Have you spent any time on Anne Hathaway’s Instagram lately? She’s not a bad Instagrammer at all. She posts a lot of political and social-movement messages, and you can really feel her desire to be a supportive ally to many different causes. Anne posted this Instagram (above) just to make a statement about how she’s feeling about her “post-baby body.” Anne gave birth to son Jonathan Rosebanks Shulman in April, and she seems to be taking a nice, summer-long maternity leave to spend time with the baby and possibly “bounce back” from her pregnancy weight gain. Anne’s message is simple:
There is no shame in gaining weight during pregnancy (or ever).
There is no shame if it takes longer than you think it will to lose the weight (if you want to lose it at all).
There is no shame in finally breaking down and making your own jean shorts because last summer’s are just too dang short for this summer’s thighs.
Bodies change.
Bodies grow.
Bodies shrink.
It’s all love
(don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.)
Peace xx
#noshame #lovewhatyouhavebeengiven
Are you, like Anne, a believer in “only people with slender thighs can wear short-shorts”? I am not a believer in that. I think if you want to wear short-shorts, just do it. It’s too hot to worry about the state of your thighs. But for Anne in particular, I bet she’s worried more about being photographed with her thighs hanging out. Plus, you should just do whatever makes you comfortable. If you’re more comfortable with long-ass shorts, so be it. You do you.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet, Instagram.
short shorts+big thighs= chub rub. I know from experience. I’m all about knee length or Capris in the summer.
Right? Maybe that’s what she wants longer shorts for, not because she thinks only slender people should wear short shorts. Give her a break. That chafing is painful.
Amen!
I don’t have small thighs but I don’t have big ones at all and I still get chub rub. Worst. Thing. Ever.
I get the cub rub if I gain even 5 lbs ’cause I’m short. And it’s not just short shorts. You put me in a pair of corduroys after the Holiday season feasting, and my thighs will start a frickin’ fire.
Exactly. I have slimmer legs, but I don’t even like to wear dresses or skirts so much anymore. Because it’s wicked hot and sweaty thighs rubbing together is not pleasant for anyone!
big ole fat thighs here checking in to comment on the effectiveness of this stuff:
https://www.bodyglide.com/
I would not use it to wear short shorts or a skirt to climb a mountain in high humidity but, I wouldn’t climb a mountain in high humidity anyway but it is GREAT for regular day usage. I guess it was developed to keep runners from having their nipples rub off. For everyday use it’s really good. I do have to reapply mid/end of day.
Thanks for that. I’m buying some for my son and his friends so they don’t get the chaffing on their stomach’s from water tubing. Yay!!
I found bodyglide absolutely awful for chub rub. It was kind of sticky!
The monistat anti-chafing is better in that it feels like a silicone primer that you put on your face (and people do use it on their face) BUT it doesn’t last long/wears off.
I am sadly resolved to wear little shorts under my dresses these days!
I second the Monistat Anti-Chafing gel. It’s like $6-$7 and I just put it on once or twice during the day and it keeps the dreaded chub rub at bay.
You can also use it as a primer but if you do make sure you are not allergic to/break out from silicones or it will cause those annoying clogged pores and bumps.
Yuuuuup. It’s not always about being “ashamed” of your thighs. It’s just a matter of not wanting to be in pain.
Yupp. I wear shorts or Capri leggings under my skirts and dresses. Not a shame thing, i just walk a lot and the chub rub is painful after a while.
I prefer political commentary over “look at me, I’m so stylish and hot” all day every day.
Ugh, shorts. My summer has turned into “A series of unfortunate shorts”.
It’s been so hot here this summer, that I’ve stopped caring! That is, until I’m walking into a store or something and see my reflection in the glass doors and wonder why the hell my family let me out of the house looking like this! lol. And then I remember it’s hot, and I’m comfortable!
Same here, is SoFl 90s and humid and my A/C in the car said “F*ck It” i’ve gotten a bunch of WAAAYYY short pants cause im a Hoochie and is also Unbearable
@Miss QQ, I always suspected you were a Hoochie, and proud of it. You go girl with your short pants, and more power to you I say. May I say I just love your purple hair, and one day I hope to have the chutzpah to make mine the same colour, then we could be Hoochies together, would you mind?
I’m afraid AnniE always gets on my last nerve, and no matter what film I have seen her in…. there she is, being HER.
i don’t know why i kinda hate shorts, but I do. I own 2 pairs, I don’t like either of them.
