What is the purpose of this?

[couyalair]

I have just found in a charity shop a skirt with built in cyclist shorts; good condition, right size. Should I buy it or not?
Probably not; if I'm wearing shorts, why have a skirt too?

I can't understand why they sew the two parts together. An advantage of a skirt compared with shorts is the ease of putting on/off a costume -- with modesty -- before/after a swim (since I cycle mainly near the sea, I try to have a dip while I'm out). With the two parts attached, I'll lose that advantage.

May as well continue as before -- speedo and separate skirt.

Martin

[r.m.anderson]

What you found may be a SKORT a combo of a skirt & shorts.
Suitable to wear anywhere you would wear a skirt or shorts.
More often seen on a tennis court.
Now the biggy tie breaker did the skirt with attached shorts have
the "Padded Panty Insert" in the crotch commonly a chamois material ?
Then it would be a true "cycling skirt".
The female chamois is shaped differently to cushion the female form.
The chamois padded material may not be a significant comfort issue
depending on the type of seat/saddle that is on the cycle.
The trend is to have a wide seat frame for the cyclist to rest the
gluteus maximus and not so much a narrow rail with a useless forward
proboscis projection that for most males is nothing more than a irritation.

Getting back to the Skort - they come in a variety of (hem) lengths.
Some just covering the panty inside and others as long as the knee.
The short variety would be most desireable in riding a bike - the long
would be just like wearing any knee to ankle length skirt a not so great deal.
A longer leg is supposed to offer muscular support (think compression shorts).

I would prefer the skort over the separate panty (speedo) and skirt.
Reason: since the two are sewn together both pieces are stay that way.
Unlike the separate parts which may or may not be revealing in a wardrobe
malfunction.

The cycling skirt (skort) is not a common item for the gals.

There is company near San Diego, CA, USA that still makes these - LINK:

http://www.skirtsports.com/shop/cycling.cfm

The common trade mark was the logo with two running gals with skirts
spelled backwards "TRIKS".

You also may have found a simple womens swimsuit bottom with attached panty.
These are still around and worn mostly by the full figured mature female.

But to each his own comfort level and fashion sense.

rma

[GerdG]

The only reason for buying a skort is that it can be shorter than a skirt, especially if worn by men. You can move around without thinking of modesty, because you have shorts beneath it, not underwear or less. Most skorts look like skirts on the front, but like shorts on the back. But some are skirts all the way round, just having the build-in shorts. So if you like the look of a skirt rather than that of shorts, I think the short skort like the one you have seen could be a good solution.

[RichardA]

I have a skort with a centre inverted pleat front and back they just look like a pair of baggy shorts from a distant

[couyalair]

I have a skort with a centre inverted pleat front and back

I think this is an excelent design, both for ease of movement and for the de deceptive (short-like) appearance that helps avoid shocking the public!
But what makes it a skOrt rather than a skirt?

look like a pair of baggy shorts

Yours does not look baggy at all; quite elegant in fact.


Martin

[pepsie1]

This type garment is currently popular on the golf course. Watch an LPGA event and a majority of the ladies are wearing such an item. I have several skorts that I cut the legs out and they have become some of my favorite skirts

[janrok]

What makes skirts so comfy is the lack of irritating inseams. If inseams don't trouble you why not simply wear a short?

Jan.

[r.m.anderson]

The first generation of skorts had a skirted apron over the front of garmet.
When viewed from the rear they looked like shorts and may or may not have had pockets.
Most all skorts today have an all around apron (skirt) and unless made of denim do not
generally have exterior pockets.
The short that is underneath the skirt (Skort) is not really a short with pockets; fly etc.
The short is more apt to be like a womens boy leg panty.
The short (panty) is fastened at the waist only and the short and skirt usually have an
elastic waist thus you pull-on the combination all in one move.
There are some designs that use a side or rear zipper and others that have a front fly
closing. The skirt/skort shares the same common waist.
The panty is usually smooth with minimal seaming and those that are used in tennis may
or may not have an elastic tennis ball pocket(s) on the leg (hip).
For those that are used for golf there may be exterior inseam pockets on the hips.
The interior short obviously has to be smaller than the exterior skirt to fit.
It is quite common for the short to be made of lycra elastic and offer some muscular
support (think compression) to the thigh area.
The skort really is not an ugly bastard combination but one that is very practical.
A fashionable garmet that takes care of the modesty factor no matter which sex wears it.
Although it was made for the across the aisle folks there is no reason for the male wearer
to not consider wearing it other than by choice.
Men cannot find suitable short shorts for wear today - the fashionistas are in this stupid
vogue mood of wanting men to wear those baggy crotch hanging abominations that need
at least one hand to hold them up. And then there is the perpetual wardrobe malfunction
of underwear exposure. Even pirates of the Caribbean would not be caught dead in them !

Boy my soapbox is burning up - so I better put the fire out and get off of it !

"Who-Wears-Short-(Skort)-Shorts" ?
"I-Wear-Short-(Skort)-Shorts" !
rma

[Grok]

I despise the baggy look too.

[Grok]

Perhaps skorts could serve as training wheels...allowing men to get used to having a skirt like silhouette.

[Grok]

I recall...a few years back..a web site with a section about Divided Skirts. It mentioned coulottes, and, I believe, skorts. So we might consider skorts as a type of divided skirt. (I think the J'DEZ mock-short might also be considered to be an example).

[Milfmog]

I think the J'DEZ mock-short might also be considered to be an example [of a divided skirt].

I don't. It has no inseam and so is NOT divided.

Have fun,


Ian.