Why would we ever say aging boldly and shorts are mutually exclusive? Well, sure, some of our knees may have started to wrinkle. And perhaps our thigh skin is shifting and starting the dreaded journey south when we throw ourselves into downward dog. But that doesn’t mean we still can’t get leggy with it.
There are more shorts styles for older women these days than you can shake a leg at! We don’t have to give up short-hemmed pant silhouettes because of skin tone, style confidence or fashionability.
Of course, the longer the length of shorts, the more forgiving the style on crepe-y, stretchy-looking skin. If this is your top concern, look for longer, Bermuda-style shorts or those where the hem falls just above or below the knee. Or go full-on with pedal pushers, capris or bike shorts that will cover a slew of concerns. There’s also the uber pretty full-legged skater shorts that look like a skirt, oh-so pretty and so forgiving of so much!
Read More: 9 Swimsuits for Women Over 50 That Real People Will Actually Wear
Not Your ’70s Hotpants
Today’s shorts story is a disco-ball mirroring of that ‘70’s trend, the hotpants. I’m not suggesting the super short length that defined those early iterations. I’m talking about the places they made the scene—Studio 54 for instance (on the likes of Bianca Jagger and Jerry Hall) and so many places other than the gym or the tennis court or a picnic.
Fast forward to now and shorts (in the right style) can be worn to cocktail parties and to the office. Let me repeat that. To. The. Office. And not just fashion-centric workplaces. At corporations. I wouldn’t have believed it myself if I hadn’t been practicing the office life daily myself, on staff and onsite five days a week, 10 hours a day.
I see a whole range of gorgeous styles: lace, eyelet, wrapped, ruffled, wildly printed, canvas, linen, silk, denim, destroyed. Shorts have definitely preempted skirts as the summer sartorial style choice of the cool. Many millennials at my office wear shorts almost every day, even during winter, with winds whipping off the East River and icily skimming our tip of Manhattan.
The rules have shifted around this leggy option, and I find myself drawn to dressier and more sophisticated interpretations.
While a lot of women think they can’t wear shorts at an older age—even Helen Mirren quipped “I wouldn’t be seen dead in shorts,” adding, “only very secretly and privately but never in public” —our set IS getting into the gam game. And, off course, while we LOVE Dame Helen, we quite respectfully disagree. Maybe she just hasn’t seen the current crop of shorts.
If you feel shorts are just too, um, short, try the skort, a popular fashion lovechild: shorts bred with a skirt. You’ll still feel all the freedom of shorts tempered by the modesty of that skirt panel.
Check the Mirror
Now, I’m not saying that if you’re in an office environment you should make shorts your go-to. But with so many styles and lengths, why let anything hold you back? Except maybe your, uh, backside. A friend once told me, “Women should never wear spandex unless they have a full-length mirror in which to view themselves from behind.” The same could be said for shorts. It’s imperative to know both what’s coming and going when wearing them.
That doesn’t mean you should 86 all pants options with hems above the thigh. I merely advise caution in trying and buying the right style for your comfort level.
Our fashion editor Kimberly Cihlar rocking a pair of Denim shorts and a kimono while out walking her dog, Mignon.
Here’s my, ahem, short list of options for working the look this summer.
Read More: Females Over 50 Shine at This Year’s CFDA Awards
The Short List
Wear: Pilcro High-Rise Denim Bike Shorts, $80.00; at Anthropologie
Where: Summer Fridays at the office, soccer games with the grandkids.
Relaxed Skater Shorts, $166.00; at Anthropologie
Wear: Relaxed Skater Shorts, $166.00; at Anthropologie
Where: To Opera in the Park, the farmer’s market, sunset cocktails out.
Wear: Chino Bermuda Shorts, Seersucker Patchwork, $54.95; at LLBean
Where: Garden parties at friends’ country houses, shopping at Renovation Hardware.
Wear: St Ives Paperbag Shorts in Chalky Pink, $70; at Boden
Where: From office to a night out on the town with BFFs.
Wear: Tropical Embroidered Shorts, $75.00; at Boden
Where: Reunions with former classmates, backyard BBQs.
Wear: Tibi Ruffle Shorts, $350.00; at Shopbop
Where: Any place! This is the perfect shorts silhouette for sophisticated dressing.
Wear: Tie-Waist Short in Organic Cotton, $59.50; at J.Crew
Where: Beach boardwalk luncheons, summer city excursions.
Wear: Organic Cotton Gauze Culotte Pant, $158.00; at Eileen Fisher
Where: Breezy day trips to visit family, weekend meet-ups with dear friends.
A version of this article was originally published in July 2017.
Gigi says
Great short story Kim!!
Laura Still says
I’m not a fan of shorts or skorts. I find skirts cooler in the heat/humidity of Knoxville summer, and white is my favorite color in July and August. But I mostly work outside.
sacha says
you got the gams for shorts lady! stunning as always.
Me, um, maybe the knee length cos ones, or maybe with tights under!
(which takes me back to the 80’s striped tights ripped jean shorts)
Go you!
Teresa Waak says
Skorts only these days. No accidents!!!
Spike says
Lookin’ good Kim!