Okay, summer's just about here and - again - I find myself on the horns of a dilemma.

Simply put: I don't find shorts very attractive. No matter how good your legs are (and mine are good to excellent for a woman my age), shorts make them look shorter and heavier - it's just a fact.

I love wearing dresses (which are the most flattering of all, IMO), but there are times when you just want something a little "easier." Something you can totally relax in without worrying about how you're sitting, etc. And when it's hot, shorts are better than capris (which I hate).

What to do?

I generally like how capris look better than shorts.

But since you said you hate them...what about a skort?

I agree with you. I have never liked how shorts look.

I don't have a problem worrying about sitting when wearing a skirt or dress.

I say go for the dress every time!

I look terrible in shorts. And I suppose there's a way greater argument for men (especially men over a certain age) not to wear shorts than for women not to. But damn, it sure gets hot in the summer.

There's an absolutely horrible, and I mean atrocious, photo from last summer of me in shorts on Facebook right now (sometimes I really hate my friends), so my new summer rule: Wear shorts. Break cameras.

^ please post the photo so we can see for ourselves

I'm actually looking at dresses for the first time as a summer option. I'm nervous about it because I'm not a dress person so I know as soon as I wear one everyone will comment or ask me what the special occasion is.

as for how to deal with shorts making your legs look shorter and heavier....I'd have to say it might be shoe related. The casual nature of shorts usually pairs them with sneakers or flip flops, my guess would be to find a wedge heel sandal or something that shows a lot of your ankle and foot but not necessarily a flip flop.

but I'm no fashionista so....proceed with caution.

[Edited 3/28/12 10:22am]

XxAxX said:

^ please post the photo so we can see for ourselves

Yikes! No.

NDRU said:

I generally like how capris look better than shorts.

But since you said you hate them...what about a skort?

I actually wear skorts for golf most of the time (though I also have a couple of golf dresses). They can be a little warm, though (two layers - shorts plus a skirt - instead of one).

I don't wear shorts. Period.

I like dresses and skirts (and wear them a lot), but I have to wear tights or leggings underneath or my thighs will rub together and chafe and in a sticky hot summer it can be SUPER painful. Even at my skinniest my thighs rubbed. It's just how I'm made.

So for active summer stuff, I'm a capri girl all the way.

Sorry I can't of more help.

Shorty said:

I'm actually looking at dresses for the first time as a summer option. I'm nervous about it because I'm not a dress person so I know as soon as I wear one everyone will comment or ask me what the special occasion is.

as for how to deal with shorts making your legs look shorter and heavier....I'd have to say it might be shoe related. The casual nature of shorts usually pairs them with sneakers or flip flops, my guess would be to find a wedge heel sandal or something that shows a lot of your ankle and foot but not necessarily a flip flop.

but I'm no fashionista so....proceed with caution.

The answer to that is a dress that's unmistakably casual - like a polo dress, a sundress or a simple shift. As with shorts, the shoes also make a difference. If you wear a polo dress with a pair of deck shoes or Toms, nobody's going to accuse you of being dressed up.

And I never wear flip-flops.

CarrieMpls said:

I don't wear shorts. Period.

I like dresses and skirts (and wear them a lot), but I have to wear tights or leggings underneath or my thighs will rub together and chafe and in a sticky hot summer it can be SUPER painful. Even at my skinniest my thighs rubbed. It's just how I'm made.

So for active summer stuff, I'm a capri girl all the way.

Sorry I can't of more help.

Totally understand. I usually don't have that problem unless it's very humid. But I wear compression shorts under a dress on the golf course (which also makes it easier when I stoop down to line up a putt) to avoid any chafing issues from humidity/perspiration.

I'm a huge fan of this stuff...

[img:$uid]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VEG5BZCAL._SL500_AA300_PIbundle-3,TopRight,0,0_AA300_SH20_.jpg[/img:$uid]

coulottes, IT'S NOT A SKIRT IT'S NOT SHORTS IT'S somethin else

[img:$uid]http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/Snobeltdude/madgesculottes.jpg[/img:$uid]

KingBAD said:

coulottes, IT'S NOT A SKIRT IT'S NOT SHORTS IT'S somethin else

[img:$uid]http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/Snobeltdude/madgesculottes.jpg[/img:$uid]

It's something else, alright - and a very unflattering something, at that.

Genesia said:

KingBAD said:

coulottes, IT'S NOT A SKIRT IT'S NOT SHORTS IT'S somethin else

[img:$uid]http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/Snobeltdude/madgesculottes.jpg[/img:$uid]

It's something else, alright - and a very unflattering something, at that.

yep...

i don't even think they were cool

when they came out, BUT if you

don't wanna wear shorts or a dress

HERE'S YOUR ANSWER

What about plain ole linen pants? In neutral colors and varying lengths? They're a pain with wrinkling, but they usually breathe pretty well, at least

I've not worn shorts for years. They simply look ridiculous on me.

I pretty much wear dresses the whole summer long or cropped jeans if it's more practical.

Shorty said:

I'm actually looking at dresses for the first time as a summer option. I'm nervous about it because I'm not a dress person so I know as soon as I wear one everyone will comment or ask me what the special occasion is.

as for how to deal with shorts making your legs look shorter and heavier....I'd have to say it might be shoe related. The casual nature of shorts usually pairs them with sneakers or flip flops, my guess would be to find a wedge heel sandal or something that shows a lot of your ankle and foot but not necessarily a flip flop.

but I'm no fashionista so....proceed with caution.

[Edited 3/28/12 10:22am]

Shorty in tha house!!

Nice to see you back.

