We Wore Cargo Shorts

Before you read this, you should go read my Guest Post on Renata’s blog, Buffalo Sauce Everywhere, from last Wednesday. It’s called, Hanging Up Memories, and is about the nostalgic memories that came rushing back when I cleaned out my closet a few weeks ago.

I do hope you read it and leave a comment, whether it’s over there or over here.

If you have read it, you’ll know that I also mentioned finding old cargo shorts in my drawer and that I’d do a companion post about them. Well, this is the companion post.

Let’s talk about it.

If there’s one thing that could bring everyone together, I think it’s our collective desire to have more pockets. We have things, they have to go somewhere. Pockets.

Cargo shorts were our answer.

Going to a sporting event? No problem. You have a pocket for your phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses, tickets, extra napkins from the concession stands, and anything else you need to carry.

Cargo shorts were the clown car of clothing. You could just keep shoving things into them and there would be space. It was great.

Well, times change.

All of a sudden, cargo shorts were frowned upon. I forget the year. Maybe it was 2015 when it started? Sooner, perhaps?

The global hatred for seeing people in cargo shorts reached “socks and sandals” levels. Cargo shorts became as controversial as putting ketchup all over your french fries.

Personally, I’ve never understood the hatred toward socks and sandals. I’m not one who puts the two together on my feet – I don’t even wear sandals – but I am unbothered if other people choose to do it.

Now I’m getting off topic, but there are many supposed “universal hatreds” that I find myself not on board with. Like the word, “moist”. Just reading that probably made at least five of you squirm. I don’t get it, but that’s just me.

Back on topic: the new style became shorter shorts, with fewer pockets.

The last time I remember wearing cargo shorts was probably in 2014 or 2015. After that, I just opted for athletic shorts. I think that decision was also influenced by my cargo shorts being too big for me (insert weight loss here).

I was also hesitant to buy the new age shorter shorts, with fewer pockets, because I didn’t want shorts to be half way up my thigh when I sat down.

I have since come around on these shorts, as I was just being stubborn. It’s okay to admit when you’re wrong.

Anyway, when I was going through my clothes a month ago, I came across two old pairs of shorts.

One of them was the old style of shorts from American Eagle, circa 2009. The tan fabric, the thick belt, the length past the knee. I tried them on and felt like I was wearing two parachutes. Granted, I’ve lost weight since I last wore them about 8 years ago, but still.

I couldn’t believe there was a time in my life when I wore, and fit into, those shorts. I couldn’t believe they were “the style”.

And then came the other pair of shorts I found. A pair of black cargo shorts I got in 2012, when I was working a couple of sporting events and was told to wear black shorts. The pockets came in handy because you’re always carrying stuff around at events.

They were nice, comfortable shorts. I’d wear them to baseball games in the summer. I remember my friend wore the same pair to a game we went to.

But now…NOW…they also felt like I was wearing two parachutes. They were so big. They were long. They were uncomfortable.

I couldn’t believe there was a time when I wore them.

The world changes so fast. Our mindset towards things evolves, sometimes without us even realizing. What feels familiar to us right now, will feel foreign in a few years. There is nothing we can do about it.

I do think cargo shorts solve a problem for people who want pockets. I do think the current style of cargo shorts is better than what they were eight years ago.

Am I jumping in line to buy a pair? No. If other people want to wear them, I don’t have a problem with it. They have additional pockets! That will never not be a positive. Let people wear what they’re comfortable in.

They say fashion trends are cyclical, so maybe in 20 years we’ll be back to long cargo shorts past our knee.

Who really knows, or cares?

Wear what you’re comfortable in.

That’s the takeaway here.

What are your thoughts on cargo shorts, pockets, or anything else?