ModernGear Women: Bottoms for the non-bikini type

On the scouting trips I recently took from Long Beach up to Malibu and Santa Monica, and then all the way down to Laguna Beach, I felt a bit like an anthropologist studying a culture that was altogether different than my own. They drank the same coffee, they talked just a little bit differently, but the biggest difference was in their clothing. The species I am speaking about is the genus "teenage girl".

Now, sometimes anthropologists returning home from field studies bring back artifacts, foods or even articles from a culture's national costume. Well, not this one...because displayed by nearly all the subjects I studied, was a decided lack of a costume, and certainly not anything I could co-opt into my own wardrobe.

I am speaking, of course, about the bikini; favoured summer wear of genus "teenage girl" - the very young and very nubile...neither of which, am I.

You know, I'll concede that I am still comfortable in a bikini top but my aim is to not scare other beachgoers by putting my lower body on display as the young 'uns so confidently do. So here for your consideration is a collection of bottoms you might like to wear with a bikini top (or even one that offers a bit more coverage), if you belong with me, in the genus "should get to the gym more often, and love bread a little too much".

From Tilly's:

HURLEY One and Only Grain II Womens Boardshorts - Black
$35.99





ROXY Rasta Beach Womens Boardshorts - White/Black
$43.99



BILLABONG Teacher's Pet Womens Boardshorts - Black/Yellow
Was $43.99/Now 37.97






ROXY Surfs Up Womens Boardshorts - White/Black/Pink
$41.99



From online shop:



BILLABONG SHORE 11IN BOARDSHORT
$39.50



















BILLABONG VACATION BOARDSHORT
$42


















BILLABONG FLYAWAY BOARDSHORT
$44


















RIP CURL MANGO 7IN BOARDSHORT
$46


















From:



Women's Wavefarer Board Shorts
$50


















Women's Minimalist II Board Shorts
$55


















Women's Ita Board Shorts
$50


















I do dream that I'll one day be comfortable enough in my own skin to show my lower body in a bikini but I'll be honest - that might never happen. The thing is, I'm not going to sweat the small stuff (in this case, a bikini) but remain comfortable in shorts, if that's the case. And you know what? I wouldn't be surprised to observe less bikini bottoms and more shorts on the members of genus "teenage girl" when they hit their mid-to-late thirties. Um, then again, this is California...

Later this week, board shorts for guys and swimsuits for kids...tomorrow, Oh, Canadiana.