Ask Angie & everyone: help finding shorts? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie & everyone: help finding shorts?

cindysmith

Veteran

I need shorts. This is Texas, I'm dealing with hot flashes, and I live in an RV, so anything I can do to help prevent heatstroke is a very good thing. I need shorts.

Unfortunately, there are too many high rise shorts out there right now. I may have long legs and arms, but I'm short from neck to pelvis. Many mid-rise pants fit me like a high rise, so a high rise bottom generally gets very intimate with the bottom of my bra. So uncomfortable and so not my thing anyway.

Because of the aforementioned issues surrounding temperature, I really need natural fibers. A large part of my suffering at work, even in the walk-in cooler, is caused by my crappy red polyester garbage bag of a uniform shirt. I am not about to subject my lady bits or plumbers crack to a synthetic material that will make me sweat and smell funny.

I desperately need suggestions on where to find some lowish mid-rise shorts in a linen, cotton, or other breathable fabric. Because my budget isn't huge, I am not going to be overly picky about my style moniker; I can always mix a preppy bottom with something more unexpected on top, and my giant leg tattoo instantly makes anything have a RATE spin. The only thing I do NOT want is denim.

Please help me, you're my only hope! And because I know that the collective knowledge and experience here is vast and amazing, I am going to thank you all in advance, because I'm pretty sure you guys will have some possible solutions for me
XOXO

Shopping

23 replies

Latest reply was from ophelia

Ginger

Veteran

My go-to for shorts has always been Kohl's. There's a breadth of styles and cuts because of all the lines and the different fits. I ended up with three pair of jean shorts from juniors last summer. I know you don't want denim, but the other lines tend to have options in cotton twills. I still have some olive ones from years ago. Is there any chance you can get in there?

Anonymous

I'm another who relies on inexpensive mass-market brands for shorts. Not the greatest socially conscious or environmental sound buys, but I go through shorts like water. Old Navy , Gap, and in Canada : Joe Fresh all work well for me. I like 100 % cotton too, and stay away from linen because shorts look like a bunch-up rag bag in no time. Madewell has good ones too. How about Levis (not blue denim but other colours) ?

CNola

Girl, I hear you. I'm in south Louisiana and shorts shopping is the worst! I am on the tall side, but with a short torso, so I often turn to the men's section for "bottoms". Hanes, Fruit of the Loom and Champion both have super affordable, cotton jersey pairs with POCKETS. Champion has the most colors, but the Hanes and FOL are comfier with a sleeker fit. Have picked mine up in Dollar General, Walmart, and Sam's Club, but you can also snag them on Amazon. Minimal shrinking. Watch out for "heather" colors, as these styles have less cotton and more synthetic fibers. Those do not wear or wash well.

slim cat

Veteran

It's a difficult one - I don't wear high rise so all my shorts are at least 3-5 or more years old ( mid to low rise ).
I found that one option on LuckyBrand with cotton/lyocell fabric but I haven't seen or tried that boyfriend style https://www.luckybrand.com/boy.....-clothing-
Boyfriend style used to be mid rise in Lucky Brand however things might changed already to a slightly higher rise.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have the same problem. My shorts are from Gap, Anthro (the Pilcro line), Gap, Lucky (denim, sorry), and a lone old pair from Madewell. I have some others from Jag, and some Kut chinos that I cut down into shorts. I hate how my legs look anyway, so I suck up my pride and bare my legs for the sake of hot weather. My shorts are all lengths ranging from mid-thigh (about 7” or so inseam) to just below the knee.

slim cat

Veteran

Try J.Crew Factory - they used to have mid rise poplin shorts or chambray.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I echo the ladies. Clients REALLY like shorts from the Gap, Old Navy, Athleta, and the Loft. They are almost always discounted too.

