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Shorts, hardest for hippy women...

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Shorts really are my nemesis and I don't wear them often, prefering skrits instead... I think there really is so many lengths to chose from and i just haven't delved into finding that magic number yet... These are 7 inch inseam. What's your favorite inseam for shorts?

http://versatilestylebytracey......nge-day-2/

Ps. my broken toe is much better and these lace shoes were perfect for support ,but no pressure on the toe as recommended...
Today is a day for staying in AC, as it is suppose to get to 99 with heat index of 104!

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16 replies

Latest reply was from froggiebecky

celia

Veteran

Shorts are also my nemesis. I cannot find a length that I feel comfortable with.But you look very good in yours.A nice casual outfit.
ETA: happy to know your toe is feeling better.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You look good in these, Tracey! Glad to know your toe is feeling better.

Gennifyr

I can't do a 7" inseam. They look fine but they ride up when I walk. I currently love my 11" bermudas. They are slim cut but have a notch cut out at the cuff so they don't lay tight around the thigh. I wear them with heels and dressy jewellery so they don't look frumpy. They seem to be more slimming on me then shorter lengths.

ameelizabeth

I've been having a similar shorts dilemma! I'm used to wearing 5" length at work (I work at a greenhouse so shorts and a work polo are my uniform for about 6 months out of the year). I was interested in trying longer shorts since I've been reading how good they're supposed to be for us "hippy" gals. I just cut some of my old pants up into bermudas (and posted about it..."DIY bermudas"). I just measured how long the jean ones are, and they are 9.5" from crotch to cuff. Lol, now I'm imagining that being the title of a book that a shorts specialist might write..."From Crotch to Cuff: My Life in Shorts." Sorry, feeling a little loopy from the heat!

Anyhow, I think the 7" do look flattering on you!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

TraceyLiz, these shorts look fab on you! You've got the perfect length and fit. They show your shapely toned legs very nicely, and the outfit proportions look great. I love the vest over the sleeveless top, and your cool bangles.

My sweet spot on shorts is more like 13". I like them to the knee, or just covering the knee. I didn't used to like that length, but its has "grown" on me, as I've discovered a tapered leg shape is key. There are so many factors in fitting shorts--no wonder it's so hard to find just the right ones.

deb

Veteran

I prefer 11" or just to the knee. The 7 inchers look good on you.

EveningMood

I love the outfit, the layering of top, vest and necklace, and man you look great in shorts! I have hips and thighs too and I wear this length of shorts all the time in the summer. I do not wear miniskirts anymore but shorts are a different, non-flashing story Sorry to hear about your toe!

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I have longer bermudas that are slim cut and feel they show off my hips more...Maybe at the end of season sales I'll do some trying on and really nail down which looks best, of course with pictures since I no longer trust my mirror.. Trying not to buy anything right now due to getting two off to college and grad schools but to be honest failing as I've bought a few handbags lately..

Anonymous

I prefer Bermuda length for vein coverage. This summer I tried something new. I had pants that I liked how the waist and hips fit. But the leg length wasn't quite right. So, I took my trusty sewing machine and hemmed them to my perfect length, just above my knee. The tapering was perfect.

I just hoped for some casual shorts to bum around in but these have proven to be a work horse

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

TracyLiz, I think you're right--long tapered shorts will make give a more vavavoom look, if you're curvy on the lower half.

T

You look good!
I either go in for bermuda length shorts that just taper at the knee in dark colors when I want to minimize how my hips look, or else I wear shorts and pair them with a BF blazer with the sleeves scrunched - it seems to make the hips look less hippy.

Joy

Veteran

13 inches, more if I plan to roll them. Mine must be tapered, so I don't like Bermuda shorts. But my hips need some emphasizing. I'll bet yours will too some day. Gravity! Your padding goes south. Do you ever see any average weight older ladies with hips?

froggiebecky

Veteran

I've got a different take on it, in that I tend to prefer my shorts shorter. I think this is an effect of growing up in Texas, and having absolutely no shame about my hips and thighs. I'd say my preferred length is either 5 inches or bermudas. The 7-9 inch inseams read frumpy to my eye and on my leg, but that might be because I'm fairly short, so that doesn't leave as much leg. I've also got proportionally short arms, so the point where my fingertips brush my legs is pretty high. Since bermudas fall to the knee, that gives the eye a reference point, in my opinion.

That being said, I tried on some shorts in Gap last week and just about died of joy.

I found these did a great job of fitting both my butt and my thighs without pulling--not an easy feat. I think this might be the first pair of gap bottoms I've ever purchased, because their hip curve disagrees with mine usually. They are definitely worth a look!

(ETA my finds properly)

Boyfriend roll-up linen shorts

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3

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

FroggieBecky, I too am a petite, but I don't wear petite bottoms as my legs are longer.. I do however thnk that the longer shorts aren't woeking due to my height unless I wear wedges, which I have many of... I's like to wear more flats so think that going shorter than the bermudas I own is key. Thanks for sharing! I live in Virginia Beach and think the 5" might work, and will try that.
I've tried the above silhoette and wasn't fond of it...

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I agree, shorts can be tricky for those of us who are hip-endowed. I like the length of the ones you're wearing, Tracey.

My current favorite lengths are shown in my Finds, below. Either halfway down the thigh, or just below the knee. I wore those Gap shorts yesterday and loved them.

I find that there are a few factors that go into finding the sweet spot for length -- and width -- of shorts. Leg length, leg shape, and even the overall body proportions. For me the fact that any fat on my body seems to stay firmly attached to the outside of my thighs, and the fact that I have a very proportionally short torso can really throw off my proportions when I'm wearing something as simple as a tee and shorts. I have shorts with inseams varying from 5" to clamdigger (below knee) length, and I think most of those work pretty well on me, despite my not-conventionally-fab legs. But inseams don't tell the whole story -- 5" is pretty short on me, while it would be halfway down the thigh on some of our shorter ladies.

Aw heck, by the time we get to this part of summer, when it's warming up so much, I start to not care so much, and I wear shorts enough that I actually start to like my legs. Considering that at the beginning of each summer, I feel a little panic at the idea of shorts, that's quite a shift.

Camo boyfriend roll-up shorts

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7

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10

froggiebecky

Veteran

Tracey, I'm with you--I buy regular shorts and pants, even though I'm 5'3"--I've got a long rise. Those bermudas don't fit me like they do the model--I just fill them out. The happy dance was due to the fact that they didn't pull funny, and there was enough room in the butt that I didn't have any gaping. I wore them a couple days ago:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....its-summer

But yes, you might try looking for something shorter. Old Navy was always pretty good about having different inseam lengths, and I also did well with Kohl's Sonoma brand.