Help! What do you wear if you don't like shorts?

[Mingmoo]

I really tried this year. I tried on about eight pairs, bought two, returned them. I don't feel comfortable in shorts - I know they don't suit me. They make my knees look like muffins and cut off my legs at just the wrong point. I'm 5 8 and a size twelve with a reasonably good figure but my legs are not my best feature and I would never wear an above-knee skirt without thick black tights. I am 41 and tend to go for fairly plain, classic styles of clothes. In the hot weather I've been wearing longer skirts and I have a couple of pairs of wide-legged culottes, one in silky fabric and one in seersucker linen, but they're both quite smart.

I'm going on holiday to Cornwall in August and I imagined myself wearing shorts for hopping around beaches/rock pools. What can I get instead? Or can anyone recommend miracle shorts I won't hate?

I’m the same. I just can’t wear shorts despite being similar size to you. Well I obviously can but they look weird and I feel really wrong in them. I wear dresses and skirts. I would wear shorts on the beach etc though as I don’t know anyone when I’m on hols so I stop caring

Really hard to have confidence when you don't like what you're wearing! I'm glad it's not just me.

The cora shorts from Boden are super flattering and you can choose length.

Denim skirts above the knee are very forgiving

I feel odd in shorts the first hot day I wear them, and then I just wear them. The first day a school mum just kept staring at me and my legs, I felt so self conscious. The next day she put hers on and gave me a knowing smile. I think once you do it, it will be easier. I bet your legs look fine. Just go for it. Pretend you're on holiday. Just pick out the most flattering point on your leg in your opinion, and adjust any shorts to that length. I have cut off men's jeans before and then rolled them, they are my favourite shorts.

Bloody hate them.

Dresses - leggings under until hot and then no leggings. The ultimate versatile outfit.

Denim skirt no use? White stuff do loads.

Also ‘play suits ‘ maybe more elegant - I can’t wear them but I like them if that makes sense!

Longer skirt maybe if you don’t like short skirts - pencil skirt length?

Cropped trousers. There are loads of casual styles in the shops.

Nobody looks good in shorts really, unless you’re 22. I mean, wear them if you want and they’re practical (I do), but they’re unlikely to look great.

I live in a hot country and wear long silk skirts made from old saris in hot weather. I buy them from eBay for half nothing. They’re cool (temperature-wise), easy to wear, and look a lot better than shorts imo.

Shorts are awful. I've never ever seen a pair look good in RL

Dress with leggings.
If you're on the beach and likely to get wet then avoid denim.
Would you wear boardies on the beach?
They are like swim wear anyway and you could change after?

I like floaty dresses and skirts. What about beach cover ups to wear over swimsuit when faffing in rock pools?

I live in a country that is 30+ 9 months of the year, eventually I gave into shorts. But the trick I found is how you wear them. I prefer gap chino shorts, one size bigger than I normally wear their jeans and then a baggier shirt or tshirt. There's a reason you see celebs in a baggy white linen or cotton shirt with their shorts - it's about as flattering as shorts get. Having said that I dont wear them often and really stick to cotton dresses but if I have to that's the best option I've come up with.

I wear below-the-knee dresses very regularly and just climb/paddle (knot up with a hair tie temporarily) and run and garden and DIY in them exactly as I would in any other piece of clothing. I make sure I buy things with plenty of fabric in the skirt so I can move.

I’m slim and my legs are my best feature (imho) and I look utterly shit in shorts. I wear knee-length dresses and then either chinos (rolled up at ankle) or 3/4 length loose peg-leg trousers in thin fabric. I suppose the chinos are better for the beach.

I don’t know what it is about shorts; oddly I think I look ok in my skin-tight cropped gym leggings, so I’ve been known to wear them for long walks on holiday (much more comfortable too).

@UnderTheDesk your sari skirts sound lush. Do you have an eBay link??

cropped trousers

Buy leggings that come just below the knee..
Even if you don’t like the look of them, they are so comfy
Or long maxi dresses
I’m like you I hate my legs but not because of my knees, I’ve skinny legs..

@Kenworthington I bought mine ages ago and I forget exactly where I bought them now, but if you search for 'saree skirt' , you get this kind of thing in results: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FAIR-TRADE-HIPPY-BOHO-ETHNIC-HIPPIE-LONG-WRAP-SARI-SILK-SKIRT-FROM-NEPAL/142827318570?hash=item21412bed2a:g:~50AAOSwRaRZtm~m

I wear sun dresses with cotton cycling style shorts underneath. Not visible but if I’m doing something that I may show my butt like climbing about they are there. I too look ridiculous in shorts. I have great legs they are my favourite bit of my body. They used to be really skinny but now I’m older they just look slim. Yet put me in shorts and suddenly I’m dumpy. Yet that doesn’t happen in short skirts or dresses.

i like linen trousers but ones that are tapered or they're unflattering (on me) the sari silk skirt does sound lovely!

I've the same figure as you op and a couple of years older and now I just wear the bloody things if I'm on hols/ doing something outdoorsy. Either above the knee floaty culotte ones or Gap chinos. Otherwise I'm in floaty harems or calf length dresses

Harem pants www.forgottentribes.com/collections/harem-pants-uk/products/floral-harem-pants-high-crotch

Trousers from FatFace lovely and light.
Above the knee dresses with cycle shorts underneath. Floaty dress distracts from legs and shorts cover up and stop any rubbing from all the heat.

My gorgeous and extremely stylish friend can’t wear shorts. She’s a very toned size 10 and looks amazing in everything else I’ve ever seen her wear but she always swore to us that she looks bad in shorts and the one time I saw her wearing them o saw what she meant - they just don’t flatter her for some reason even though she has a great figure. In summer she wears lots of cool linen knee length dresses that nip in at the waist or under the bust. They look great.

You cant look as bad as this:
I would just wear them. There are shorts for everyone.