I do like when women wear longer shorts though, sometimes they have athletic legs and they look so good in longer shorts. I think girls with thicker thighs also look great in shorts.
I have chicken legs, I have yet to find my ‘favorite pair of shorts’
lol.
“A series of Unfortunate Shorts” is an awesome phrase and should be the title of an Indie movie.
Well said.
I never wear shorts as casual wear (just to work out) – I don’t find shorts to be comfortable and they’re not all that flattering. I’m all about skirts and skorts in the summer.
Me too. IMO shorts look silly AND awful on anyone of either sex over age 12 or so.
The entire nation of Australia would like a word with you.
Also: I look great in shorts.
I consider comfort, but I also consider how I inevitably feel like $hit when I wear something that doesn’t look good on me. I wear dresses and skirts below the knee because that’s my comfort / vanity sweet spot.
I’ve always had decent sized thighs. I don’t like short-shorts for two reasons: 1. my thighs either stick together or get all sweaty and slippery and 2. shorts ride up into my crotch and that drives me insane.
Yeah I’m the same, I work out and have nice thighs but they are just not comfortable for me. I am also really conflicted about short shorts and short skirts/dresses because on one hand I’m still young (25)but on the other I have a child and feel really weird and inappropriate wearing short garments when out with my daughter.
Thank you! I’ve been waiting for somebody here to mention the inevitable epic wedgies! Ouch!!!
I don’t think she meant her “too dang short” comment as anything but her opinion about what works for her.
She has to worry about stuff we’d never worry about, like landing in Star magazine for having one of the “worst bodies in Hollywood” because there’s some cellulite on her thighs.
Like ScarJo last summer – how dare she have some cellulite show while on a boat in her private time in insanely bright sun that has no mercy on our bodies! Honestly, I couldn’t care less about a little cellulite. I’m more about shape. Is it wrong/weird, I actually enjoy a bit of jiggle?
Hmm. I have some jeans I just might do that to! Just because, I think that length is cute.
I’m short, so it’s short shorts or I look like a garden gnome.
I am with you on that.
I don’t know, for me personally, shorts are not an option because I don’t want the wobbly bits above the knee out. My calves look pretty good from running though so capris it is. And I would love to say everyone should do whatever they want but I’ve sat next to too many skimpily-clothed women on the subway or the bus to support super short shorts or barely-there tops on large women (I’m talking really overweight, not just a little). Sorry, can’t do it. I have no problem with people wearing very little in the summer but reign it in on public transport, folks. That means basic pedicures too. If you’re RIGHT THERE sitting almost on top of me, please don’t let it all hang out. And I say this as a slightly overweight woman myself.
Uh, what were we talking about?
I got some hideously 90’s, flowy, flowery shorts with a gigantic periwinkle cotton lace border. They are so silly, but comfortable and okay with a longer cut shirt that cuts down some of the poofiness, since I got them a size too big for even more comfort. This, at 35, is embracing shorts for me. I’ll never ever wear jeans in the summer again, lol
I am in the UK and I’d kill to even attempt ANY shorts everyone is having summer but here (: and no I don’t mean 10 days in 7-8 weeks.
Looks like I’m the only germaphobe. Whenever I see tiny booty shorts I think about sitting on a bus or a carnival ride, and then freak out about the backs of my legs sitting on someone’s gum. Maybe I have psychological damage from commuting to New York. I saw seats that needed to be covered with alcohol and set on fire before I’d touch them – WITH long clothing.
You’re not. I take off my street clothes the second I get home because oh my god, I can’t have that on my furniture. I nearly yelled at my mother for walking into my BEDROOM with her shoes on! I know she’s used to small-town, harmless dirt but this is a somewhat large city. TAKE THEM OFF!
Ha, I am the same way and so is one of my sons. We throw our clothes in the hamper immediately after being on public transportation. My other son, on the other hand, would crawl into bed wearing the same shorts he wore on the train, it’s vile.
I don’t worry about gum, I worry about MRSA.
Doh!
This post is oddly appropriate for me today. I’m 33. I NEVER wear shorts. I only wear dresses in the summer. I wear a size 6 but I am curvy. My thighs are curvy. My butt is big. Shorts just NEVER fit me. I’m going to Universal Studios with some girlfriends at end of August and I feel like I pretty much NEED to wear shorts in the park. You can wear a dress to Disneyworld (and I often do) but the rides are Universal are more intense and it’s going to be 90 degrees. So I ordered some shorts from Kohls bc no way was I going to spend money on them. I hate them but I honestly not sure what else to wear. A skort maybe? But I feel like they ride up and always need adjusting. PLus, I don’t want to be the only one there trying to wear a little dress while everyone else is casual in a t shirt. So I guess I just need to suck this up and wear them, right?
