one of these options over shorts for a BBQ, picnic, restaurant, urban activities, mall, etc. But I don’t think it is necessarily about my age: I think it is more about the impression I want to give off. I simply think these other options are more polished and smarter casual than a pair of short shorts.

I did wear shorter shorts in my 20’s but mostly I’ve always just felt that longer shorts look better on me. I’d tend to go on a case by case basis but a general rule of thumb is always helpful for those in doubt, I think. Debbie’s, Sarah’s and Niecey’s point is interesting to me and one that supports the case by case basis. I think longer shorts work better on me because my thighs are proportionately larger than my calves and it seems more flattering to cover up the transition area above the knee.

I agree with Antje that if I had legs like pic #2 I’d sport the short shorts, but it seems to me that it would be impossible to maintain legs like that for your whole life and so there must be some cutoff. Also since style is a whole package I’d only want to show off my legs in this way (maybe not other ways) if it was congruous to how the rest of my body was aging.

I personally stopped wearing shorts and switched to skirts in all non athletic situations when I was 20 because I decided that they are unflattering on me and on most other people. Very few people have legs like the models pictured, especially where I lived in Ohio. It was never and age thing though I guess for little girls it wasn’t a problem for me with all the cartwheels they do it makes sense.

Now after living in LA for a few years I am reconsidering shorts. I think it is because people here seem to be in much better shape and the newer shorts that are out are much more interesting than what I found in the 90s. I still don’t think I will wear them, but I think in the context of LA people with great legs (not just nice) appear to be able to wear them whether they are 15 or 50 and not look weird. I think it would be weird to see it in Ohio though because it is so much more conservative.

OK, I know no one is going to care what I have to say since I am in my 20’s and too young and dumb to know what I’m talking about, but here goes:

Sometimes if you think a set of social norms is stupid or meaningless, you should have a bit of integrity and just go with your gut. I do not know how I will feel when I’m 30, 40, or beyond, but for now, I would not make any judgments on a confident woman with great legs who wants to be comfortable and casual in short shorts. I also find that it is mostly other women who make these judgments, and frequently out of envy at that (”I can’t wear short shorts, so she shouldn’t be able to either!”). I would rather be the one in the short shorts than the one making snide remarks in the corner.

Women have to deal with so much crap as it is. If I tried to live up to all the social norms that were expected to me, I would send myself to an early grave. Reading that quote from Kendall just made me want to “buck the system” more than ever. Society judges us this way because we let them, while men do not. Call me an idealist, but I am not planning on bowing down to this sexist rubbish as soon as I hit a certain age.

I say that as long as you still got the legs for them (no matter the age), wearing short shorts are fine.

I think you all are right- it all depends on the situation and body type! For me, knee length shorts are wonderful!

Laura: I currently live in Switzerland and am heading into my second summer….NO shorts here! In Zurich, St. Gallen and the smaller villages all I see…? short skirts, pencil skits, dresses, JEANS, any fabric capri, and LEGGINGS….TONS of leggings.

With jeans it’s crop tops and with leggings they wear tunics with a layered look. CLONEville…

The guys wear a loooonger short (long short, funny) or roll their pants/jeans up to a capri/clam digger length….those are the younger guys. Men wear pants, NICE pants.

Kids? Capri, cargo (lots of cargo) and shorts.

ALSO…rarely do I see anything but high end shoes. Chuck Taylor on teens and people in their twenties but ballet flats are the IT shoe for summer. COMFORTABLE STYLE…everyone walks here so they take comfort very seriously when it comes to shoes.

^__~

I agree with Angie here, and I think Shiny’s point is good. It’s about polish and confidence. I see FAR fewer older men dressed like college boys than I see older women dressing like girls in their 20s. I think it is a sexist/stereotype thing, as Maya pointed out, but I actually think it’s us women who do it to ourselves. Why do we want to be able to dress like college girls? We say that women should be able to do anything at any age, because age doesn’t matter. I absolutely agree with this. Women can wear whatever they want at any age, nobody is stopping them, right? It’s not illegal. I think the rub comes in choosing NOT to do something.

I’ll be honest–most of the time, I personally do not care or notice what most women are wearing, at whatever age. Whether it be short shorts, or baggy clothes, or sweatpants, yoga gear, etc. I just don’t notice. I have bigger and better things to worry about than whether the woman sitting on the bus with me has PPL. What DOES make me sit up and take notice is a woman who looks polished, poised, and appropriate. When they stand out from the crowd. I can only recall one or two times when I’ve thought, “Wow, that outfit is really scary,” but there have been loads of times when I thought, “Wow, that woman looks fantastic! I hope I can look that fantastic, too.”

