Older men wearing shorts

I tried shorts, whilst living in Cape Town, when I was in my thirties. When I put them on, my two daughters, then 7and 9, burst out laughing. My legs are like two woodbine hanging out of a packet. I never wore them again, until I was in my sixties, as I'm quite particular, and vain about my appearance. I'm now in my eighties, and think, what the hell, who's looking at me, at my age.

There is an older chap in our town, who wears those decidedly dodgy short , shiny, shorts, that didn't lookgood in the 70's. He has very thin, white legs and he whistles, tunelessly, his teeth aren't that good either. I've only seen him close up because he frequents our charity shop, really .

Going through the menswear area of a big M&S I saw rack upon rack of various styles and lengths of shorts. Thanks to this thread I found myself imagining the various styles and ages of men's legs that would be emerging from them in the street and on the beach!!

GandTea. My imagination is now working overtime - I think I need to go and lie down!

Grey duster, I would look better without trousers than without socks.

My late husband went through a delayed teenage in his late 50s. He had always been very conservative but he grew his hair long, wore it in a ponytail, wore shorts in the summer, had one ear peirced and bought a leather jacket. He looked pretty good. I was glad he had this phase.

My late husband wore shorts and sandals as long as weather permitted. As he had a bit of a tummy I used to make his shorts so they were well fitted. My son has a good pair of legs and wears shorts most of the time.

My dh is 68 and wears shorts all summer long, as long as it's warm enough. And even sometimes when it certainly wouldn't be, for me! Not that I would ever wear shorts anyway now...

He is not at all overweight and the shorts are nice modern ones, not too short, and to me he looks fine in them. He wears either leather deck shoes or those Velcro- strap sandals with them - I've got some too but don't know what they're called.

The only thing I can't bear to see men in in the summer, is singlets. And anything displaying a great fat gut. Or old fashioned sandals with socks, now I come to think of it...

I agree that age has nothing to do with wearing shorts. My OH has better legs than me but the same cannot be said for Boris Johnson and our postman who both wear shorts regardless! In Boris' case he wore his with a formal shirt and jacket.

There is plenty of interest in mens shorts I have just sold 3 pairs of walking shorts on ebay after them just being posted for less than an hour so plenty of men wanting them,I think they should be worn with deck shoes and trainer socks to give the best look.

DH has compromised over the sock thing, and bought some trainer socks. He went to Next to buy a new pair of deck shoes and I suggested he took his socks off before he tried them on. He was horrified at the idea of taking off his socks in the middle of a shop - as if I'd asked him to take off his trousers!

Remember a long time ago someone going to uni as a mature student aged about 34 when she heard a very young student say people over 30 should not wear jeans. She was mortified in her clothes, being jeans.
Tell everyone you can wear what the hell you want. It's just doing it appropriately and respectfully. If it's hot and you're going for a walk or to a bbq, shorts are good. If you're out in town, put a shirt on. At a funeral, meeting, etc, trousers. Obvs!

But how will your legs get brown if you don't expose them? White legs in shorts go brown eventually

My husband is coming up to 69 and wears shorts in the summer. He looks great in them, but he does have lovely tanned legs. Skinny white legs in shorts isn't a good look!

Numberpleae, you have saved my life, I would never wear sandals without socks, my feet look awful, would not inflict them on anyone.

Ds and Sil wear trainer socks and Merrell type walking shoes with cargo shorts. No bare feet but bare legs.

I still would rather my husband wore white socks with sandals. Coloured or dark socks, a definite no, but bare feet I still don`t like.

Like all clothes it depends on the man and the shorts. Some men do need pointing in the direction of the right style. I used to know a middle aged man who always wore short shorts which he rolled up for good measure. Unfortunately bits of him tended to hang out of them - I don't know if he noticed that most people stared resolutely over his head when they were talking to him

I wear what I want when I want. Who cares who looks good or not. I went to sainsburys today looking like a bag lady

At least he doesn't wear socks and sandals!
now that reminds me of my old boss (but he is a lovely man I must say)

My husband has just come into the room and when asked his opinion, said that when out on a walk yesterday he passed a lot of men wearing shorts and most of them looked awful! He himself wears shorts at every opportunity (most of which are also awful!) There is a man who comes to our church wearing shorts, a vest top and flip-flops, even when it's a bit chilly. Nobody minds. At least he doesn't wear socks and sandals!

I think it depends where you are; perhaps shopping at a Mall in the UK wearing shorts could look a bit out of place. However, wearing long trousers in parts of Australia would look very odd indeed ('You a Pom??')

Age has very little to do with men in shorts looking ridiculous. Either they look good in them or they don't, mostly the latter. I would only wear them in a seaside town if I was going on the beach, or if I was doing some gentle sailing.

Yes JessM - she has got a lovely figure!

DH looks fine in longish (nearly to the knee) shorts; he would prefer shorter shorts but I won't let him wear them.
His legs are still good although he has a bit of a tummy nowadays.