Baring Legs- the long and short of it

Lauren Moffatt blouse and Anlo shorts available at Cicada.

Oxford Eagle

8 May 2009

So I left you with my thoughts for covering up, but as the good book says there is a time for everything under the sun...and believe me the sun is coming.  

Face it, we live in the deep south and what we have to look forward to is 95 degree temperatures with heat indexes of 105 (which I never have completely understood) and humidity levels soaring higher than the clock tower on the courthouse.  The time for uncovering is quickly approaching.   

Favorite Season

Summer truly is my favorite season, but it’s also the time of year when I bring myself to do one of my least favorite things...show my legs in public.  

Soon after college I resolved to the fact that shorts, for me, should be reserved for exercise and other similarly drastic activities.  In a time when the style seemed to be the shorter the better, shorts were all but removed from my fashion repertoire.  

After suffering through a few summer days in my trusty blue jeans, I gave in to long, flowy linen skirts and eventually, the tragically misinterpreted capri pant to combat the heat.  Credit maturity or global warming, but more recently my intolerance of summer’s sultriness has forced me to reconsider my ban on shorts and fortunately the fashion world is cooperating.  

  

Balancing Act

Shorts have come back on the scene from runway to retail.  It seems the short game has become more about making an overall statement and less about showing leg.  They’re being placed in more sophisticated situations paired with pretty blouses and blazers, tights and heels.  

These looks may not be for you but definitely a move in the right direction for the short itself and a blessing for those of us who chose not to compete in the “how short can you wear your shorts” competition.  It presents options for wearing shorts that don’t necessarily put all the focus directly on the leg.  

Just the other day, I spotted a true Oxford style icon wearing a solid white short with a long-sleeved, floral peasant top and flat sandal.  The result was a well put together outfit...and I thought to myself, I can do that.  I was even inspired to buy a pair of “all-the-rage” gladiator sandals for the sole purpose of pairing with shorts.  

Even Robert Randolph (the musical headliner of this year’s Double Decker Festival just in case you’ve been under a rock) was sporting his own short ensemble, a plaid short over some kind of athletic tights.  Here’s to him for doing his own thing.  The key is to decide what works for you by creating a careful balance that accentuates the positive.

Great Lengths 

Another great thing about shorts these days is that almost any length goes from 3 inch inseams to the classic bermuda.  So if you’ve got gorgeous gams by all means show them off.  And even if you don’t have the legs of a gisele don’t altogether discount a shorter length...that may be just what you need to help create the illusion of longer legs.  Go to the store; try them on!  You might be surprised.  Take a couple of pairs of shoes with you-a flat sandal, a wedge, a heel, if you dare.  Different short lengths look good with different heel heights on different people.  

And if you still can’t bring yourself to go with “real shorts”, go longer.  These aren’t your grandma’s bermudas.  Today’s bermudas are young and hip and definitely more sophisticated than yesterday’s daisy dukes.  You have to experiment and trust your judgement...you know better what looks good on you than the shop girl trying to sell you something.

Exciting Challenge

This year, for the first time in years, I’m actually looking forward to donning a pair of shorts and creating some ensembles that I might not have considered in the past.  I’m not nearly as concerned with showing my legs as I used to be.  I suppose I could be walking the thin line of complacency, but I’d like to think that I’ve replaced self-consciousness with comfort in my own skin.  

So join me in kicking the fear of showing your legs in the pants.  Wear your shorts with confidence.  Do a little “leg-work” and learn to recognize what looks best on you...which, in my opinion, is the long and short of effortless style