I guess my point is that, to me, it shows more confidence and polish to choose not to do something, even when you could do it–even when you can “get away with it,” as some of you put it. That’s the kind of woman I aspire to be at whatever age.

This is a rather timely subject for me today! Just recently bought 2 pair of CK shorts that can be worn longer or cuffed up & button on the side. It gets rather hot & humid here so I do need a comfy option like this & I am not a dress/skirt girl and think that I don’t tend to look as well in longer shorts either due to more muscular legs, etc. Here they are… http://www.calvinkleinjeans.co.....horts_main

I got black & dark brown. They have a 5″ inseam on me when cuffed up, 7″ when not cuffed up. And, hit exactly 3″ above the top of my knee when uncuffed. I’m wearing today for the first time. However, I think from reading through all of this I am still comfortable in my purchase decision & it falls in line with what many of you are saying. Would I wear them every place no. However, I do need this functionality in my wardrobe for my lifestyle, body type, and climate.

I love a good debate too! These are always fun to read!

Well said, Ana! “It is about choosing not to do something even if you could ‘get away with it.’” So true. To me, it’s more about what you DON’T show than what you DO.

I am not a shorts fan – just don’t think they are comfortable at all. It could as others have mentioned, that apple-pear body type is not right for the walk short.
I’m working on aquiring a pair I like since getting rid of my summer capris.

If I had the legs for it, I would certainly be tempted to show them off in a shorter fit. Look #1 is cuter than #2 in my eye though. I think the short length should be kept in context – for “city” wear or work related picnics, etc., the longer walk short is maybe a safer choice.

I look at it this way – if the item was a skirt would I wear it that length? It seems to work.

I’m just happy to see others commenting that they can’t find a pair of longer shorts that look good. I thought it was just me. They DEFINITELY don’t look good on me if they hug the thigh and then cut in at the knee, but when I’ve tried on wider styles I just feel huge.

For years now I’ve relied on skorts that look like above-knee skirts (not minis exactly, but short skirts) but they have been hard to find in stores.

I do agree that I don’t need to see a forty something or a fifty something in short shorts, any more than I want to see their husbands in short shorts. Skirts rule.

This is a fun debate! Personally, I gave up the shorts about 10 years ago, as a “pretty pear” (as a lots smaller “pear”) shorts just never made me feel dressed nicely or the cool-ness factor in the heat. Dresses or skirts just seemed so much more refreshed in the heat and just a much better look.
Can you wear it? I think it has to do much more with how you look than age. That being said, however, how do you want to be perceived? Of course, you can only control so much of that. I wish I had any of the legs in the pictures – I’d be doing the shorts thing! But, since they are scarred up and battle worn, I stick with my skirts!

And Tara, us old ladies (over 50 myself tehehe) are shopping lots of places. I really have problems being too hot as well (some my own Personal power surges!). I’m very choosy, and have found some great stuff – tshirts and camis – Kohls and Target – also great little casual jackets in cotton and linen, little shorter sleeved lite sweaters, I could go on and on. I’m also a big fan of J Jill. But I must caution, I do sew, many times I’ll remodel some things I already have to make them into something newer or make them more interesting. I also draft or copy something I’ve seen into something I wanna wear.

This is a fascinating conversation! It would never have occurred to me to wear short-shorts; I think I stopped somewhere just after puberty, switched to Bermudas, and never looked back. Of course, some of that is because I was heavy, and some was because I got stuck for a while in the late 80s preppy look (went to prep school, couldn’t help it *g*), but even now it’s not summer until I’m wearing my long shorts.

Funnily, until this conversation, I didn’t even realize YLFers wore shorts; all the summer-pants conversations are around clams vs. capris, and I guess I assumed those were the only pants worn by everyone. Ha, silly me!

I’m with Maya. The whole idea of “age-appropriate” comes from the fashion industry and other women. Men may have less of a tendency to dress youthfully but they find plenty of other less ways to not act their age and all power to them. So if your aim is to conform to the current set of ideals for what is fashionable and polished then great. But have a heart – if an older woman wants to dress young then all power to her as well. Society doesn’t condemn guys who marry women 20 or 30 years younger than them. In fact they are seen as virile and powerful. Call me an idealist as well but until women start being more individualist or at least supportive of each other’s individualism, we’re just bowing to sexism and handing over our power.

Wow, I’m surprised that my experience is so different than the other ladies with big thighs! I’ve always had big, muscular thighs (running and ballet) and I feel most comfortable in longer shorts like pictures 3 and 4. Short shorts make me feel like attention is being drawn to the size of my thighs, and the fact that I’m quite pale doesn’t help. I much prefer shorts that come to the knee or just above. I’m 27 now, but even when I was younger I didn’t wear short shorts. Except for one ill-advised summer when I was 16, maybe =)

Skirts are wonderful and breezy for the summer, but they’re not practical for playing with the dog, leisurely bicycle riding or yard work.

