Bye Bye Bermudas

It's the Wild Thornberry vibes for me... You know what I mean? How Eliza rocked the cargo bermudas with the tucked in tank? Cute for a safari or beach, not for boardrooms even if they are virtual. It's also the way they sit ever so slightly 6 inches above the knee, giving us that subtle knee action we've just always wanted. *eye roll* The length alone is uneasy to look at. They just look long, though they’re shorts. I get they're meant to be longer shorts, but honestly, they feel closer to being shorter capris and for some reason, that's just unsettling to me. They also say to me, “I’m trying to be formal, but I want to be casual and I’m trying to be cool but need to be warm too.” They’re confused, I’m confused, and I don’t like it.

Likewise, I recognize that the cut and style make me think of basketball shorts especially when designers use more free flowing fabrics. Then, what makes it worse for me, is that people will pair them with sneakers and now I’m confused as to whether they have a meeting or are heading to play a game. I mean once they take off the blazer, they’re ready to hit the court, soccer field, etc. Bermuda shorts are well meaning formal wear. It doesn’t matter if they’re made with the finest cotton and fit for perfection. They still look like cut off pants and my eyes wonder where the rest of them are.

Maybe I should be a bit more specific. While I believe bermudas work well as casual staples, they're longstanding relationship with blazers needs to die!!! I understand wanting a formal suit piece that serves as a cooler option for those warmer climates, but, to me it just looks like you either left your pants at home or threw a blazer on to dress up a casual vacay set. More specifically for women, I get the need for a more modest alternative to hot pants. But I honestly don't think a few extra inches off and a little more skin ever hurt anyone.

Regardless of who's wearing them, it feels like looking at someone who's wearing a smedium but in reverse, there's just too much extra fabric. Especially on woman, I can’t get past the way they’re cut either straight or have a triangular frame to accentuate the waist but, then have a long crotch and fit a bit loose. I know you’re probably thinking “everyone doesn’t want to wear tight clothing” but I think they could afford to be a bit more form fitting. Or maybe there is not enough fabric? I feel like when men wear them as a part of a suit, they are not only more form fitting, but they also look slightly shorter. Even in that case they’re still unacceptable because they just make the outfit look like a poor attempt at dressing up for warm weather. They take away from the formalness intended for the look.

My final hang-up with Bermuda shorts is the way they are paired with other formalwear pieces. Using them as a pop of color while also wearing a suit jacket, long socks and dress shoes makes me feel like you’re trying too hard to look trendy or were trying not to be too formal and now just look disconnected. To me these shorts just break up the outfit and make the entire suit look oversized because of their added length. Then people have the nerve to pair them with knee high boots and at that point I’m like you could have worn pants.

I’m hopeful that in this new year as the world begins to hopefully, open back up and people get back to their vacations, they will take bermuda shorts with them.