OT: Ladies, how long do you wear your shorts? (inches, that is!)

[NotUrsula]

Yes, it's a fluffy clothes question. OT I know, but I need sources.

I'm short, but not quite short enough to be "petite", and I'm right on the cusp between misses and plus sizes, I normally wear a 16. Shorts are driving me batty right now, because everything in the stores seems way too long.

According to most of the style columns I've read, a "Bermuda" short is supposed to have a 12" inseam. Well, on me, shorts with a 12" inseam will ride about 3 inches BELOW my kneecap, which AFAIC, makes them capris.

I measured, and it looks like something with a 6" - 6.5" inseam would be a comfortable "shorts" length for me, but I just can't find any that long in my size. Is a 6" inseam considered a short-short now? I'm trying desperately to update my wardrobe, but shorts that knock the bottom of my kneecaps look even frumpier than my old pleated ones.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm the wrong person to ask - my shortest inseam is twenty-three inches

But seriously - look at pictures of models in bermuda shorts in fashion magazines. See where the shorts end on them. THAT'S where they should end on you, as well, assuming it doesn't accentuate a particularly wide part of your thigh. Don't worry about the inseam.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

im piette and have the same issue! My knee lengh shorts cover my knee, capris look like high water jeans. Ive given up and started taking them all to my local seamstress (she dont change alot). I have had luck finding shorts that dont require work at Kmart, mostly the gloria vanderbelts.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I wear mine so that on me, the shorts will appear to be bermuda length (about 2-3 inches above the knee).

I cannot pull off a shorter short due to the shape of my thighs. (drumsticks, anyone?)

I'd probably have the longer shorts hemmed if you are not having any luck. A shorter short probably won't be proportionally correct for your short stature due to the way they are supposed to umm....show off..legs.

 

[NotUrsula]

Oh, I can hem them myself. Hemming shorts that were originally supposed to be Bermudas is problematic, though, because the current ones tend to be cut with a taper, and the original hem is too narrow to turn up. I don't like putting a narrow hem on a tailored short, because they tend to flip up and stick from washing.

I guess I'll just have to ignore fashion and stick to frumpiness on the shorts -- even hemmed to the proper length, the whole "Bermuda" style just doesn't flatter me. I still need shorts for certain activities, though; I don't want to turn into my Mom, who wouldn't do so many things because she couldn't bend down in a skirt or because it was too hot outside wearing long pants.

 

[donald&daisy]

Try Land's End or L.L. Bean. They make longer shorts that aren't bermuda. I think I even found some at Old Navy last year.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Haha I can understand with some of you. I'm 5'3" and I have shorter legs/longer torso so finding clothes is fun (not).

When I buy jeans, I have to buy the petite or short version that has about a 28" inseam. Regular capris look like high waters on me and bermuda shorts come right at the knee and they look weird on me.

Basically though, I get short shorts. They're 3" inseams or less. But I'm young still and I have legs that don't look ridiculous it them so, it works.

 

[ols386]

I'm 5'3" and my legs are very short. I can't wear capris or bermuda shorts. If I do, they make me look very short and squatty.

I usually try to wear fairly short shorts....but certainly not so short that they come up to my rear-end. If I don't wear them short, it makes my legs look even more short.