I get my shorts from JJill. They are flattering. I recommend them to everyone. I have a very curvy friend and shorts usually don’t flatter her body (I think she looks fine, she doesn’t see herself the way I do). I had her try a pair of the JJill shorts and they looked great on her and were comfy. They come in a million sizes from petite to plus.
Thank you so much for this tip @paranormalgirl! Ok, I’ll be on the lookout for this. I don’t HATE my legs or anything. I work out–my legs are muscular. I don’t have cellulite. But I do get the chub rub and they aren’t skinny so shorts are just a nightmare.
Also, don’t know what brand you bought from Kohl’s, but I’m loving the JLo line at Kohl’s b/c I’m a girl with a bubble butt. I have two pair of JLo shorts from Kohl’s and they fit awesome – no riding up, no twisting. The capris from the JLo line fit really well too. Bought two of them as well.
I also buy shorts from JJill, I have 2 pairs. They are the only ones I wear, because shorts do me absolutely no favors. The riding up, the chafing, no good.
I highly recommend the JJills for shorter height curvy ladies. I have also bought a pair of mens shorts at Old Navy in a pinch.
And I’ve scored a few really cute Calvin Klein dresses for summer at Ross this year, for under 40 bucks.
Oh my gosh I could have written this. I actually work, indirectly, with the Mouse and I’m in the parks a few days each month. I LIVE in dresses. Lole makes some cute ones as does Prana. I wear a ton of Lilly Pulitzer because it always looks put together and it lasts forever; the compliments you get walking around in Lilly don’t hurt either. I wear dresses to Uni as well (I’m a passholder there–just FYI their passes are about the same about as a 3 day park to park ticket and they give you awesome discounts on food and merch). I haven’t had an issue. If you’re worried, maybe some boy short undies? That way you aren’t showing everything if your skirt flies up.
Skorts work well too although I generally don’t like them because it feels like you’re wearing two layers. The one skort I have that I love is by Athleta.
@Blanche, thanks for this! When I go to Disney (and we go once a year or so), I usually wear a cute skater dress. I went to Disneyland back in May with my husband and wore an adorable red polka dot skater dress. I got so many compliments on it and felt cute. I wore biker shorts underneath and it worked great. Black Milk has some super cute Harry Potter dresses but they are like $100 and I’ m not spending that. My girlfriends are super casual and are going to just wear shorts and tanks and we have some matching tanks to wear so if I wear a dress…I’ll basically be the odd man out friend who isn’t doing the dress together thing. I did notice some skorts at Athleta and I was tempted. So many of them are only on the website though which is annoying bc it means I can’t try it on. I feel like theme parks are funny beasts because you wind up taking a lot of pictures so you WANT to look cute. However, you also want to be comfy and cool and not look like you are trying too hard. You know?
I am SO glad I read this thread! I also don’t wear shorts ever because: 1) I’m a pasty white redhead, 2) have a varicose vein in one leg (thanks baby #3!) that I’m very insecure about, and 3) because I never feel like they’re flattering or comfortable. I live in maxi dresses and jersey knit skirts in the summer. We are going to Disney World in October and I’m already thinking, “Ugh, what am I going to wear??” I’m glad to hear that other women are comfortable wearing skirts to the parks.
I may be your body double. Have always hated how shorts fit me, went to a seamstress and asked about getting some custom made. Best decision ever! They fit everywhere and are cute and comfy. Loved the first pair so much got three different colours.
for years i thought her hair was not growing or something (ignorant) i know….but im glad it looks fuller and just overall better…
It must be something with age. I’m 37 and My hair has always grown fast and thick…then last year I got a “lob”, which was cute, but ultimately too high maintenance for me (I am lazy when it comes to hair.) I fully expected my hair to grow out as fast as it used to, but it’s taken me nearly a year to get the length I used to have back!! It’s been quite frustrating. So maybe that’s what happened to Anne after she got that pixie…
I usually wear knee length or just ever so slightly above the knee shorts because I find that length more attractive and yes, more appropriate on a 52 year old.
