CHANDIGARH, May 10: Some very good shorts are to be seen in city markets these days but, alas, too few surrender to the cool charm of these abbreviated pants. While guys exercise their "inherent right" to show their legs, the ordinary gal-in-the-street is still a bit bashful about displaying her dimply knees to all and sundry.From really classy pre-washed shorts retailed by Color Plus to ones carrying the designer tag, shorts are aplenty - in plains, checks and floral prints - and in several lengths and styles from button-up to draw-string. And just what is the most common choice of those who make the "radical" plunge into shorts? "Everybody wants plain, conservative beige . or maybe stone," a shopkeep discloses.Now, just what is your style? Grubby? That's the top-of-the-charts look these days in hipper towns like Milan and Paris. Thankfully, Grub finds few takers here.Our typical shorts-clad Chandigarh guy insists on a clean, well-ironed pair teamed with a nice T-shirt (branded, of course). On the other hand, females in shorts are either sweaty schoolgirls on bicycles or aunties who pad around in the privacy of their homes . or, most commonly, Tibetan hostelites. The latter are said to sport the coolest pairs.As far as the design goes, few beat the Lee Cooper shorts for girls. In colours ranging from dark blue to stone, they are not only comfy, but also look exceedingly good (providing the wearer has the right size of bottom). However, one does hear a suppressed mutter of "Ouch! Rs 700!" (By the way a pair of jeans sells for the same price. Obviously price is not pegged to the cost of materials).Not what too many people would want to spend big bucks when a pair of shorts (unbranded) can be had for as little as Rs 200! At Meena Bazaar Rs 280 buys a girl a good-looking pair of knitted cotton shorts by Fashion News. Meena Bazaar also stocks Gesture and Vibe shorts for guys, in the regular and six pocket style, starting from Rs 450.At Sanskriti, the mood is upmarket, with stretch cotton and safari shorts designed by Gyaku of Japan, selling for Rs 590 each. Pedal-pushers come for Rs 690 and capri pants are priced at Rs 790. The shop manager is quick to point to the raging tantrums both mums and daughters often throw, when the kid wants them and the mum does not! Says Abha (15): "Whenever I want to buy shorts, I shuttle between Mum and Dad. No one wants to be the one to give the nod! What the hell is wrong with a pair of shorts?""I wear shorts, but just at home. I stopped wearing them outside after two creeps followed when I drove to the market wearing shorts," says older Sabina (19). Bikramjeet Mann (21) laughs off Sabina's experience: "Girls should know the kind of society we've got here," he says. (Wow! What a gem that is!) Bermudas and shorts may pass without evoking much interest in the so-called posh sectors, but venturing into the city's main bazaars is probably unwise. There are some brands like Wrap and Weekender who make an optimistic attempt at attracting female shoppers. Wrap offers good shorts in knitted cotton. There also are some shorts that look like they were pounded by acid rain the previous night. Brace yourself for hideous frills and frayed hems a la Samantha Fox.
