Of all the clothes that are hard to carry off over fifty, shorts are definitely up there.
The short ones are too revealing. The medium ones cut off in the least flattering place for a leg past its prime. The just above, or on-the-knee length ones, have all the disadvantages of a bottom-gripping skirt and remind me of scout masters or the cast of It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
Shorts, in case you hadn’t already guessed, are on the short list of clothes I’d put away in your fifties – at least if you’re intending on wearing them in real life rather than on the beach over your cozzie.
But it turns out that the shorts ban may have been premature. Just as summer is peaking, along comes a new style of shorts: longer, tailored, more adult friendly and, crucially, denim. They fit like a smart, soft flared jean. They’re slightly baggy but also tailored, snuggly fitted on the hips and bum, and medium-high waisted.
Just as summer is peaking, along comes a new style of shorts: longer, tailored, more adult friendly and, crucially, denim. Pictured: Model Hailey Bieber
Fashion watchers are calling them Jermudas, as in jean Bermudas. Pictured: Model Gigi Hadid wears a pair of long denim shorts
These are shorts you can wear at any age, indoors, including at the office, and (importantly) they will last beyond summer.
Fashion watchers are calling them Jermudas (as in jean Bermudas, though these aren’t narrow like Bermudas) and they were very popular with the show attendees during Copenhagen Fashion Week at the start of August.
The Danish seal of approval is significant, by the way, because the way the fashionable Danes dress — with an emphasis on practicality, plus glamour and colour — is increasingly the way that appeals to women who work, rush about, who aren’t interested in Botox, or being skinny, or wearing lots of black, and who want to look great without remotely restricting themselves. Which explains the longer, wider, cooler shorts.
They look good with a blazer and a T shirt; or a striped boyfriend shirt; or a pretty ruffly blouse, just loosely tucked in. And because they’re denim (sky blue not inky dark), they can be dressed up to look smart or worn casually.
Also denim is what is known in fashion as trans seasonal. It will work on a hot August day in the city with Birkenstocks or mid-heel sandals; on a hot August night in the bar on holiday (with a little black cheesecloth top and flip flops); and in October with boots and a brown velvet jacket or a soft hip-grazing sweater – short sleeved if it’s still warm. These shorts will fit neatly into the smart end of boho-chic which is on the cards for Autumn.
Zara does a decent pair (£29.99, zara.co.uk); Albaray’s pleat-front tailored shorts are a little smarter (£65, marksandspencer.com); H&M has a good pair of slightly longer baggy Bermuda high-waisted shorts (£27.99, hm.com); Cos’s are a good just-knee-covering length (£65, cos.com) and Me+Em’s blue wash, high-rise longer shorts are in the sale (£105, meandem.com) — though they come with raw hems which automatically makes them more summery.
Albaray’s pleat-front tailored shorts, available via marksandspencer.com for £65, are able to be dressed up for work or casually with a pair of sandals
Celebrities have been wearing longer shorts in suit-form for red carpet looks, but a denim pair is more wearable for everyday. Pictured: Ayo Edebiri (left) and Gemma Arterton (right)
Note: don’t be tempted by tight-fit denim shorts, magic shapers or not — this is a loose, tailored look that’s more skirt than cycling shorts.
Of course, denim is not everyone’s bag and to those refuseniks I’d say take a fresh look at shorts in a similar shape to Jermudas — knee-grazing and gently flared in a fabric that holds its shape and doesn’t crease.
Me+Em does a tailored pair of black shorts in viscose and polyester with added stretch that finish just above the knee (in the sale, £87.50), which are perfect for hot days in the office. Massimo Dutti does a knee-covering pinstripe Bermuda (£39.95, massimodutti.com) with a matching waistcoat (£35.95) if you feel like making a summer work suit.
Jessica Alba pairs her long short suit with a towering pair of heels, but you can pair a denim version with more casual sandals or boots
Zara has a longer wide-leg cotton blend version in black or navy (£35.99) designed to be worn with a matching sleeveless peplum top (£27.99), or any neat black top, which is another way to go with long shorts: pair them up to make a modern take on the little black dress.
Otherwise, Zara’s cream tailored pair with front darts in ivory (£29.99) are longer still (just knee-covering) and, with a belt and a knit navy top and tan mid-heel slingbacks, would make a smart everyday look – providing you’re tall.
And if you are yet to go on your summer holiday and are still thinking about what to wear instead of regular shorts, then Next’s coffee and cream striped wide Bermudas (£28, next.co.uk) would be a good bet – even if you will be putting them away in a few weeks’ time.
Once we’ve got the habit, who knows, come autumn we may be talking about suede shorts, leather shorts, tweed shorts – or just sticking with denim and adding layers and knee boots.