I am tall with thin legs and narrow hips so I feel like I can get away with wearing shorts. I agree that they are a bit childish but when it’s 95 and humid I have to say, I really don’t care how I look in them.
Pants are prisons for your legs…I live in shorts, skirts and dresses. I have no opinion on others wearing shorts (age, sex)…Wear what you want!!!! Life is too short (ha!) Suns out, thighs out. 🙂
Linen slacks work too – and no rubbing. Just lots and lots of baggy wrinkles. But it’s hot – who cares?
I’m more interested in that beautiful rug below the jeans.
Seconding this. I love linen pants for summer!
I personally love skirts in the summer..a nice updraft keeps me cool. I don’t generally wear shorts but I do like them from J Crew. They are long enough that I’m comfortable wearing them and not so long that they make my legs look stubby. I’m thin but I’ve never liked my legs. No matter how much I work out I’ve always had weird fat knees. I am kinda horrified by how short the kids are wearing their shorts these days. I don’t need to see your booty cheeks dear. Yeah I’m turning into my mother..sigh..happens to all of us lol
I’m kinda horrified at some of the shorts the high school girls wear, booty cheeks indeed. They are supposed to be longer per school dress code but it doesn’t seem to be enforced.
I live in J Crew shorts in the summer. And I love how the offer so many different lengths from 3 inches to 9.
I love shorts! I wear them all summer long. I prefer an inseam of 7 – 9 inches though, but some of the shorter ones look really great on some people!
Shorts look terrible on everyone. It makes no difference what size they are.
I gotta ask, what is chafe rub. Truth is my whole life my legs have been admired by others. Is chafe rub involving the thighs?
That’s what most people mean. When your thighs rub together and you get a sore spot from it. But it can also apply to other areas, like your nipples rubbing against your clothing or bra, making them raw.
Warms my heart that so many of u are feeling the same about their legs. I now feel much less self conscious about it myself! Xoxo
For the dreaded chub rub, use Glide slick if wearing shorter shorts or skirts. Highly recommend knix long boy short for longer skirts/dresses.
As for the weight issue, reading this IG post made me happy. There’s probably not a human on the planet that never felt like the extra pounds or the small boobs (or whatever perceived imperfection) made them less than. I have gained A LOT of weight in the last few years. I put the food in my mouth and sat on my butt. My Dad died and frankly, eating felt and tasted damn good. Everyone’s body changes as they get older, pregnant or go through emotional hell. Some of us can’t eat, others can’t stop and then bc of your metabolic or hormonal changes, it’s hard to get back to where you were. You never know what’s going on with someone who has become skinnier or gained weight. We can all be a little kinder rather than judge-y.
I agree completely:)
I think it’s more about the quality of the legs you see in shorts. My legs are short compared to the rest of my body and very skinny. They do not look good in shorts. On the other hand, I don’t think chubby legs look good in shorts either. I feel like people with great shape and tone can get away with them, i.e. athletes or gym enthusiasts.
Getting tired of one shorts trend I see all over campus though. I do not need to see anyone’s butt cheeks hanging out of their clothes.
Another solution to the summer shorts dilemma…I have some lightweight wide-leg pants (probably from Old Navy), made of 100% rayon. They are as thin as a skimpy dress and super comfy. Beats shorts to pieces! Most places sell some version of these beach-y drawstring pants…they are great for hot/ humid weather…and you don’t stick to anything. Plus sun protection! Mine got soaked in a sudden rainstorm the other day, and dried in no time, and no wrinkles. They probably won’t last too long, but very useful.
Shorty here with lots of curves. I think her age, motherhood, history of being hated on, and her body type helped her come to this decision, but it she’s comfortable that’s what matters. The older I get the less I care as long as I look presentable – dirty thirty this month! I don’t care what others whear as long as it’s safe (no hoochie shorts or dresses when you’ll be sitting), although I’m going to side-eye anyone in pjs. I lost quite a bit of weight (90lbs) so maybe part of that comfort is due to being smaller than what I was. I won’t wear shorts in public, they just don’t look good on my thighs and they ride up. Dresses are flattering to my figure and still cool, a little baby powder keeps the sweat at bay.
I just love this comment thread – and you ladies!! I too never wear shorts. I hate my legs. I’m tiny in the waist but my bottom half is completely disproportionate, down to my calves and ankles. VERY noticeably. When men tell me I’m attractive, I think to myself “yeah, but you haven’t seen me bare-legged!”