Have legs, wear shorts

In the Spring when we couldn’t leave the house and anxiety was at an all time high and I was turning to online retail therapy window-shopping, I came across a pair of high waisted, belted, kind of bleached denim shorts. I almost bought them and then remembered this 80’s pattern I have, having sought it out immediately after seeing Trine’s trousers. (As an aside Trine is the most prolific and stylish stitcher.)

Let’s get honest here. I am 100% aware that I have what is conventionally seen as a ‘good figure’. I 100% know that that is bullshit and every figure is a good figure. Every body is a perfect body. Society’s fat-shaming is abhorrent, yet I also acknowledge that I am 100% guilty of a ‘slim privilege’ mindset which is something I’m working towards changing.

Whether or not I consider myself slim is by-the-by, in that it’s worth remembering that throughout my entire life I have been taking in imagery of a ‘perfect body’ and feeling that I just don’t live up to that. To the point, where at university, I was amongst only two people in my close friendship group of 6 girls, who didn’t have an eating disorder - bulimia, laxatives, only eating peas, the works. I’m 6 feet tall and average build, all of these girls where incredibly petite and slim and they thought they needed to lose significant weight - looking back it was so sad and I was so confused.

In my forties, I’ve finally reached a point of body acceptance; baby wrinkles, saggy and wobbly bits and all, but one thing I’ve always struggled with is the cellulite on my thighs. I know how that sounds, but I think the majority of us would say we’d be lying if we didn’t admit we all have body hang ups - thanks to the media’s shaming of anyone who doesn’t fit within a certain (photoshopped) mould. Even when I ostensibly do kind of fit in that mould, it doesn’t feel that way.

For years and years and years I wouldn’t wear shorts, I was just too self-conscious of my cellulite. Then I moved to New York City and despite also feeling too old to wear them, it is just too too hot in the summer to have legs covered all the time, plus I had small babies, needed easy to wear clothing and just didn’t care as much. So shorts have become a staple in the summer and, you know, that’s a good thing. I saw this great hashtag a few weeks ago #havelegswearshorts. And that just says it all.

When I was in sixth form / high school, I was BIG into tie-dye. I dyed myself an orange and yellow bean bag, cushions, highly suspect ‘wall hangings’. Everything. Although weirdly not clothes.

I did also love the idea of reverse tie-dye, i.e. bleaching clothes. I can’t remember whether I saw this somewhere or just made it up, but I had this pair of horrible brown jeans, tied them up randomly and threw them in a bucket with some bleach, loved how they turned out and wore them constantly. In fact I found them a few years ago and wore them again for a while.

So when I saw those shorts and remembered my jeans and that I had some left over denim, the perfect vintage pattern Vogue Sport 8260 and acres of bleach, thanks to a COVID cleaning frenzy, it was sealed.

It’s a pretty simple process, actually much easier than tie-dying itself and quicker. I tied up the denim - put it in my (metal) kitchen sink and then poured bleach over it, let it sit for a really short time, I think 8-10 minutes. It works pretty instantly. And then I put it in the washing machine. Easy peasy.

Tied up randomly with string. You can see where the bleach has taken effect.

The only thing I didn’t do, which was suggested by someone on Instagram, was to neutralise the bleach with hydrogen peroxide to prevent it from completely destroying the fibres and causing holes over time.

I still haven’t done this and it’s probably too late now. The shorts still smell of bleach after several washings, which probably suggests they have a limited lifespan. I am inherently slapdash (also didn’t want to unnecessarily risk the grocery store at that time.)

I spent a lot time considering placement of the bleached bits and then sewed them up. Having made the pattern earlier in the summer with some heavyweight coral - read almost neon orange - linen from The Fabric Store, I knew the fit was good and I knew the tweaks I wanted to make. The pockets are designed so that they stand away from the body, but for this pair I flattened them. I LOVE the shape of them. I added the belt as that was one of the features I really liked from the inspiration. The buckle was appropriated from some other jeans I have which are horrible.

I don’t have a lot more to say, other than I’m really into fuller tapered trousers right now, having become a little wide-legged pant jaded - I have made soooooo many pairs.

This is a really great pattern and like my dress, has those wonderful vintage techniques and pattern markings that I’m really enjoying right now.

I know posting about shorts in October is not seasonal and not good blog etiquette, but I had to write about these, I love them very much and loved the process of getting to a point where my results are nicer than the inspiration!

So all those holding onto hopes of more summer in the northern hemisphere and about to enter that glorious season in the southern, if you have legs: Get. Those. Shorts. On!

And just following up on the body-shaming media, if you’re on Instagram and interested in being more aware of the impact of the media’s ongoing attacks against the many-shaped beauty of the female form, especially its impact on teens, follow Jameela Jamil’s account and her I-weigh initiative. She is doing great work on pushing for change and influencer accountability.

Hoping you’re managing to look after yourselves in these tense and scary times.

With love

Charlie

See you soon xx