My Karen-Old-Lady take on short shorts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but it looks terrible. On their own time, in social settings, I dgaf what they wear, but I hire teens to work at my business and a lot of the girls show up for work in our company t-shirt and, apparently, nothing on the bottom. I can't say anything because I don't want to be accused of body shaming, but it's unprofessional and doesn't represent my brand well, and I really really hate this god-awful trend.

If they work for your business, you have every right to have them wear long pants or have a dress code. That is not "body shaming." It's really weird that you have not instituted a dress code rule. Every job I had as a teenager or young adult had a dress code for this very reason. Usually it was no shorts or jeans.

With that said, I really don't care what the kids wear to school. When they go to work, they need to wear what the job requires.

Would love to do that, but what would I say exactly that wouldn't come across as body shaming and sexist? We work outside and need to be comfortable, so long pants are out of the question in summer. So what would our dress code say that wouldn't focus on covering up women's bodies?

Everyone wears a non-graphic crew neck tshirt that has sleeves to just above the elbow and is long enough to cover the waist band of their almost knee length shorts. The skin showing is from the neck up, sleeves down and knees and below. No vnecks, no tank tops, no crop tops. No skirts or dresses. So what you want with your hair and shoes. Dress code applies to everyone.

Knee length shorts?? Shirts that come to the elbows and crew-necks to boot? Have you ever done physical labor outside in 100+ degrees? We'd all die. Tanks are fine - even I wear them sometimes, and I could live with a crop top and even a little cleavage. It's just that awful look where it's like they just got out of bed and aren't dressed yet and have no pants on under the t-shirt. It's wildly inappropriate in a way that isn't really about exposure, so much as just looking like you're not dressed in the first place. Thank god no one has shown up yet with their butt cheeks hanging out or a sheet white shirt with no bra (that's apparently a thing now too) - I'd probably just lay them off or something, without saying why.

So funny that people here equate less clothing with being cooler in the hot sun. Loose natural layers are much better.

+100. A flowy linen or cotton top with linen pants will keep you ten times cooler than jean shorts and a fitted tank top. It is so funny to hear people say they feel so hot and that is why they were these super short shorts. When the sun hits your skin directly you feel a lot hotter as opposed to when the sun hits some cotton or linen fabric on your skin. It’s called SCIENCE

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but it looks terrible. On their own time, in social settings, I dgaf what they wear, but I hire teens to work at my business and a lot of the girls show up for work in our company t-shirt and, apparently, nothing on the bottom. I can't say anything because I don't want to be accused of body shaming, but it's unprofessional and doesn't represent my brand well, and I really really hate this god-awful trend.

If they work for your business, you have every right to have them wear long pants or have a dress code. That is not "body shaming." It's really weird that you have not instituted a dress code rule. Every job I had as a teenager or young adult had a dress code for this very reason. Usually it was no shorts or jeans.

With that said, I really don't care what the kids wear to school. When they go to work, they need to wear what the job requires.

Would love to do that, but what would I say exactly that wouldn't come across as body shaming and sexist? We work outside and need to be comfortable, so long pants are out of the question in summer. So what would our dress code say that wouldn't focus on covering up women's bodies?

Everyone wears a non-graphic crew neck tshirt that has sleeves to just above the elbow and is long enough to cover the waist band of their almost knee length shorts. The skin showing is from the neck up, sleeves down and knees and below. No vnecks, no tank tops, no crop tops. No skirts or dresses. So what you want with your hair and shoes. Dress code applies to everyone.

Knee length shorts?? Shirts that come to the elbows and crew-necks to boot? Have you ever done physical labor outside in 100+ degrees? We'd all die. Tanks are fine - even I wear them sometimes, and I could live with a crop top and even a little cleavage. It's just that awful look where it's like they just got out of bed and aren't dressed yet and have no pants on under the t-shirt. It's wildly inappropriate in a way that isn't really about exposure, so much as just looking like you're not dressed in the first place. Thank god no one has shown up yet with their butt cheeks hanging out or a sheet white shirt with no bra (that's apparently a thing now too) - I'd probably just lay them off or something, without saying why.

So funny that people here equate less clothing with being cooler in the hot sun. Loose natural layers are much better.

