Urban walking in high temps: how not to look like a scout master??

[workwoes123]

So I live in a French city. DH and I like to go for long-ish walks (riverside, woods, built up, historic areas). Usually I wear jeans and nice walking shoes and that’s fine. But it’s summer, way too hot for full length trousers, and I’m struggling to find an alternative.

i am tall, broad shoulders and back, big boobs. Then I taper downwards to skinny legs, ankles, feet. It’s so difficult to find anything short: anything that fits over my (now fairly broad) hips looks huge further down with my skinny legs sticking out the bottom. As a pair of sensible walking shoes and it’s 100% scout master: this is not stylish in what is a very stylish city!

Any ideas for cropped / shorts lengths and styles that would suit my body shape and need to wear sensible walking shoes?

In those areas I usually just wear trainers ( giesswein) and a summer dress with floppy hat 95% of the time

we live rural and mountains and I only wear hiking boots if it’s being raining a lot and boggy or snowy. I find them too hot and heavy otherwise

I did buy a nice pair of navy blue shorts with tie at the front from Hobbs recently which look nice with a casual blouse , T-shirt or shirt depending on occasion

What about chino type shorts? Navy or some other non scout colour. Pair with walking trainers

www.hobbs.com/row/product/harmony-belted-shorts/0122-8131-9328L00-TRUE-NAVY.html#cgid=clothing-trousers-shorts&is=true&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=0122-8131-9328L00-TRUE-NAVY&pos=1

these

What about culottes or (can’t believe I’m about to suggest this).. a skort?
Also google “flowy shorts” for some less scout master options.

I'm the same shape. I'd agree about looking at a skort, Craghoppers do them. I have a pair of shorts that I like because they finish at the right point of my leg. I may be delusional about how they look but they feel good.

Don’t get navy shorts you don’t want to look like a scout leader. That is uniform “bottoms” colour! I realise you yiu probsbky meant khaki/beige.

I have a couple of pairs of cropped culottes from Finisterre for the activities/weather you describe. Not cheap but so useful and very well made.

I can't believe how much I loathe those culottes.

Is this a scout-master look? I imagine not.

Urban walking? Why would normal summer clothes and decent trainers not work? In really hot temperatures I'd be walking in a summer dress tbh. But make sure your back pack has well padded straps especially if the dress is sleeveless.

Do you actually want shorts, or would lightweight loose cotton trousers work?

I have these www.esprit.co.uk/p/trousers-022EE1B341_345.html#cgid=1216

It's the footwear! If you wear hiking shoes there is nothing that wouldn't look like you're on a trekking activity.
Try and find a smart pair of sandals or shoes that are supportive enough to walk in but don't look like you're hiking.
Then wear wide cullotes shorts or wide cropped trousers to balance the wider body top with slim lower half.
Lighter colour in bottom half, darker colours on top.

I would go for a dress and either walking sandals or trainers in that scenario.

Unless there's lots of stiles or other obstacles that might make a dress impractical.

I'd wear denim shorts but that might be too hot?
Just bought these walking sandals & the thinner straps make them a bit better looking than normal walking sandals:

www.trespass.com/kimbra-women-s-leather-sandals#color_code=Buck

Linen trousers? In blazing sun I like the shade they give to my legs, avoids having to use sticky sun cream, and they tend to be quite flowing and cool to wear.

I walk in summer in a loose linen dress and trainers. I find dresses/skirts much cooler and more comfortable than shorts.

Flat leather shoes/sandals?
White trainers like everyone in the world seems to be wearing with every outfit?
What do stylish French ladies wear if you look around?

If you are doing effectively a sport/outdoor activity then walking trainers or sandals won't look out of place.

Decathlon have brought out a "robe de randonnee" www.decathlon.fr/p/robe-de-randonnee-outdoor-femme/_/R-p-335372?mc=8667052 if that hits the look?

I wear a mid calf cotton jersey or a linen dress with white trainers
I have a pecking order of white trainers - work, shopping, walking - as they gradually lose the bright whiteness they are demoted. Also the advantage that I don't look out of place when we stop for a drink or lunch. I have walked 12k through countryside like this with no problems. Particularly rugged terrain may be different

Oh I also carry a foldaway rucksack with a thin tote bag in it. Plus water, lip balm, hoody etc Then I can swap between the bag and the rucksack depending on if I'm walking or in a smarter environment.

I got these shorts last summer and love them - look very cute with a thsirt tucked in, but are made of really soft and stretchy denim so are great for walking. Not at all Scouty I don't think. (I am not as beautfully slim and toned as the models, but I think they look nice still).
acaioutdoorwear.com/collections/shorts-and-capris/products/the-outdoor-denim-shorts-dark-blue-denim
I would strenuously avoid anything from Craghoppers, which is the definition of Scout Master clothes in my eyes.

Shoes are more difficult - Birkenstocks maybe? Some people swear by them for walking in, but personally I don't get on with walking amy distance in flip flop type shoes.

Thanks for all the suggestions: I can certainly see where I am going wrong.

I don't own a single dress! Anything size that fits my boobs / back / shoulders tends to hang in huge folds further down and my skinny legs stick out the bottom. Maybe I should try again... Oh and I never wear anything sleeveless these days unless I have something over the top: saggy underarms and stretch marks 🙄

@BiggTree I suspect you are correct! It's the walking shoes that set the Scoutmaster / Craghopper vibe. I like the suggestion of a strappy walking sandal, which would let me at least wear cropped trousers / shorts. I might even get away with the cullottes if I didn't have a pair of chunky trainers on.

@NotMeNoNo yep white trainers are everywhere here too and yes, that's what stylish (young) french ladies are wearing. But for walking in woods /riverside /beaches / parks - they'd be filthy very quickly.

I think I'm also trying to find an outfit that does too many things at once - practical, comfortable, walking gear that is also stylish enough for spontaneous bistro lunches. Probably I am asking too much from one outfit!

What is your bra size?

Google "3/4 sleeve dress fat thighs" there are a lot of nice items to look at.

don't you get hot in sleeves? You're not selling me on Paris as nice place to live if you can't find clothes to be comfortable in.

I have linebacker shoulders & can still find stuff that works for my bottom half (can be size 8), so am intrigued about OP's bra size

Bra size is 36HH. I do really struggle to shop in France. We visited Germany recently and I felt much more at home among the tall, big-boobed, blonde women there and ended up clothes shopping whenever I could rather than sight-seeing.

I think you'd look great in the Hush Tara dresses. They have a fitted bottom half (the skirt part) and loose top. Failing that if you fancy a dress look then a vest or short sleeved top tucked into a a flippy or A line skirt in the same colour might do the trick.

I wore a Weird Fish Tallahassee dress and plain Sketchers to walk round a hot Italian city recently. I did concede to wearing [the hideously named] chub rub shorts on this occasion. I think I looked nice

You should upload a pic to MyBodyGallery, it's an unusual shape.