Ottensen said:

What about plain ole linen pants? In neutral colors and varying lengths? They're a pain with wrinkling, but they usually breathe pretty well, at least

I thought about that. But they're generally too sheer - and they wrinkle the most right around the crotch.

Shorts look funny on women or mature men. Dunno what the correlation is there.

Can't long, flowy sundresses be worn without really caring about how you sit? It all drapes over your legs, I assume, and it isn't as rigid in form as a normal skirt or dress. They can also soften someone's appearance in general, though I guess sundresses aren't terribly fashionable?

Ladies out here in the bay area always seem to be wearing fashionable items to the 9s. So that usually means designer jeans and a nice loose top.

Genesia said:

Ottensen said:

What about plain ole linen pants? In neutral colors and varying lengths? They're a pain with wrinkling, but they usually breathe pretty well, at least

I thought about that. But they're generally too sheer - and they wrinkle the most right around the crotch.

And it totally draws attention to that part.

Spinlight said:

Shorts look funny on women or mature men. Dunno what the correlation is there.

Can't long, flowy sundresses be worn without really caring about how you sit? It all drapes over your legs, I assume, and it isn't as rigid in form as a normal skirt or dress. They can also soften someone's appearance in general, though I guess sundresses aren't terribly fashionable?

Ladies out here in the bay area always seem to be wearing fashionable items to the 9s. So that usually means designer jeans and a nice loose top.

Sundresses are actually huge right now. Sadly, they pose the same issue as shorts - ie, being too bare to wear after you reach a certain age. And if you wear a long, flowy dress with sleeves...well...

Let's just say I do everything I possibly can not to look like an aging hippie. Especially in this town, which is overrun with them.

Genesia said:

CarrieMpls said:

I don't wear shorts. Period.

I like dresses and skirts (and wear them a lot), but I have to wear tights or leggings underneath or my thighs will rub together and chafe and in a sticky hot summer it can be SUPER painful. Even at my skinniest my thighs rubbed. It's just how I'm made.

So for active summer stuff, I'm a capri girl all the way.

Sorry I can't of more help.

Totally understand. I usually don't have that problem unless it's very humid. But I wear compression shorts under a dress on the golf course (which also makes it easier when I stoop down to line up a putt) to avoid any chafing issues from humidity/perspiration.

I'm a huge fan of this stuff...

[img:$uid]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VEG5BZCAL._SL500_AA300_PIbundle-3,TopRight,0,0_AA300_SH20_.jpg[/img:$uid]

Will have to check that out!

Genesia said:

Spinlight said:

Shorts look funny on women or mature men. Dunno what the correlation is there.

Can't long, flowy sundresses be worn without really caring about how you sit? It all drapes over your legs, I assume, and it isn't as rigid in form as a normal skirt or dress. They can also soften someone's appearance in general, though I guess sundresses aren't terribly fashionable?

Ladies out here in the bay area always seem to be wearing fashionable items to the 9s. So that usually means designer jeans and a nice loose top.

Sundresses are actually huge right now. Sadly, they pose the same issue as shorts - ie, being too bare to wear after you reach a certain age. And if you wear a long, flowy dress with sleeves...well...

Let's just say I do everything I possibly can not to look like an aging hippie. Especially in this town, which is overrun with them.

I look hideous in long, flowy skirts and dresses.

I have a long torso and somehow they just don't work.

And yeah, there's the whole hippy aspect. :lol;

CarrieMpls said:

Genesia said:

Totally understand. I usually don't have that problem unless it's very humid. But I wear compression shorts under a dress on the golf course (which also makes it easier when I stoop down to line up a putt) to avoid any chafing issues from humidity/perspiration.

I'm a huge fan of this stuff...

[img:$uid]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VEG5BZCAL._SL500_AA300_PIbundle-3,TopRight,0,0_AA300_SH20_.jpg[/img:$uid]

Will have to check that out!

It used to be available at Walgreen's, but I haven't seen it there in ages. Best place to get it is amazon.com

Oddly enough, it also doubles as a pretty fantastic make-up primer.

Genesia said:

Spinlight said:

Shorts look funny on women or mature men. Dunno what the correlation is there.

Can't long, flowy sundresses be worn without really caring about how you sit? It all drapes over your legs, I assume, and it isn't as rigid in form as a normal skirt or dress. They can also soften someone's appearance in general, though I guess sundresses aren't terribly fashionable?

Ladies out here in the bay area always seem to be wearing fashionable items to the 9s. So that usually means designer jeans and a nice loose top.

Sundresses are actually huge right now. Sadly, they pose the same issue as shorts - ie, being too bare to wear after you reach a certain age. And if you wear a long, flowy dress with sleeves...well...

Let's just say I do everything I possibly can not to look like an aging hippie. Especially in this town, which is overrun with them.

Haha. I didn't factor in the hippy-ishness of it. I see so many out in Berkeley.

If I were a lady, I'd just throw on a couple pairs of Spanx and some tight jeans and learn to hold my bladder. Fashionista, I am not.

Efan said:

XxAxX said:

^ please post the photo so we can see for ourselves

Yikes! No.

okay. in gratitude, i will refrain from posting one of me. spare you that bit of scary

i always wear long sleeves and pants in summer. i like them made of super light materials. i never liked having my skin exposed to bugs and sun. so it's either long dresses, skirts, or light pants

It's even worse for men if they don't like wearing shorts!

I do own a couple of shorts, but I really don't like wearing them (or only at certain occasions or on holidays/at the beach), because they just make me look too clumsily casual for my taste, if you know what I mean...

As for you: summer dresses with thin, white leggins...? (love that on most women)