My thoughts on bike shorts as fashion: a journey

[Anonymous]

June 2021: Wtf is this trend, I hate it.

August 2021: So do I just buy them in black or should I get a pair in, like, a dark pink too? Is this a French tuck situation or a cropped shirt situation, or maybe mood dependent?

[Anonymous]

no.

[Anonymous]

Are you under the age of 22?

If so, go on with your bad self.

If not, please don't.

Unless you are taking a spin class.

[Anonymous]

I don't think I've ever seen anyone pull this off.

Fashion is so sadistic. Just whem we're getting over the largely unflattering skinny jean profile, now they want to convince women they look good in bike shorts?

[Anonymous]

OP here. I felt exactly like all the PPs two months ago. And now I've seen literally dozens of moms in my neighborhood in their 30s and maybe even 40s pulling it off. I do think it helps if you are curvy and have a real butt. Which I do. But I assumed it would look trashy and like workout gear and it doesn't! They look cute. The look I see most is black bike shorts with a high waist, paired with a loose fitting top that hits right at the waist or just below, with a pair of cute casual sneakers and either a cross body bag or a tote. It looks casual and pulled together and somehow not too 80s at all. And hot weather appropriate. It has started making me feel dowdy in my pull on shorts and tees and tanks.

It helps that everyone I'm seeing in them is clearly fashionable in general -- great hair and makeup, cute earrings and other accessories. It's a whole look. But it is all about the booty combined with looking comfy. I like it, I'm gonna try it.

[Anonymous]

The correct way to wear them is with a sports bra and tank for working out only.

[Anonymous]

Agree, op

[Anonymous]

OP again. Trying to find an example of how I'm seeing it styled. This is basically it, though most of the moms I'm seeing it on are much curvier than this and I think it looks better:

[Anonymous]

I consider them my summer leggings, and I love them. I usually wear them with a v neck t shirt, and it's about all the effort I can put in on a DC summer day.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I’m still not a fan

[Anonymous]

Same OP. I think what happened to leggings as pants will happen to bike shorts.

[Anonymous]

Be honest OP - what zip code is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be honest OP - what zip code is this?

This is a great game!!

My guess - 22026 or 20108

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I felt exactly like all the PPs two months ago. And now I've seen literally dozens of moms in my neighborhood in their 30s and maybe even 40s pulling it off. I do think it helps if you are curvy and have a real butt. Which I do. But I assumed it would look trashy and like workout gear and it doesn't! They look cute. The look I see most is black bike shorts with a high waist, paired with a loose fitting top that hits right at the waist or just below, with a pair of cute casual sneakers and either a cross body bag or a tote. It looks casual and pulled together and somehow not too 80s at all. And hot weather appropriate. It has started making me feel dowdy in my pull on shorts and tees and tanks.

It helps that everyone I'm seeing in them is clearly fashionable in general -- great hair and makeup, cute earrings and other accessories. It's a whole look. But it is all about the booty combined with looking comfy. I like it, I'm gonna try it.

I don’t know why you would feel dowdy in other shorts with a similarly short t shirt or a tucked in one, but I do think it’s a really cute look.

[Anonymous]

I do not think this looks good on anyone.
If you’re wearing it for comfort and don’t care what it looks like, I am fine with that. I don’t judge people who are just going for comfort—that’s a defensible life choice. But if you’re wearing it to look good….respectfully disagree.