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?

That picture

I hate shorts, I generally just wear cropped cotton trousers, its quite hard to find them though, I have got a pair of the denim knee shorts from Next which look okay though

I am in a v hot country and just pulled out an H&M basics below-the-knee striped jersey skirt. It’s lined and everything, really practical and flattering. Much better than the Boden ruched version.

If you are ging to be on a beach just pootling around rock pools etc I would just stick with shorts. It is a beach in Cornwall, not a fashion parade. I think a skirt or dress is probably going to be the most impractical piece of clothing as they will just get wet and slap against your legs.

LightAsTheBreeze unfashionable shops like Bon Marche are full of linen and cropped trousers.

I have very fat legs and am determined to wear shorts on holidays this summer as it will be mega hot . I have bought a few pairs and have sized up .. or I wear dresses . I've just got this one today and it's Great . They come in lots of different colours and patterns and are great value .

I used to get my crops from BHS , when they closed down I tried to stock up but my size had run out. Luckily as the sun is so infrequent usually, I still have some left to wear. I did get some navy ones recently from M&S classic section which I guess is similar to Bon Marche

I would probably buy some long shorts OP as a skirt might get in the way.

I'm 5'7 and very long in body/short in leg. Plus my little legs are chunky. I never wear shorts.

Last year I wore cropped trousers but still looked daft.

This year I'm in pyjama style trousers and think they look better and are lovely and cool. Fave pair were from Bon Marche!

Cornwall in August you say? Raincoat and wellies are all that’s required, surely?

LoniceraJaponica - silly question, but why would a dress be any more likely to get wet than shorts the same length? I do actually wear shorts quite a bit (these - described as capris, but I'd call them shorts - slim cut, hit just below the knee & perfect for walking/outdoors work). But for the beach I'd generally go for a lightweight cotton mid thigh / shorter dress as easier to hitch up for wading, dries quicker etc.

"silly question, but why would a dress be any more likely to get wet than shorts the same length?"

No, not silly at all. I love rock pooling. I bend over a lot when doing so, and if I was wearing a skirt it would dip into the water. Tucking a dress into my knickers is a little undignifying for me at 59

My legs look bloody fab in shorts and I dont have a lot else going for me.

Its all about the length. I have to have them fairly short, so my legs look wider at the top (thigh)

If they were too long, they would look awful.

Denim ones with a turn up, (as I call them) look nice as well.
I couldnt just wear any shorts, you have to find the best ones for your shape.

Im off to find a very plain short black pair.

" I have to have them fairly short, so my legs look wider at the top (thigh)"

You want your thighs to look wider
Are there some magic shorts that make mine look thinner?

If the OP is 5’8” and a size 12, I can’t believe that she looks bad in shorts.

I’m the same height and size and I bloody love shorts. I wear them all summer. Even so-called ‘city’ shorts for work, with high sandals.

OP, just buy some for the rock pools. Dark denim with a bit of stretch are best. I prefer them to a short skirt in very warm weather because shorts eliminate thigh rub!

I am short - just over 5'2", & proportionately long of torso & short of leg. Am also a pear shape with tiny hands & wrists, feet & ankles, & currently slightly overweight. My legs are my worst feature. I wear long floaty dresses in summer, occasionally knee length, for the beach etc. For spring / autumn I add tights & a cardi, or just wear jeans & a top (my usual attire, TBH).

I dont explain myself very well. I would look like a twat this, if I wore long shorts.
And better in short shorts.

If the OP is 5’8” and a size 12, I can’t believe that she looks bad in shorts

I thought that immediately.

I’m the same height and size and I bloody love shorts. I wear them all summer. Even so-called ‘city’ shorts for work, with high sandals

Im the same height/size and also wear city shorts at work. I got an amazing pair in Tesco of all places, £14.

I actually think shorts look awful on most people. Unless you are slender, I think they’re unflattering.

A knee length dress or skirt-denim?-is much nicer.

OP, you say the ones you've tried cut yor legs off at the wrong point. Can you find the right length for you and search for those, or shorten some to the right length? As others have said, it's about fit and length. I suit longer,-on the knee - wider ones. I don't wear them much in hot weather, I prefer skirts. But if I'm hiking or on the beach or park, I just wear whatever is practical.

But I do make sure my cheeks are covered. That picture

I think we need to wear shorts so irregularly in this country we all think we don't look good in them because it involves exposing our legs more than we are used to. It's like all the bikini angst on here every summer. If shorts are practical wear them, if a dress or skirt is practical wear that. If your legs can do everything you need of them (and if you are rockpooling they probably can) then they are fine. Wear shorts, don't worry about what others are thinking, they probably don't care. Can you remember what your OH was wearing yesterday? I can't, not the whole outfit anyway. So a stranger on a beach? They might vaguely register a family rockpooling but won't be checking out if you have perfect legs or if your shorts are flattering or not.

I'm VERY fussy about shorts. I find too many are 3" cuts which to are unflattering and a bit ouchy. It's all about the 5". Longer are horribly unflattering. Try are get some that have a bit of give (difficult as well, I'm looking for a boyfriend kind of cut for denim shorts). For chino style shorts, I almost always go to J Crew (or Banana Republic), which are flattering, have a great range of colours, and a variety of leg lengths. I tend to buy shorts in the US though.

If not shorts (not really appropriate for work!), I tend to wear knee length dresses in cotton where possible, or a soft cool (good quality) viscose. I always take a few of these on holiday, quite nice to wear for sightseeing.

Well said CountFosco

I wear the thin, patterned harem pants some other have mentioned. Not because I don’t like the look of shorts or short dresses but I can bear the feel of heat on my skin as it makes me itch.

Never wear shorts, even on holiday. Wear a lot of floaty skirts, sarongs.

short harem pants thin material super stretchy but buy a size larger than you normal one for slouchy look