I'm over 50 and wear shorts. My current faves have a 10 inch inseam (about 3 inches above the knee) and are straight, not too tight, not too loose. One black, and 1 white. I like them best when I am having a more active day. On a really hot day a loose sleeveless dress that hangs away from the body is more comfortable.

I don't like the back of my legs sticking to chairs, so I much prefer a very loose swishy skirt on a hot day. For longer shorts try Talbots or Lands End.

I'm over 50 and do not wear shorts over the knee so that they are ok sitting down. I like slim but not tight clam diggers or boyfriends best. When it is really hot, I like a knee length denim skirt. Why don't I wear shorts? I really don't like how they look when too short, and shorts don't feel all that cool on a hot day.

I will be 50 in July, and I wear shorts ALL SUMMER.

some of my favorites:
-the GAP rolled BFs that were linked to above.
-my Kut Catherines (another Angie pick). I had to size up in these.
-denim bermudas from the Loft from last year, similar to these, in white and dark blue.

These also look good, but I haven't tried them. They come in all sorts of colors.

Hi there. Posting from Texas, where it's not uncommon for temps to stay well over 100 for days on end. I haven't worn shorts since I was a child and was so relieved to discover clamdiggers via YLF. What a relief! So, I have several pairs, mostly in linen, that are my shorts.

Still, as many of you have mentioned, they're still not the best solution in those temps and dresses and skirts really are cooler, and often simply more appropriate for the occasion. For the reason mentioned by DesmoApril, I do not wear skirts and dresses in the Summer, but this year I'd like to try to find a way. Has anyone here tried Bandelettes?

http://www.bandelettes.com/

I ordered a pair but haven't had the opportunity to try them in the heat yet because somehow, miraculously, we're still enjoying Spring weather.

(Not affiliated, just wondering...)

@Runcarla, i just have to say that you've got great legs and you rock those shorts!

Thanks Lara! I have my German Oma (and 40 years of running) to thank. Folks used to say my Oma had legs like a 16 year old at 80!!! I just got lucky, there.

Yes, Carla, I really like that outfit!

I can recommend Earl brand jeans shorts which I found at Macy's. They are stretchy denim, not too short, not too slouchy. And they wear very nicely because the fabric is substantial.

Oh my, thank you all for your responses! I posted the question, when to pick up my kids from practice, and came back to lots of great advice.

Hah, I know same here! I have to be extra extra disciplined each year to keep my shorts capsule SMALL. Especially tough on days like today I keep, at most, 4 pairs of short shorts and then everything else must be around the knee. I like knickerbocker style baggy shorts that cuff just below the knee, myself.

I wear shorts all summer long. I'm willing to go pretty darned short if they're not tight -- and I never wear tight shorts. I love all lengths from knee length on up!

ETA in the summer shorts and tees or tanks are my loungewear.

I live a place with long hot sticky summers, so, I wear shorts, despite not thinking they are the most flattering on me. I have short legs and big thighs and stick with two styles of shorts. One is bermuda/clamdigger length (right around the knee), in a slouchy skinny cut. I'll wear these for running errands and casual socializing. They work best if everything is low contrast - I'm pale, so white or khaki or tan shorts, white or nude or metallic sandals.

The other style is short shorts, usually 3 inch inseam. These work best if on the baggy side, like Mo's example, and are pretty much reserved for working out or loungewear. I also have a pair of board shorts this length which I wear for canoeing, hiking to somewhere you can swim, that sort of thing.

Anything in between short and kneecap length is scary on me.

I may be late to the discussion but I turned several pairs of capris/crop pants that weren't a great length into 'city' shorts, just at the knee cap.

I wasn't sure if the proportion was right but I never wore them as a pant and got several compliments as shorts....southern Ontario locale, temps can hit 95+ with humidity

I figured I had nothing to lose to make the change

I only wear board shorts or knee length shorts I like men's shorts because they offer more room provide modesty for myself. Even when I was in the Army and fit as a fiddle I never liked running in those short shorts.

