get short-y

SHORTS. PLEASE. MORE SHORTS.

Coming from the Gold Coast, I’m no stranger to shorts. They’re a key survival item in the Spring, Summer and Autumn months (basically all year round), but they’re essentially regarded as a casual item. Casual meaning wear to the shops; wear to the beach; wear around the house. Casual meaning denim. SO MUCH POTENTIAL IS GOING TO WASTE.

Half my friends will heartily agree with me on this, and the other half will read this in horror. On multiple occasions I have attempted/actually worn shorts out to dinner, out to bars, out to nightclubs. I say attempted because I have one friend, who will politely try to talk me out of wearing them if I so happen to be getting ready with her. “Ohh, I love that dress that you brought with you,” she’ll insist when she sees me wearing shorts even though I neither asked, nor tried on said dress for her approval. “Ohh, you should save them for another occasion,” she says, assuming I think, that I don’t recognise her obvious disgust in my clothing choice. I respect everyone’s taste, but I think it’s time we stopped being frightened of shorts and add them to the nighttime/office-wear fashion vernacular.

The teeny tiny town of Bluebell in Alabama is shocked and appalled by new-to-town Dr Zoe Hart’s penchant for shorts (youthful males excluded) in TV show Hart of Dixie. But WHY? Look how delightful they are. Dressy, comfortable, practical. No need to worry incessantly about the chance of a brisk wind sweeping dresses and skirts to head height and revealing one’s nether-regions and underclothing. In shorts, you can wear your COMFIEST underwear and if a bus hits you passers-by will be none-the-wiser. The dreaded box-shot will become a thing of your past.

In Winter, simply add black or patterned stockings – depending on the short style of course – and Bob’s your monkey’s uncle…or whatever the saying is.

Plus, for those of us slightly lacking size in the chest region, showing a little leg never hurts right? Denim is not the limit. Lace, leather and a plethora of divine materials make shorts SO wearable for those occasions where casual attire just won’t do. Comfy, cool, classy; what more could you ask for?

And, my theory is – less material, less cost. But remember, for dressier purposes, high-waisted is definitely the best option. Hipster just doesn’t look legit.

I found these amazing leather shorts (above left) by One Way at About a Girl, very similar to the one’s Rachel Bilson is wearing above, for just $45. So comfy thanks to an elasticised waistband and a loose fit around the leg.

I’ve also worn these Forever New shorts (above right) to DEATH. Once again so comfortable and easy to wear and just $60. This exact style is no longer available but there are very similar cuts in store now or online here.

So I beg of you all, please climb daintily onto the shorts bandwagon. I’d suggest you jump, but in a skirt or dress that wouldn’t be very lady-like. In shorts on the other hand…

Laura xx