Linda Hall: Short shorts not for everyone

Not everyone can wear short shorts.

Why is it that when I'm on holiday I feel free to wear shorts anywhere I please? Is it because I feel relaxed and carefree? No - actually it's because I know I'm not going to run into anyone I know.

I've just returned from a week in Australia visiting family. I wore shorts shopping, at Movie World and just whenever I felt like it.

I wouldn't dare go to town in shorts at home. Imagine if I ran into someone from work, or a friend of a friend. Oh the horror ... I can imagine the look on their face as they tried to hide the smirk. Then the gossip: "Oh I saw Linda Hall up town with shorts on ... let me just tell you it wasn't a pretty sight." Oh the shame.

Of course there are shorts and then there are short shorts and then there are the cut-off denim shorts. The last mentioned have made a huge comeback in the past few years.

I've had discussions with several people about denim shorts and age. What age should one just stop wearing teeny, tiny denim shorts?

One person said anyone over 12 should not wear them. I think that's rather harsh. I've seen young women in their 30s that looked fine in them.

Of course it all depends on the legs once you get a bit older. Most people agreed that it was ok to wear denim shorts in public, if you had the legs for it, well into your 30s.

Last summer I saw a woman who honestly must have been in her late 50s (either that or she had lived a very hard life) wearing tiny cut off denim shorts and heels.

On the one hand I thought she was brave but on the other I thought she just looked ridiculous. If she was trying to look sexy it didn't work.

Hawke's Bay Today had a run of texts a while back about women wearing tights with short tops. Some texters were disgusted. They said they didn't want to look at all their muffin rolls and lumps and bumps.

Others replied that it was none of anyone's business what people wore and that they should "get a life". That may be true but I think people should take a little bit of pride in themselves. It takes five minutes to change from home clothes to something a bit tidier before venturing out.

I'm not talking about Sunday best, I'm just saying take off your tights and put some track pants or jeans on or put a longer top over your tights. Easy.

Attitude to clothing has changed so much in the past 50 years. Maybe because you can pick up a pair of pants for 10 bucks people don't care if they wash them with the towels or spill oil on them. Just throw them out and buy some more ... or wear them up town anyway because who cares what other people think.

You also see more people out and about running, walking and biking in lycra. Cyclists making use of our fantastic cycleways often stop in for a coffee along the way. Nobody looks twice at them now.

I haven't stopped for a coffee break on my bike rides. I don't want to frighten anyone.

Seriously though, it doesn't hurt to take a wee peek at yourself in the mirror before going out. Perhaps if the woman cycling along in Havelock North a few weeks ago had done that she may have saved herself a bit of embarrassment.

Mr Neat and I were out and about when we drove up behind her. You could see right through her tights, they certainly weren't lycra and gee she didn't have shorts on underneath them. Let me tell you it didn't leave much to the imagination.

Mr Neat nearly drove off the road.

Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke's Bay Today.