Glory - I like the idea of doing diy shorts with jeans, but I don't know if I have any to sacrifice. And did you try the shorts on at Costco? I've never bought anything for myself there, because I dread returning if things don't fit.

MRL - I think we'll find shorts that are right for our over 50 legs!

Kiwigal - I agree that there are some activities for which shorts are more appropriate. Good idea about low contrast footwear.

Desmo April - I like the idea of the slits on the sides of your shorts. And I'm totally with you on chub rub. I have very muscular legs, but I have very narrow hips and don't have that space between my thighs (at least I think that's why I don't have that space!)

Aquamarine - Go team 50! I like the idea of adjustable shorts. I like the idea of adjustable length shorts.

Carter - you crack me up - Exponentially growing thighs!

AG - Thank you for the link. Anthro is a great idea. And I love your yellow shorts (and the shoes!)

Greyscale - I think my things are thunder thighs too…although I haven't had any dates comment on them (good grief!) I was in j crew today, and wasn't looking, but all of the shorts I saw looked really short. I will ask about different lengths next time I'm there.

Shiny - It does seem like you might have better luck with shorts now given that you've had pants luck. I think you're onto something with the length of shorts and proportions. I have the same feeling at certain lengths.

Janet - I'm glad you brought up JFE. Maybe shorts are sort of like the opposite of a down coat.

Cceile - At 90 degrees I might even wear spaghetti straps!

Echo - I don't have a thigh gap either. I've longed for one ever since I realized that I didn't. Short shorts above the flesh roll is not a good look.

Lara - I ignore my knees, especially the one with 3 large scars.

Pil - I know just what you are talking about. A corollary for me would be always wear high waisted bottoms so my belly is covered.

Runcarla, YLF!! Love those white shorts.

DonnaF - I really dislike that feeling too, both with shorts, and skirts.

Joy - I like the idea of a denim skirt. Do you faux tuck?

Sarah - Thanks for the Kut link. My Nordstrom has them and I am going to try them. Sadly, the gap shorts only come in orange now. And I love those loft shorts.

Glamourpuss - I'm curious about the bandelettes. I would just worry that they would fall on me while I was out in public!

Juliejohn - I will look into Earl.

Aida - I have some knickerbocker type shorts that work well on warm, but not hot days. I feel like they are flattering.

MaryK - I'm done with tight!

Cinnamonfern - I like that longer length, too.

A - Good idea about diy shorts - if only I had some longer pants I was willing to sacrifice!

Ladywone - While out and about today I noticed a number of men in baggy shorts and admired the loose flowey fit!

I don't wear shorts above the knee but it is not an age thing, it is a me thing. As in, for me, I don't like shorter shorts.

Marmee-

Lots of colors for the GAP shorts.

http://www.gap.com/browse/prod.....=331226402

I'd say shorts end 6 inches above the knee. I think the longer the better, unless you wear silky 70s, style running shorts - then you can go a little shorter.

In general, I don't wear shorts because I find skirts more comfortable in hot weather. They're breezy but you get protection from hot car seats!

Also, always in the back of my mind, I feel they're too much like underwear. I mean in high school, we girls wore men's boxers as shorts. That was the thing. There's just not a lot of difference.

Hi Marmee,

I'm absolutely still a shorts wearer. It's true that skirts can be very cool and pretty, but some days, I need to be able to sit with my legs apart, you know? I can't be ladylike ALL the time.

I got rid of all my "skinny jeans shorts" a couple of years ago. If it's warm enough that I'm needing shorts, it's warm enough that I DON'T need tight fabric around my bum. I find that the most useful shorts are either old, loose jeans that I've chopped off myself (and rolled -- I don't know how to hem, and I think they look better anyway if you just leave a frayed hem and roll or cuff them), or else lightweight canvas shorts that are roughly knee length but that you can roll or cuff to whatever above-knee height you like.

I'm 41, btw. Old enough that very short shorts feel a little silly.