+100. A flowy linen or cotton top with linen pants will keep you ten times cooler than jean shorts and a fitted tank top. It is so funny to hear people say they feel so hot and that is why they were these super short shorts. When the sun hits your skin directly you feel a lot hotter as opposed to when the sun hits some cotton or linen fabric on your skin. It’s called SCIENCE

If this were true, don't you think athletes competing in the heat would wear linen and cotton? It might be nice to just sit around in, but if you are doing something active outside and sweating a lot, the last thing you want on is cotton or linen or anything loose and flowy. It would all turn into a sodden, puddling mess. Stretchy, moisture-wicking fabrics are best, and super-lightweight hiking pants are the next best thing for when there are too many bugs for shorts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but it looks terrible. On their own time, in social settings, I dgaf what they wear, but I hire teens to work at my business and a lot of the girls show up for work in our company t-shirt and, apparently, nothing on the bottom. I can't say anything because I don't want to be accused of body shaming, but it's unprofessional and doesn't represent my brand well, and I really really hate this god-awful trend.

If they work for your business, you have every right to have them wear long pants or have a dress code. That is not "body shaming." It's really weird that you have not instituted a dress code rule. Every job I had as a teenager or young adult had a dress code for this very reason. Usually it was no shorts or jeans.

With that said, I really don't care what the kids wear to school. When they go to work, they need to wear what the job requires.

Would love to do that, but what would I say exactly that wouldn't come across as body shaming and sexist? We work outside and need to be comfortable, so long pants are out of the question in summer. So what would our dress code say that wouldn't focus on covering up women's bodies?

Everyone wears a non-graphic crew neck tshirt that has sleeves to just above the elbow and is long enough to cover the waist band of their almost knee length shorts. The skin showing is from the neck up, sleeves down and knees and below. No vnecks, no tank tops, no crop tops. No skirts or dresses. So what you want with your hair and shoes. Dress code applies to everyone.

Knee length shorts?? Shirts that come to the elbows and crew-necks to boot? Have you ever done physical labor outside in 100+ degrees? We'd all die. Tanks are fine - even I wear them sometimes, and I could live with a crop top and even a little cleavage. It's just that awful look where it's like they just got out of bed and aren't dressed yet and have no pants on under the t-shirt. It's wildly inappropriate in a way that isn't really about exposure, so much as just looking like you're not dressed in the first place. Thank god no one has shown up yet with their butt cheeks hanging out or a sheet white shirt with no bra (that's apparently a thing now too) - I'd probably just lay them off or something, without saying why.

So funny that people here equate less clothing with being cooler in the hot sun. Loose natural layers are much better.

+100. A flowy linen or cotton top with linen pants will keep you ten times cooler than jean shorts and a fitted tank top. It is so funny to hear people say they feel so hot and that is why they were these super short shorts. When the sun hits your skin directly you feel a lot hotter as opposed to when the sun hits some cotton or linen fabric on your skin. It’s called SCIENCE

If this were true, don't you think athletes competing in the heat would wear linen and cotton? It might be nice to just sit around in, but if you are doing something active outside and sweating a lot, the last thing you want on is cotton or linen or anything loose and flowy. It would all turn into a sodden, puddling mess. Stretchy, moisture-wicking fabrics are best, and super-lightweight hiking pants are the next best thing for when there are too many bugs for shorts.

Cotton and linen don't stretch very well, so no good for athletes, but the point is that bare skin is not necessarily cooler. Wicking fabrics as you said are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach at an all girls school. I hate it too. I mostly hate it because I accidentally see butt cheeks and know some creep somewhere is getting off on it.

yep and I refuse to encourage my teens to wear clothing that may draw a pervert's attention. Yes, it's the fault of the gross human preying on the child, but if they are preying on kids, I don't think shaming them by saying they shouldn't be looking and my kid deserves to wear what they feel comfy in means much to the gross adults.

So merely looking at a “curvy” 17 year old with her butt cheeks dropping below the line of her shorts and her breasts and nipples showing beneath a sheer white t-shirt with no bra is now “preying on a child”?

You can’t have it both ways. I’m a middle aged man. Not a creep, not a perv. But I’ve seen plenty of these 16-20 year old girls out and about… they have zero intention of looking like “children”. And from the commentary that flies when the neighborhood dads get together, that’s not how they’re being viewed.

I don’t much care either way—happy to catch a glimpse here and there, will never in a million years allow my daughter to dress like that when she’s that age—but those of you encouraging your teen daughters to “flaunt it while you got it” need to be realistic about what that means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but it looks terrible. On their own time, in social settings, I dgaf what they wear, but I hire teens to work at my business and a lot of the girls show up for work in our company t-shirt and, apparently, nothing on the bottom. I can't say anything because I don't want to be accused of body shaming, but it's unprofessional and doesn't represent my brand well, and I really really hate this god-awful trend.

