Whoa….Skorts?

How do you feel about skorts?  I haven't tried them myself yet, but I get why they would be practical for moms.  And I was tempted, last year, in our article on Denim Minis for Moms, but never succumbed.  So when reader N sent in a guest post on skorts…I was skeptical at first.  But she managed to find such cute ones, I'm now drooling over several.

Here's reader N's take on skorts….

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As a kid I remember wearing bike shorts under my dresses to church on Sundays because there was an awesome tree outside the church office and if my mom got busy talking to people (like she always did) my brothers and I could climb it for a few minutes before we had to go home…but I didn’t want to either

a.) not wear a dress/skirt or

b.) have my undies showing!

And now as a mom, I find myself doing lots of running, jumping, and climbing again as I play with and chase my toddler, but I still like skirts and still don’t like my undies revealed to the general public. So what’s the solution?

Skorts!

Yup, you read that right – skorts. A lovely made-up combo word (like spork or tangelo), “skort” means a combination of a skirt and shorts. The ones I recommend for stylin’ young moms on hot summer days are basically a super simple pair of shorts with a skirt over it so that the shorts aren't showing.  At all. 

I personally feel like the ones that only have skirt on the front side are well, pretty lame. (NOTE FROM S: Is this like party in the back and business in the front?  snort)

And there are actually some cute skorts out there.  Like these….

But as with many fashion options, you have to be careful with skorts. So here are a couple of rules I’ve developed for wearing skorts without committing any major faux pas:

1.) Sport-Skorts are for Sport Activities ONLY*

There are tons of really sporty skorts available now in stretch comfortable materials. If you’re golfing, playing tennis, in a summer volleyball league, or some other sporty activity, they may be an awesome cute option for you. But if you’re going to the grocery store or park with your kid, the fact that it’s shaped like a skirt does NOT suddenly make spandex workout gear appropriate apparel. (On the other hand, if you go to a park where most moms are in workout gear, then have at it…basically wear these skorts anywhere it’d be appropriate to wear yoga pants.)

2.) Keep the Rest of the Outfit Chic

One hazard of skort wearing is the potential to look like you’re in denial that you’re the mom instead of still a kid. The easiest way to avoid this, in my opinion, is simply to pair a modern, chic top with your skort. It doesn’t have to be boring or non-colorful, just stylish so it’s clear your outfit choices were intentional and not because you accidentally dressed yourself from the kid’s closet this morning.  Like this….

3.) Don’t Buy a Skort unless You’d Buy it as a Skirt

This rule is easy, but sometimes is easy to forget. Would you buy a skirt that looked like a school uniform? No? Then avoid skorts that are plaid and pleated and long. Would you buy a frumpy skirt? Then avoid frumpy skorts! There is a pretty wide variety of skorts available so I would guess most people could find a length and cut they liked. A few of the ones I found online were actually silk, so they might be a better choice for special events, like an outdoor wedding where you might end up chasing a kid or getting dirty but also need to look nice than for day to day wear, but most are durable fabrics that can be washed and worn a bazillion times. I personally have a khaki colored one from Royal Robbins and a denim one from JCPenney and love them both and wash them often!

— N

Reader N is a stay-at-home mom with a two-year-old boy who love dionsaurs, football and talking to his Grandmas on the phone.

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Thanks, N!  What do you think, dear readers?   Of course I'm loving the less-practical silk ones from Juicy and Robert Rodriguez….but am also thinking that the little yellow ruffled number from Nike might work. 

*While most sport-skorts I think should be left to sports-only activities, ones like the Nike skort could actually cross into street-wear with the right styling.  I'm thinking something like this….

Yes?  No?

xo,

S