Denim shorts- yes or no?

[Wrigglebum]

Well my favourite jeans, the only ones that fit round the bum nicely, now have knackered knees with a huge hole in them. I'm not a ripened jeans kind of person so I was going to get rid of them but then I noticed denim shorts in all the shops.

Can I realistically cut them down or will I just look ridiculous? I'm mid 30s, size 12-14 with slim-ish legs, though a bit chubby at the top of the thighs. How should I finish them? Hemmed, hemmed and folded, or just folded up? What should I wear them with?

Bloody autocorrect- ripped jeans, not ripened.

I did mine just above mid thigh but I didn't hem them, they were a little bit frayed after a couple of washes but I like the scruffy, Status Quo throwback look.

I had a lovely pair of naturally faded jeans but they had a weird dark mark on the crotch, it looked like I'd wet myself

Easily done. You can leave them frayed, hem them or put in a turn-up.

Best way is to find a pair of shorts that you already own and the fit/length is right and put them against the jeans to determine where to cut (allowing extra for hem/turn-up if needed).

I would just leave them frayed or turn them up, but I'm not keen on hemmed.

Frayed or turned up, and not with black tights and ballet shoes ;)

I find that if you roll them up then they're always too tight on the thighs. I think that proper denim shorts must be cut differently.

Are the jeans tight on your thighs? Unless they're really loose jeans they'll probably end up making strange, unflattering, tight legged shorts (in my experience!) I love denim shorts on really hot summer days, but they're def cut differently from normal jeans.

I like ones like this - folded up and a bit ripped - and wear them with a slouchy tshirt and bare legs with sandals or ballet flats.

I meant to say that I wear them and I'm 39. I wear them with tees and Birkenstocks/havianas.

Denim shorts don't look good unless you have v slim legs imo. Mind you, the same goes for most shorts really. Definitely not tight to the leg at all either.

Use a pair of denim shorts as a template. Buy a pair if necessary and take them back. You will then be able to get the same cut as a shop bought pair.

I cut all my daughters jeans down and they look great.

I was told that the denim shorts you buy in shops are made and cut differently to look more flattering and also that quite often men's jeans are cut down to make them. I do think there is some truth in it as any women's jeans I have ever cut down have always looked completely crap.

Have done this myself, but it works best with straight or loose-ish jeans. Skinnies are too tight - at least on my thighs .

Mm, hadn't thought about them getting tighter when folded, not sure that would work. Guess I have nothing to lose though since they'll be for the bin anyway.

Quite fancy getting a proper pair of denim shorts now though.