Good morning, my Thursday. I am sore in places I didn’t know I had (from moving so much crap out of my apartment yesterday to get ready for the new bamboo floors). Gah. Oh well...
I was catching up on Facebook last night and amidst the usual updates was a rather interesting thread from a friend in Paris- he had posted an article from the UK Telegraph on how to wear denim shorts well for those summer days and nights. He mentioned that Frenchwomen would NEVER wear shorts, and many in his thread agreed- I did some nosing around online and found out that French femmes find shorts to be the following: for young boys only, gauche, sloppy, not feminine, and inappropriate, especially in the city. They’re much more apt to throw on a summer dress or skirt than ever wear shorts. That’s cool. I get it. And to be honest, I am not a girl who 100% loves shorts, on me anyway. But some girls look beyond fantastic in them, and they are of the leggy Californian or model variety (Brits look great in them for some reason- Kate Moss, Alexa Chung...) This is not a new trend PS- just was thinking on it as I read about how the French find this cut off look a bit, well, cut off.
I think denim shorts are undeniably chic, if done the right way and if you are a young thing, bien sur. I especially love the look with a silk button down shirt a la Equipment (owned by a Roitfeld no less) and a nice belt (like the above- so amazing). It’s very summer in the states, or perfect for one of the music festivals that bring us some fabulous fashion trends. Check out the Bos at Coachella this year- rocking the shorts with an American flag tee- that’s sexy American style, kiddies- and I LOVE it.
I can’t help but wonder if it’s because the French have a very set list of style icons- Bardot, Birkin (not French but by default Francophiliac a la Serge), Deneuve. Maybe French women are not as big on celebrity style emulation as we are here in the states, and that’s probably a good thing. They tend to wear what’s good on them and not take cues from the latest Us Weekly, and seem impervious to trends and wear clothes that are more classic. But here in the States and the UK, I think we are more star obsessed, and I suppose that’s why you’re more likely to see this look in the simmery jungles of summertime city fashion in places like New York and London- both places where fashion is a lot more trend enthusiastic than Paris, where trends are acknowledged but not followed for fashion's sake. Needless to say, this jean shorts look is best on the west coast, of this I am certain. This fashion trend is very California, particularly suited for the casual cool of LA.
You know I am a fan of a bohemian fashion- that’s a constant in my own approach to dressing and the denim short is perfectly in line with that aesthetic. And I do remember seeing lots of shorts with tights off the runway in the various fashion capitals this year, but give me a bare, toned and tanned leg in these any day. We all know that this look can be disastrously wrong- I am thinking jorts here and you all know what I’m talking about- the pleated variety are beyond a no. But you all knew that already. I think this look must feel vintage and relaxed and cool and that’s that. On that note, I think American fashion feels more relaxed in general- we’re an easygoing lot after all. Oh and, if it’s good enough for Kate Moss, it’s good enough for the rest of us, non (not American I know, but a true style icon, wherever you're from.)? That’s my take on this look. Don’t attempt this if your legs are stems of the "my best feature variety", ok? Very chic despite what the French think- I’m cool if they’re not adopting this look, though I am sure in a few years it may end up there, much like Marlboros, Levis, Converse, and old soul classics (if Sarkozy continues to cozy up to us, that is...) XO