Shorts with words on the butt.

[GeThang]

The Bottom Line

Message is on the rump as shorts get splashed with slogans

By JESSICA MISENER -- Gannett News Service
and SHEANNA SMITH -- The Herald-Dispatch


Mike Andrick/The Herald-Dispatch

Female athletic shorts with writing across the back have become one of the latest fashion trends.

Try displaying a message across the back of your shorts.

Shorts with printed words on the rear are a fast-growing fad among girls. No matter what your interest, there’s a pair of seat-sloganed shorts in town to fit your need.

These stylish numbers aren’t your dad’s Bermudas. They’re skimpy, cotton athletic shorts -- often worn with the waistband rolled down -- that have long been a staple of cheerleaders and exercisers.

Now plain-bottomed shorts are taking, well, a backseat to those with emblazoned derrieres.

"High school kids come in all the time and have the backs of their shorts customized," says Brad Leslie, owner of Custom Car Tags and Tees in Fort Myers, Fla.

Shocked? In today’s culture, calling attention to one’s rump isn’t so risqué. After being praised in countless rap songs and flaunted on the fashion runways, the tush has been J-Lo-ed into high-profile prestige.

Xylphia Beaver, general merchandise manager for Marshall University Bookstore, thinks this fashion trend is a natural progression from short shorts of past decades.

"I think it’s a retro thing, back to the short shorts era of the 1970s," Beaver said.

Regardless of their origin, tush-tattooed shorts are gaining fame. They’re irreverent, eye-catching and hard to miss.

This is not a trend for the self-conscious.

Racks are crammed with lettered-bottom sweat pants bearing phrases such as "Perfect 10" and "Angel Baby."

The trend isn’t bypassing preteens. At Rave and Rave Girl retail chain stores, for young teens, there are shorts with more sports-oriented messages, such as "Softball," "Soccer" and "Cheer."

Forget university-logoed sweat shirts and jackets: If you want to root for your team, the new emblazoned lightweight shorts also offer a way to don a little school spirit on the rear with popular school logos and mascots.

The university bookstore first introduced the shorts to female student bodies last fall. It stocks green, gray and black "The Herd" and "Marshall" shorts several times each week, Beaver said.

"We thought it was a fad at first, but it’s proven not to be -- they’re still here," Beaver said.

Now the shorts’ popularity is spreading into winter months. The bookstore also sells athletic pants with rump writing.

Beyond the fickleness of fashion trends, some wear the shorts for actual athletic use. Dancers often don them over leotards during practice.

"I wear them to work-out and practice in," said former Marshall cheerleader Miranda Elkins, a senior from Naoma, W.Va.

Others prefer to lounge around the house or sleep in the fashion-friendly shorts.

"They’re cute and comfy," said Marshall sophomore Ashley Marcum, of Charleston. "I mostly wear them around the house, in bed or when I’m running."

And what do guys think of these shorts?

A simple "I’d look at it," from Marshall graduate student Joe Licht of Columbus, Ohio, pretty much sums it up.

Still, one has to be pretty fearless to display a message on her derriere.

"I don’t like them. I would rather avert my eyes from that area than try to read a message there," says Crystal Passman, 20. "And they make your butt look bigger."

To some, wearing these shorts may be like pointing a neon sign at your tush. But to those who know and love them, they are harmless.

"They’re just the new craze," Elkins said. "Everybody wears them, so I don’t think anything about it."

Fashion faux pas or not, the shorts seem to be a hit for now, at least with the young, female and trend-hungry.

And that’s the bottom line.

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[Willow]

I am very self conscious so I could never wear these. As the person said in the article I do not want to draw attention to my butt. lol

[SaraSmiles]

Thanks for warning me of this new trend.

[GeThang]

LOL. That was part of a discussion thread a couple days ago. Thought this would be interesting

[ImaGApeach]

I'm not sure I'd wear them but my daughters love them-they have been forbidden at school this year-does not matter what it says-they feel its a distraction from learning!

[Maeryn]

I wouldn't wear them, but I don't have a problem with the kids wearing them, as long as they don't say anything inappropriate.

It doesn't seem much different than wearing a t-shirt with a design on the chest. I look at the content, rather than where it's located.

[suziebee20]

I have a pair of these that say "Guard" on the butt, I got them from a winter guard show. I see it the same as a shirt with something on the chest like Maeryn mentioned. What really bugs me though is the people who wear shirts with sayings on the chest, then get all snotty, "Are you staring at my chest?!?", when someone tries to read it. So in a way it does attract attention.

[Tadbit]

I hate them. I think it draws more attention to girl's butts. They look like walking billboards. I have seen a bunch of girls wear them this summer at the pool and some of the girls have such big butts that they don't need to draw attention to them anyway. I just don't understand why anyone would want people reading something on their butt. That's just my opinion.

[MrsManxieCat]

I dunno if I would want people reading my butt LMAO! I duno though in all honesty I have mixed feelings about this type of clothing! I think I will sit this thread out

[nanajoanie]

I think it's a passing fad like so many over the years. When things become super popular, all of a sudden they are "so yesterday". As long as the shorts and the shirts don't have anything obscene (cuss words or porn) I say don't worry about it. But I wouldn't wear any of it.

[cch]

My MIL bought my 7 y/o a pair of these. I burried them in the back of her dresser. There are enough perverts out there without giving someone more of a reason to look at my child's butt!