Fashionista friends, welcome to Ageless Style 06.2024. Today’s prompt comes to us from yours truly. For several years, I’ve been on the fence about wearing shorts anywhere but around the house. But El Paso summers are so danged hot!! Last summer over 70 days of triple digits. Strangely enough, I can’t seem to get much done when I am lounging about in the pool trying to stay comfortable. What to wear instead of shorts? Or are shorts still okay for an (active) senior citizen and Mimi/Gabba to 4 grandbabies?
Ageless Style 06.2024
Around the house, I wear these Old Navy 5″ high-waisted terry shorts. Is it a good look for me? Not especially. But the kitties don’t seem to complain too much. Poor PC often comes home to me wearing them with some kind of athletic wear tank top…another not particularly flattering look on me. But it’s hot.
I ordered these Gloria Vanderbilt Amanda shorts from Belk this summer after my sister gave me a pair of the same shorts last summer that I have worn quite often. In the pictures below, I am just trying them on for the first time. The 6″ inseam is a good length, I think. You can’t go wrong with a tummy control panel, right? Packed them for the trip to Kentucky last week for my brother’s wedding. Felt comfortable wearing them in public and that’s a big bonus.
But what do I wear instead of shorts? Thanks for asking!!
Instead of Shorts
Mid-spring, I ordered this 18″ golf skort from Amazon and I absolutely LOVE it. The moisture-wicking fabric is light and comfortable. The mesh shorts underneath have a 4″ inseam so not too short-short. The colors and print are very pretty and it has 3 pockets…thank you!!
I first wore it to chaperone field day for second grade at Lucia’s school. That morning I paired it with a school tee shirt that I purchased when I began substitute teaching at Lundy. When my chaperone duties were done, I changed from that tee to a solid squash-colored tee in order to run errands and attend my first Monday afternoon writing class.
This skort has been a godsend. I grab it to wear running errands, or to take the babies to daycare. It is comfortable enough to workout in. And best of all, it doesn’t have to be IRONED. Hallelujah!! You can see just some of the pile of ironing I have to conquer in the photos above of the Amanda shorts.
Because El Paso summers are so hot, that means the AC everywhere you go is working overtime. Restaurants, stores and especially movie theaters can be miserably cold. PC laughs but I almost always wear a cardi, kimono or light jacket even on days with forecasted triple digit highs. And for that reason, jeans and white denim are among the things I wear instead of shorts.
These Old Navy white denim jeans with the frayed hem from last summer have a bit of stretch which keeps them more comfy in the heat. Thankfully, they don’t cling to me. I paired them recently with this very lightweight Loft ruffle neck poet blouse and these Old Navy d’Orsay flats in hot pink. You can tell by my smile that I liked this look.
Orange is probably my second favorite color. After the best color in the world…GREEN. I credit my alma mater, the University of Tennessee with my love of orange. Go VOLS. Go Big ORANGE. On Saturday, the Volunteers will be playing Texas A&M for the final game in the 2024 College Baseball World Series. Hope you’ll help me cheer them on.
What Else?
I am trying to reach for dresses more often this summer, too. A couple of summers ago, I purchased 2 of these Merokeety tee shirt dresses with POCKETS! The tie waist gives them a flattering fit. And the fabric is lightweight but not sheer enough to require a slip. Yes, I still wear slips. Anyone else? Nobody needs to see what’s lurking beneath the skirt of my dress. Believe me.
This Old Navy tie-dyed dress is similar in style and fabric. Purchased it 2 seasons ago, too. These are great to wear for substitute teaching because they are comfortable, cool but still allow me to look somewhat put together. As much as a kinder sub can look put together, that is.
Just noticed a rather unfortunate splot of darker color on the pink patch on the left side of this dress. Hmmm. Maybe this isn’t kinder-appropriate after all.
Your Turn
Today another golf skort from Amazon is being delivered and I am anxious to try it on. It’s this Oyamiki active performance tennis skort. It was slightly cheaper than the first skort I ordered this spring but I hope it is as nice. Love that the print features lots of color so I can wear it with many of my solid color tees. Stay tuned for pictures on IG.
Meant to mention that my almost 14-year-old granddaughter Cady wore a skort/dress to the end of year spring dance. Brennyn purchased it for her at Hollister and Cady sent these photos for me to share with you.
See the little bike shorts? Clever idea. Wish my tie-dyed dress had had bike shorts underneath when I wore it to ride bumper boats with Cami and Lucia the other day. No bueno.
And now, let’s check out the instead of shorts styles my Ageless Style gal-friends are featuring today.
Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits
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Bo ~ Bo’s Bodacious Blog
Blog / Instagram /Pinterest / Bloglovin’
Joanne ~ My Slice of Life
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie ~ Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |
Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle
Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom
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Rosemary ~ Distinctly Southern Style
Blog / Instagram / Pinterest / Facebook
YOU can join the fun, too. Please add your link below.