If they work for your business, you have every right to have them wear long pants or have a dress code. That is not "body shaming." It's really weird that you have not instituted a dress code rule. Every job I had as a teenager or young adult had a dress code for this very reason. Usually it was no shorts or jeans.

With that said, I really don't care what the kids wear to school. When they go to work, they need to wear what the job requires.

Would love to do that, but what would I say exactly that wouldn't come across as body shaming and sexist? We work outside and need to be comfortable, so long pants are out of the question in summer. So what would our dress code say that wouldn't focus on covering up women's bodies?

Everyone wears a non-graphic crew neck tshirt that has sleeves to just above the elbow and is long enough to cover the waist band of their almost knee length shorts. The skin showing is from the neck up, sleeves down and knees and below. No vnecks, no tank tops, no crop tops. No skirts or dresses. So what you want with your hair and shoes. Dress code applies to everyone.

Knee length shorts?? Shirts that come to the elbows and crew-necks to boot? Have you ever done physical labor outside in 100+ degrees? We'd all die. Tanks are fine - even I wear them sometimes, and I could live with a crop top and even a little cleavage. It's just that awful look where it's like they just got out of bed and aren't dressed yet and have no pants on under the t-shirt. It's wildly inappropriate in a way that isn't really about exposure, so much as just looking like you're not dressed in the first place. Thank god no one has shown up yet with their butt cheeks hanging out or a sheet white shirt with no bra (that's apparently a thing now too) - I'd probably just lay them off or something, without saying why.

So funny that people here equate less clothing with being cooler in the hot sun. Loose natural layers are much better.

+100. A flowy linen or cotton top with linen pants will keep you ten times cooler than jean shorts and a fitted tank top. It is so funny to hear people say they feel so hot and that is why they were these super short shorts. When the sun hits your skin directly you feel a lot hotter as opposed to when the sun hits some cotton or linen fabric on your skin. It’s called SCIENCE

If this were true, don't you think athletes competing in the heat would wear linen and cotton? It might be nice to just sit around in, but if you are doing something active outside and sweating a lot, the last thing you want on is cotton or linen or anything loose and flowy. It would all turn into a sodden, puddling mess. Stretchy, moisture-wicking fabrics are best, and super-lightweight hiking pants are the next best thing for when there are too many bugs for shorts.

Cotton and linen don't stretch very well, so no good for athletes, but the point is that bare skin is not necessarily cooler. Wicking fabrics as you said are.

I don't think the girls wearing the short shorts with the butt cheeks showing or with the tshirts so that they look like they aren't wearing pants are concerned about the temperature anyway.

[Anonymous]

This is my daughter's everyday outfit, LOL. She wears those lululemon hotty hot shorts and an oversized t-shirt. She wears that to school, to practice, to the mall. When DD and her friends dress up, they wear the same tiny shorts (sometimes denim shorts) and a more fitted top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The picture is such an extreme. I have never seen girls wear ones like that.

The typical daisy dukes that came from the Dukes of Hazards in the 80's is what I see. Most girls also wear the Lululemon 2.5" shorts or basic athletic and sweat shorts - sometimes rolled up - also like it was done in the 90's.

Conservatives always push one hard extreme (this picture above) to prove their body shaming and Karen-ness

EXACTLY!!!!!

I have never seen butt cheeks out. I see much more comfortable clothing than we had. Leather minis, tube tops with no bras, Terry spaghetti strap halters and rompers, super short joggers, skin tight short shorts. Now the kids mainly wear athletic wear, large tees, hoodies, athletic shorts, and biker shorts. Some girls wear ripped daisy dukes but no cheeks showing.

But these posts just being so taken back by clothing has me rolling. And yes is is judgmental and yes you should like and are actually indeed a Karen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw the "butt cheek" short style yesterday in AU park on one of my daughter's friends.
However, she is the fast one in the group (sex at 14, etc).

Yes, I know correlation is not causation but the desire to have your ass out is clearly meant to attract boys--something I'm not really keen to encourage.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach at an all girls school. I hate it too. I mostly hate it because I accidentally see butt cheeks and know some creep somewhere is getting off on it.

yep and I refuse to encourage my teens to wear clothing that may draw a pervert's attention. Yes, it's the fault of the gross human preying on the child, but if they are preying on kids, I don't think shaming them by saying they shouldn't be looking and my kid deserves to wear what they feel comfy in means much to the gross adults.