Marmee, I have a stretchy denim pencil skirt and the faux tuck works great as long as it isn't too long to throw off the proportions.

I am over 50 and wear shorts pretty much every day from mid-May through mid-October (Texas heat). I don't know what I'd do without wearing shorts! My favorites from last year are still in good shape.

Several of mine are from American Eagle and are maybe a lower rise than some like (I like about 7.5" - 8" rise). I roll them to about 7" length. Jcrew offers their shorts in several lengths and I prefer the 7" or 9" length if I want to roll them. They don't fit quite as good on me as the AE shorts.

I also have the KUT boyfriends in denim and white denim and those are both great to roll at either 9", 7" or more if you like.

I also own plenty of 5" shorts that I wear for hiking and more active days when I don't want the longer fabric on my legs.

The white shorts look great on you Texstyle! I think those of us who live in prolonged hot climates have a different take. Practicality calls for shorts. I'd die in pants and not every day is a dress or skirt activity kind of day.

While I said I don't wear shorts anymore- I realized a big reason is that I live in the Pacific Northwest where days that are hot enough for shorts are few and far between. I think if I still lived in Texas, I would have plenty of shorts in my wardrobe. I may spring for a knee-length pair this summer, just based on some of the cute options in this discussion.

i know i'm really late to this conversation, but i wanted to add that the best shorts i've found in the past few years have been from the loft and jcrew. both offer a variety of inseams, which i really like. i tend to wear a lot of cotton twill shorts, and i like them kind of generous so they are comfy in the hottest weather (in general i only wear shorts when its 80F+ out)

Marmee, sounds like you are sorted. Enjoy our sunny warm weather. xo

I had a lot of shorts when I lived in Texas (the sausage casing style, sigh) but don't really need them in the Bay Area. I do have 3 pairs, though: Old Navy denim boyfriend shorts (4" inseam) that I bought in Hawaii, near-knee-length grey cargo shorts and a pair of loose twill shorts that go up about 4" from my knee.

These mostly get worn around the house and sometimes out on weekends, but I'm more of a dress/skirt girl in the summer. I like the breeze from dresses, but more to the point, I'm really pale, and shorts would mean way more time slathering on sunblock.

Sarah - thanks for the link. I must have been looking at an old one
Rachylou - Now you have me wondering what I should call the vast majority of my shorts which end above my kneecaps
Aziraphale - I totally agree with you. What's the point of wearing denim strapped around your thighs?
Joy - I'm on the hunt now!
Texstyle - love both of those shorts. Thanks for the tip!

Magpie - I'm on the hunt for dresses!

Late to this convo but so far no one has commented on the effect of proportions on which shorts one can wear.

I have relatively long thighs and short lower legs (probably about the same length really, but not that leggy look that all the models seem to have) plus I mostly wear flats in summer at least in shorts-wearing settings. So some things just look wrong on me.

Mostly I prefer to wear something that ends just below the knee (I call them capris but that covers such a range of lengths now--is this what clamdiggers refers to?) This length looks flattering on me. They are so practical for boating, as they keep my knees from getting sunburnt and my ankles from getting wet! When I first invested in these as a choice I feared they would soon drop off the fashion radar, but I think as the rest of the Boomers age along with me, we will always have thigh-covering options.

When it comes to shorts--though I love the style of Bermudas (just above the knee length, whether sausage-casing or loose) they don't love me back--somehow they make my legs look stubbier. I need to go at least 3" above the knee, ideally seems to be either 1/3 or 2/3 the length of my thighs, for the silhouette to flatter again and not cut me off at the wrong place. Shorter definitely goes with looser, in my book. So cutting off longer pants to achieve this doesn't work (and is too hot). But now I run into problems with roll-up-ability--because I also like to wade in the surf (I live at the seashore) and want to keep the hems dry!

Otherwise, if at work, or in the city, I too go for skirts/dresses as a cooler option (also, our winters are so long and nasty, I want to bare my legs whenever it's doable).