Personally, I was very excited when Bermuda shorts came back in style, because I find those so much more flattering on me that other styles of shorts. That said, I think there are so many factors besides age that determine what’s stylish for an individual. The most important thing is what one feels comfortable in. If a woman feels confident and stylish in a pair of shorter shorts, she’s most likely going to look great in them, too, no matter what her age.

How timely!

Just today at the book store I saw a very fit woman sporting her short gym shorts. From the front I’m sure she looks great in the mirror. But, the consistency of the high back thigh is usually unappealing and unseen to the wearer. I’ve also seen this at our local (high end) mall – a chic & tan older gal wearing a white safari mini dress. Again, she looked great from the front, but those back thighs lose the musculature & taughtness of a 20 something.

This is something I struggle with. As a petite in her mid-40’s who’s stayed slim and fit (no cellulite, I swear!) and who lives in a hot humid climate, I really would like to keep on wearing shorter shorts (4-inch inseam) because it’s too darn hot otherwise. Plus, my legs look dumpy if I wear longer shorts with flats. And the only way to not look dumpy in longer shorts is to wear heels which seems silly to me when I have a casual lifestyle.

So I hate to give them up, but I’ll try to transition a bit more to skirts. Now, does that mean my skirts can’t be more than 3 inches above my knee too?

I do wear short shorts…over my swim suit , by the pool when on vacation.:)

I love walk shorts, and try to dress them up w/ light summery jackets and heels. Most look like #3 length.

Someone higher up said it – the quality of the skin being shown is quite as important as the shape of the legs. At 59 (how did that happen?!) I am told my legs are still good, but I know the skin isn’t comparable with someone half my age. I’ve recently replaced my shorts with golf/tennis minis – a cute A-line modest mini skirt with shorts under. But I only wear them for sports or walking the dog – my daywear is either capris or a knee-length skirt.

I have to side with the short shorts is okay, just as a matter of personal taste. I do not like the look of longer shorts at all. I do not like the way they make people’s legs and kneecaps look The white shorts are pretty short, I agree, and probably should be left to the younger crowd. However, I think the pair on the far left are long enough to be tasteful even on older ladies. If it makes you uncomfortable, I think a skirt would look better than long shorts.

Well, I have never been a fan of shorts and wore them infrequently – even when I was a beanpole. The few that I had were probably about mid-thigh. I was much more likely to wear short skirts and it was literally a few years ago (shortly after I turned 30) that I decided that the short-short skirts had to go. It really had nothing to do with societal norms or my legs, but just a personal epiphany and feeling that I felt sort of silly & juvenile dressing like a sorority minx at age 30+.

At 5′ and with my body type, the bermudas and knee length walk shorts look ridiculous on me. I am much more likely to wear a skirt and I am really thankful to have discovered clamdiggers as a summer option (through Angie & YLF of course) which is saving me from capri hell!

I’m with Angie on this. Even if you have great legs and are a super model, wearing short shorts over 40 ( unless you are at the beach or working out in your gear) just isn’t classy. I live in CA; have lived in LA and SF, and have seen it all. I am thin and fit and could wear short shorts, but i don’t because i don’t want to look like a college student any more. At the beach, i say sure, wear them over your suit….but that’s it! For me, at 38, wearing longer shorts, clams, skirts and dresses is so much more…well….classy.

I have both short shorts and bermudas. I am happy that I can even wear my short shorts now, since for many years because of my weight I could not do so. The only time I really wear the short shorts are at family functions, I think I still feel a little weird in shorts, since it has been so long. I do agree with Angie that after a certain age short shorts are not appropriate, but there are exceptions to every rule.

Tara,

I am also 51 and I find that sleeveless white(or colored) button ups look cute with everything from denim skirts and jeans to pencil skirts.

Ann Taylor has a pretty good selection of age appropriate tops for summer in all colors and styles. Also a Nordies sales assoc. will steer you in the right direction. If you are shy about your arms jcrew has a good selection of super light weight( tissue weight ) dress tee’s and cardi’s:) good luck!

Love this post Angie,

The older you get, the more a skirt is more forgiving, hiding a multitude of sins.
Shorts never look flattering on older women.

“I’m with Maya. The whole idea of “age-appropriate” comes from the fashion industry and other women. Men may have less of a tendency to dress youthfully but they find plenty of other less ways to not act their age and all power to them. So if your aim is to conform to the current set of ideals for what is fashionable and polished then great. But have a heart – if an older woman wants to dress young then all power to her as well. Society doesn’t condemn guys who marry women 20 or 30 years younger than them. In fact they are seen as virile and powerful. Call me an idealist as well but until women start being more individualist or at least supportive of each other’s individualism, we’re just bowing to sexism and handing over our power.”

