WOOHOOO. Go Team Dress

jussie, the funny thing about the fabrication of the pants is that my daughters argued over the dressiness level of them. DD12 thought they were "dressy" (I guess because they weren't denim?), while DD15 scornfully told her they were "workout pants!"

While I love summer dresses and wear them often- time and place are constantly up for consideration in my life.
I have a couple of outfits that look exactly like what you posted. They are my go to while kayaking and wearing when I get an invite from a friend who has a boat. They are comfy, casual and perfect.
I’m a fan of your pic

Thanks for the validation, efbgen.

I have similar shorts and I wear them with nice blouses and pointy flats. My kind of juxtaposition. I do love a tailored knee length short also but they are harder to find. FWIW!

I agree with everybody, this outfit is totally fine and fits you well. I would not have even noticed the pants if you hadn’t pointed them out! They fade into background in a good way.

For a less “gear” version, I wonder how they would look with a crisper shirt, like a button down sleeveless. Chambray? Tied at waist? I can picture it.

Enjoy your summer tasks, it sounds like you’re having fun!

Many days, I would love to look this put together when I am out living life. I love the colors and the silhouette on you. That top has a great neckline.

Like Suz and others, I often change during the day. I have made peace with it (I turn an briefly worn item inside out and rehang if I wore it for a short enough time that it doesn't need laundry). My casual life and town would require sweats and grubbies all the time if I didn't.

The comments from your DDs made me laugh. Differing opinions on what mom wears.....so helpful. I think the pants look great. They fit you well and work with your lifestyle. I agree with dressing for your life. I like the top you are wearing, too. You can try semi tucking a top and different footwear to change up the look, if you want to. Please don’t hesitate to post pics! I get great ideas and inspiration from all the Fabbers here. We learn from and support each other. That is one of the many things I admire about YLF.

Don't be that hard on your own pretty unique and wonderful self!!! We all have these kind of casual outfits and it does not have to fit in any YLF standards, as we all have our very own, speciffic ones-so, I think this one is a very practical and useful outfit for the purpose.

shevia, I agree that the tailored knee length shorts can be quite difficult to find. That's why I'm always jealous of those I see here on the forum!

Jessikams, I have worn these pants with a sleeveless button-down before (an old, old red one from Old Navy). I just don't have very many of those type of tops, or they probably would be in rotation more often.

Karen13, I may have to make peace with more frequent changes on some days. I'd really like to find some breezy linen/cotton pants that seem a bit dressier than this for heat of summer wear.

Mainelady, I guess I need to get in more practice on the semi-tuck. I have done it a few times, with just a few tops (those with more volume), but not on any regular basis.

lyn67, the practical and useful aspects of this outfit are what redeem it in my eyes!

Hi Becky, I have a couple of pairs of the same Columbia knickers so I can vouch for how comfy they are! I definitely have a similar summer uniform, it's practical and flattering and I have a retail job that is very active and hard on clothes.

I'm adding a find for a Eddie Bauer "Horizon" capri style (currently on sale, FYI) that I've also been happy with - this year they came out with a "blackberry" color that I just ordered. Similar stretchy "gear" fabric, but if you zoom in there is decorative stitching that makes it feel slightly dressier than the Columbia style.

Note: I'm 5'4" and the Petite size in the Eddie Bauer hits closer to the knee/upper calf on me than what the model photo shows (which is fine because it's what I prefer - similar to the length of the Columbia style). I think they could be easily hemmed.

Oooh, thanks for the find, tolkitty! The blackberry color sounds like one I would love!

Just took a closer look at my old Columbia knickers and decided that they just were too loose and stretched out for casual wear, so they are downgraded to gardening: where I need to squat quite often and regular pants are too constricting.

I just ordered the Columbia in Cypress. Thanks for the reminder. I tend to forget about Columbia because they don’t have much in the way of stand-alone stores. Meaning I find it at REI, Marshall’s, and occasionally other places, like West Marine, so I don’t tend to have a very specific memory of the brand, though I have a fair number of pieces.

Oddly, the reviews say that the full length pants with the same name don’t fit correctly.