JAileen

Veteran

Like Ginger, I like Kohl’s, and I also like Macy’s. Macy’s prices are actually really good as long as you buy during a sale. The good news is, there’s always a sale.

cindysmith

Veteran

Just ordered 4 pairs from Old Navy and 3 from JCrew factory. I'm busy checking out all the other recommendations too, so there may be more ordering to come, so please keep them coming. You're saving lives by preventing me from heatstroke or murder because heatstroke made me grumpy LOL

cindysmith

Veteran

JCrew Factory with the killer sale, plus a forgotten reward for a further discount (pics 1-3). Old Navy with the unbelievable sale (pics 4-7). And Loft was killing it, too, so I ordered the cotton tweed shorts I couldn't resist, pic 8.

That's a good start on summer survival, provided I guessed right on the sizes.

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Hadilly

Uniqlo has nice linen ones. I would seriously consider getting some Patagonia baggies for women. I know you said you wanted natural fibers, but the baggies don’t really touch your body. I find them super super comfortable and lightweight to wear.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

I just ordered some black linen/viscose gloria vanderbilt shorts from Coscto of all places--super inexpensive--$12. Nice & loose. might be close to at- the- waist rise.

madeline

Veteran

Echo the others’ suggestions: Gap and Old Navy are my go-to places. Uniqlo has good quality fabrics but all their clothes run small.

elpgal

Veteran

Old Navy linen is a but scratchy but it wears in well. Caslon has elastic waist linen shorts that are very comfy. Often end up at Rack.
https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/c.....ts/4793157

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I would look at Poshmark !

Chris987

Veteran

Another possibility - I’ve had good luck at JCP. Like you I need a med rise. A lot of their choices list the rise and length measurements, and they wear reasonably well for the low prices. Not sure if they are all 100% cotton or linen so look carefully. I’ve bought multiples of the same style in the past.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

J Crew always had good cotton shorts. That’s what the b/w ones here are. I bet you could get good deals from them right now. The blue ones are Tommy Hilfiger. I got them at Saks off Fifth about 11 years ago, but Tommy is another label that I think always has a lot of cotton. Another favorite pair, that my son says looks like a raspberry field vomited, is from Forever 21. They certainly are not known for natural fibers, but when it’s right, it’s right, and these were right 12 or 13 years ago and ever since.

Nearly all my shorts are nearly all cotton. I agree with you on the problems with synthetic down there and wish store websites and Angie would list fabric content up front, but you can usually find it if you click around.

Good luck!

ETA typed before reading comments, see you’ve already hit up JCrew factory, which is what mine are. Hope they work!

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Helena

Veteran

Hope they work out Cindy; old Navy and j crew factory were going to be my suggestions; I've had great luck with both.

Quietgirl

Veteran

i have a couple pair from Loft and Gap.
I also LOVE shorter (above the knee) ponte golf skirts.
(These are definitely shorter than my typical pencil skirt ).
AND there is the added benefit of air circulation around your legs!

nemosmom

Veteran

Looks like you picked a great assortment, Cindy! And JCrew factory's prices are crazy-cheap right now! I hope you will report back.

Christina F.

Veteran

I second the rec for Caslon. They always have comfy linen bottoms for summer. I have have some linen shorts from the Rack that I love, brand name Susina.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Caslon has also worked for me in the past for basic khaki or olive shorts - I have 3 pair from year before last I think, still going strong. American Eagle used to make low rise shorts but that was five or six years ago and I haven't seen them since.

Madewell shorts/pants never have worked for me personally (different fit I guess). Gap and Athleta work but Atheta is rarely natural fiber excet for the linen, which I wear as lounge wear. I have two pair of the KUT white denim shorts I like, but they are a little shorter than my usual.

My favorite shorts are mostly former pants I've hacked off to various lengths - sometimes I leave the raw edge showing, sometimes I don't

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ophelia

Veteran

Yes, poly on the lower half in heat and humidity? No thanks.
I don’t wear high rise either.
I go on ebay and search for “100% cotton shorts.” I then filter for US sellers. You can add size to the search.
I know not everyone likes second hand clothes, but tons of people are getting rid of their low and mid rise items. I’ve gotten quite a few pair of J. Crews in the $3-7 range, including shipping.