So, what do you wear out and about in the summer? Do you feel comfortable in shorts and above the knee skirts, skorts and dresses? Please let me know in a comment below.
Off to iron!! It is actually overcast with a forecasted high of 88* today – cold front. The perfect day to knock out some ironing.
Thank you for spending a few moments here with me.
Hugs and kisses,
I do still wear shorts in public though my veins, etc. show! It is hot in Alabama, too. I found some cute shorts with a scalloped hem at Belk. I actually wore a pair of those with a nice printed shirt to the office on Tuesday! I also love my skorts from the Bass Pro Shop! I’m actually on my second round of blue and black ones. I have traveled to Ireland, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Israel with my skorts!! I also wear dresses A LOT. I have on a cotton dress at work today. I have found a lot of them on Amazon. I have some from Tuckernuck and some from Talbots.
Thanks for the shopping tip…Bass Pro Shop!! Who knew?? Love that you wore shorts to work the other day. Sounds like they were really cute ones with that flirty scalloped hem. We don’t have a Belk so I order from them but always worry about sizing. Never heard of Tuckernuck. Will check them out. And our Talbots (which was sadly out of my price range) closed. I know how hot it is in Alabama and you guys have that dreaded humidity, too. Thanks for chiming in.
After sweating and sticking to my car last week, I only plan to wear shorts when I know my day will not involve a car ride. Instead I will be wearing my longer skirts and flowy pants. I do have a couple fun dresses that I like to wear in summer that are a little shorter. I love how practical skorts are!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
I love my skorts!! I will be wearing them on hot errand running days. But my dresses were very comofortable, too. It is just so hot here. And we have had less than an inch of rain this YEAR!! We are burning up.
Your shorts look just fine. All of your outfits look fine.
Iris
Thank you, Iris, for making me feel better about wearing my shorts. For now, I will keep wearing them. Just not too far from home!!
Those GV shorts looks fabulous on you! I say keep right on wearing them if you want. My memere wore shorts well into her 80’s (when she passed away) and I always thought she looked so cute in them. I saw lots of girls wearing bike shorts under their short dresses for the semi formals and senior awards/ graduation nights and thought that was a genius idea. I’m always so self- conscious in shorter skirts but I bet if I paired them together I’d be very comfortable in shorter dresses and skirts!
Aren’t the shorts under the dresses and skirts genius? I sure wish I had worn shorts the day we rode the bumper boats!! I gave the whole amustement park a real show.
Thank you for the kind words. I feel comfortable in my GV shorts for now so will keep wearing them. With all my years of running and exercise, I still have so much cellulite but that sure isn’t going away now!! Thank you for making me feel better. XO
Oh, you look lovely in all of these alternatives to shorts! You have such beautiful legs…show them off, my friend! I got rid of my skorts a few years ago and have regretted it ever since. I can’t seem to find any I like now. They’re just the best of both worlds, aren’t they?
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
You are the sweetest thing. These legs have so many miles and dimples on them. My gravy!! But I am still wearing my shorts/skorts at least ’round home. Walmart has some darling skorts this season. And under $20. A black and white skort that would be ADORABLE with your new L’Artiste sandals with the b&w heels. Check it out.
I love all of your options Leslie. Those dresses are my go to in the hot, hot summers. Heck, I’ve been wearing it all.
The shorts under the dress is brilliant. Except when I need to go to the bathroom, hahaha.
XOOX
Jodie
While I do love my shorts, it’s nice to switch it up! I have a couple athletic skorts that are so nice for summer! I love it when they have the cellphone pocket in the leg too! Very convenient!
YES!! My skorts have great, deep pockets. Hallelujah. So I can actually walk, exercise, lift weights and listen to my book on my phone all at the same time.
I use to wear skorts everywhere too, they are so comfy. Such great examples. At home, I wear a gauzy/cotton elastic waist short with a tank top too. Not very attractive on me either. ha ha.
Haha!! Glad I’m not the only one who wears less-than-attractive things around the house. My poor PC!! But it’s too hot. And I try to work out every day so I don’t want to put on something nicer, then change to work out, then change back into the ‘nicer’ outfit. Don’t have time for that or the laundry that would produce!! Put some linen pants in my Old Navy bag after seeing yours.
I’ve worn a good deal of skirts lately, but I also put small shorts under them too!
I need some shorts to wear under my dresses. I thought I ordered some last year but must have eaten them!! I took the grands to an arcade, putt-putt and bumper boat riding place and had on a dress!! Big mistake. Was afraid to bend down to retrive my golf ball and had to practically sit straddle-legged to steer the bumper boat. NOT A GOOD LOOK. Thanks for reminding to find or buy some (more) shorts.
Those GV shorts are the perfect length and so cute on you! Love all of these alternatives to shorts too! Dresses are my go to when it’s super hot outside. Your granddaughter’s skort dress is darling!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thank you, friend. Love that you shared your alternatives to shorts on the same day we did. Heading over to visit your blog. You wear dresses so well that it is no wonder they are your go-to for hot summer days.