You should be careful about projecting adult maturity and intent to minor teenage girls. Sure they are enjoying and exploring their nascent sexual selves and the power to attract the male view, but they are still children even if sexually active ones. You’ll understand when
So merely looking at a “curvy” 17 year old with her butt cheeks dropping below the line of her shorts and her breasts and nipples showing beneath a sheer white t-shirt with no bra is now “preying on a child”?

You can’t have it both ways. I’m a middle aged man. Not a creep, not a perv. But I’ve seen plenty of these 16-20 year old girls out and about… they have zero intention of looking like “children”. And from the commentary that flies when the neighborhood dads get together, that’s not how they’re being viewed.

I don’t much care either way—happy to catch a glimpse here and there, will never in a million years allow my daughter to dress like that when she’s that age—but those of you encouraging your teen daughters to “flaunt it while you got it” need to be realistic about what that means.

Be careful about projecting adult maturity and intent to teenage girls. Yes, they are dressing to enjoy and explore their nascent sexuality and the power to attract the male gaze, but they are still children, even if sexually active ones. When your daughter is older, you will understand how young and inexperienced they really are. Try not to join in on the lewd teenage commentary with the other Dads, it’s not progressive or sophisticated.

[Anonymous]

I am a mom who despises this trend, but I cant keep my 14 year od daughter from dressing like that. She simply does not listen. Lol at all the parents who tell themselces they wont allow their girls to dress that way when they are older. If they have willpower and thats what they want, they’ll do it. Im an OG feminist, and she’ll use all the talking points against me. Just watch out. It’ll happen to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let them flaunt their body while they are in their prime.
I did not (and I used to have a great body), and I regret it.

My sister had an incredible body as a teen, early 20s. She and her friends used to go to clubs starting around 16 years old. She always won best legs contests. She hooked up with famous guys she met at clubs. Cars would stop on the street asking us if we wanted rides. Not the attention you want for your teen daughter.

You probably don’t mean to flaunt it, more like looking good, highlighted by show off in a discreet way, not cheap looking. It can be really annoying and sometimes scary drawing this attention to yourself because guys will see it a mile away.

I tried to make a similar aguement, but according to a previous poster girls and women get harassed anyway so it doesn't matter what they wear.

I mean, it’s true. Men don’t rape women based on their clothes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a mom who despises this trend, but I cant keep my 14 year od daughter from dressing like that. She simply does not listen. Lol at all the parents who tell themselces they wont allow their girls to dress that way when they are older. If they have willpower and thats what they want, they’ll do it. Im an OG feminist, and she’ll use all the talking points against me. Just watch out. It’ll happen to you.

how does a 14 year old afford to buy her own clothing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a mom who despises this trend, but I cant keep my 14 year od daughter from dressing like that. She simply does not listen. Lol at all the parents who tell themselces they wont allow their girls to dress that way when they are older. If they have willpower and thats what they want, they’ll do it. Im an OG feminist, and she’ll use all the talking points against me. Just watch out. It’ll happen to you.

Same. Mom of 2 teen girls who live in lululemon hottyhots. I hate the short shorts trend along with the crop tops; but we need to learn to pick our battles. Besides, for all you gen-x moms (probably some millennials too) out there, do you not remember those daisy dukes that we all used to wear in high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let them flaunt their body while they are in their prime.
I did not (and I used to have a great body), and I regret it.

My sister had an incredible body as a teen, early 20s. She and her friends used to go to clubs starting around 16 years old. She always won best legs contests. She hooked up with famous guys she met at clubs. Cars would stop on the street asking us if we wanted rides. Not the attention you want for your teen daughter.

You probably don’t mean to flaunt it, more like looking good, highlighted by show off in a discreet way, not cheap looking. It can be really annoying and sometimes scary drawing this attention to yourself because guys will see it a mile away.

I tried to make a similar aguement, but according to a previous poster girls and women get harassed anyway so it doesn't matter what they wear.

I mean, it’s true. Men don’t rape women based on their clothes.

I've never been raped, so I can't speak to that.
My personal experience was that I got harassed more when I wore skimpy clothes on public transportation. I'm kind of surprised that others did not experience the same as teenagers, so I guess I'm an outlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some girls don't realize what their butts look like from behind. It's like that scene in Harry Potter where the characters time travel to earlier in the day and Hermione says Is that what my hair looks like from behind. But instead it's, Is that what my behind looks like from behind.

Case in point, Ariel Winter.
https://people.com/style/ariel-winter-response-to-short-shorts-photo/

This is what she was wearing.



Showing midriff or going without a bra doesn't bother me at all. But the butt cheeks showing are too far for me. Guess I'm old now.

Ew.