Amen Janice! If an older woman wants to wear short shorts then more power to her is what I say. Just who are “they” who enforce all the strident rules? I don’t think it’s men or younger women who are criticizing older women – it’s peers!

I agree with Maya, Janice, and Minerva. I’m 23 and wear short shorts when it’s hot outside because it’s more comfortable and they look better on me. Plus, I’m usually doing something active or I was working on computers for my job. And I wasn’t going to crawl around on the floor plugging in computers or lifting computers while wearing a skirt. Skirts and dresses are held up as the holy grail for summer but since I generally work in a mostly male environment or have to be active they are unsuitable for my lifestyle. I don’t live my life staring at the back thighs of older women so if they choose to wear short shorts or not so short shorts to be comfortable in heat or whatever, they should go for it.

I have never been a shorts-wearer even when I was in my teens and 20s because they just seemed too casual and sloppy for most situations. Also, mosquitoes absolutely love my legs. So I always owned a pair in case I needed them for sports but they were hardly ever worn. That said, I think that if an older woman still has nice legs, there’s no reason why she shouldn’t wear shorts in super-casual situations. I only have a problem with people wearing shorts if:

1) They are wearing shorts in a situation where casual dress is inappropriate.
2) The size of their thighs or the fit of the shorts causes the fabric to ride up and bunch in their crotch. Ugh!

And both of those apply to men and women of any age, not just the over-40’s.

I actually stopped wearing short shorts when I was about twenty. I just couldn’t deal with the pervy comments I would get from men. I have very long curvy legs, so perhaps that made short shorts look more inappropriate or something? Anyway, it wasn’t about what was flattering for me, more about the fact that short shorts garnered far more attention than I wanted. Short shorts did look good on me when I was young, but it wasn’t worth being made to feel so uncomfortable.

I’m 32 now, and will only wear shorts that hit the knee. Ironically, I could probably wear short shorts now and would no longer get all the pervy comments because that kind of harassment has leveled off a lot as I’ve aged. But I will not be trying, as I no longer feel they would flatter me.

I don’t like to wear shorts of any length, but this whole arbitrary age-limit thing is just silly. Short-shorts are not for everyone (of course) but if you’ve got it in stock, put it in the window, and more power to you!

I find these arbitrary rules regarding fashion and age confusing. Is the issue with women wearing shorts related to baring skin? So long as the women are happy with the way they look in shorts, isn’t that all that matters. If they don’t mind the back of their thighs should someone else?
I find it very subjective that women over 40 are given the “okay” to wear leggings or dr. martens, but not shorts. Just whose permission is required?

It is so interesting to read the variety of comments on this topic. I’m with Angie on this. As an older woman who has lots of older women friends, I see it all. There comes a time when short shorts just are no longer appropriate for situations outside of sports and beach no matter what your legs look like.
At any age, male or female, consider also what you look like seated in your short shorts or what happens if you sit cross-legged and/or with your feet up. (Remember the “Friends” episode with the guy who didn’t wear underwear with his shorts?)

[...] for those of you who were inspired to stock up on shorts after the vigorous debate last week, all women’s shorts are $49.50 (also May 28 [...]

I am with all the posters who don’t get the arbitrary age limits. If you have the body type to look good in short shorts, and you’re comfortable in short shorts, and the situation is appropriate, have at it!

The white shorts are really short, and I can’t think of too many situations where they would be acceptable, but that’s true whether they’re worn by a 20-year-old or 40-year-old.

I think the navy short shorts with the slightly longer length and the gold belt and heels look great. I’d wear that look pretty much anywhere that casual dress is appropriate – shopping, summer parties, casual dinner, lunch, maybe even to the theatre.

I tend to prefer longer shorts in most situations so I don’t have to worry about coverage when sitting down, but I think both look good on me and I love wearing short shorts when I’m mostly going to be walking, or when I want to look good and I’m willing be vigilant about not flashing the room – or when the room is just my boyfriend.

I’m 23 years old, who litterally looks 14, and I think this is sort of ridiculous. Anyone can wear whatever they want! Who cares how old you are?? Everyone is getting older, nobody is getting younger, and you only live once, plus this is America! People are too obsessed over young people these days. Who cares if the 21 year old next door thinks your legs aren’t the ‘hottest’ thing!! Some peoples faces arent the hottest, that doesnt mean they must trample around in a mask! Or people with unattractive feet don’t have to wear socks and tennies on a hot summers day!