Monday Musings: On Shorts, Nurses, and Forest Bathing
I wore shorts last week. Willingly. In public.
This is noteworthy because I don’t usually wear shorts. Not because I’m morally opposed to them but because they’re a little more casual than I prefer and, frankly, my legs and I are still renegotiating our relationship. The skin is softer than it used to be, and when the sun hits just right, there’s a certain crepey sheen that no bronzer in the world can disguise.
But it was hot and muggy. The kind of hot where you stop caring about looking elegant and just want to make it through the afternoon without melting into the patio furniture. So out came the shorts. Navy, and not too tight. I paired them with a striped tee and a straw hat and pretended I was strolling the French Riviera instead of walking three blocks to the farmer’s market.
Let’s just say it was…liberating. Slightly humbling. And very ventilated.
When Your Husband Thinks You’re a Nurse
Over the weekend, we went out for a family dinner. I wore a white cotton dress with a wide bubble hem, neutral wedge sandals, and carried a straw bag I’ve been leaning on all summer. I felt breezy and effortless until my husband casually mentioned I looked like a nurse.
Not a glamorous, vintage Grace Kelly–era nurse. More like a World War II field medic. Apparently, the crisp white dress gave him movie flashbacks to 1950s hospital uniforms.
My daughter, who thankfully understands nuance (and fashion), kindly pointed out that nurses today wear scrubs and no one under 75 associates a white dress with the medical profession. (Well, he is 75 after all). I was relieved and still considering whether I should poison his coffee. Just a little.
Still, I couldn’t help but wonder how often we let one offhand comment derail a perfectly good outfit. If you’ve ever gotten dressed, felt great, and then had someone ask if you’re going to a costume party, you know what I mean.
The truth is, I liked how I looked. And that should really be enough.
Forest Walks and the Gentle Reset
Later on in the weekend, my daughter and I went for a walk through the forest near our neighborhood. It wasn’t a fitness thing—as I’ve said before, it’s something for the spirit. The Japanese call it Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” and it’s been studied for its effects on stress reduction, focus, and even blood pressure. You don’t need to do anything special. Just walk quietly, breathe deeply, and let the trees remind you to be present.
I always come home from those walks feeling a little lighter. A little less fixated on ruffled hems or the state of my knees. Nature has a way of gently putting things back in their place.
Why This Matters
When you’re a woman over 60, getting dressed in the heat can feel like a battle between comfort and confidence. Throw in changing bodies, outdated comments, and the occasional mosquito, and it’s easy to feel like style isn’t worth the fuss.
But it is. Because when we make peace with how we look, and maybe even laugh at it…we make room to actually enjoy the lives we’re dressing for.
Applying This to Your Wardrobe
- If shorts make you cringe, try a looser cut or soft linen styles in your seasonal colors. They don’t have to be short to be called shorts.
- A white summer dress can be a staple, just add bold earrings, modern sandals, or a statement bag to keep it from feeling too “uniform.”
- Nature is free therapy. Even five minutes under a shady tree can calm your mind and reset your day.
Have you worn something recently that made you second-guess yourself? Or has nature reminded you it doesn’t matter as much as we think? I’d love to hear about it.
Thanks for reading and being part of our community!
I just love your humor! Wear shorts; it’s too hot not to. You look great in them. I LOVE YOUR WHITE DRESS AND YOU LOOK NOTHING LIKE A NURSE.
Thanks!
That white dress is lovely. My husband readily admits he knows nothing about fashion. But years ago, just as I had decided that a shirt dress was too full for my frame and the color was unflattering, he told me it was his favorite of all the dresses I had. (I wore mostly dresses to work in those days.) I kept it for a few more months, but eventually I donated it to Goodwill. We both got over it! I love your posts – you keep it real, Jennifer!
Thanks for sharing that Ruth!
Love this post and all the comments. Looking put together and comfortable can be accomplished! Your posts prove it !
Yes, when it’s 104 degrees here in the SW, even though bronzer doesn’t completely disguise my purple varicose veins, I do put on bermuda shorts, and I do like a couple of skorts I have too, they feel a bit more dressy! Now when it comes to white, and I love a white dress- yours is beautiful, but I haven’t found one for me that doesn’t make me look like a lost child, and a belt just makes me look like a sack tied in the middle. Sigh. But darker colors work better, so guess white is not my “color”?
Or…it depends on the style and texture of the white 🙂
LOL, my husband has said the same thing to me when I wear all white!!
I think you look fabulous in both the white dress and shorts! I don’t comment often but love your witty remarks and interesting topics. Keep smiling and being you!!
Thanks for being here Susan!
I’m new to this blog, too. Jennifer, I’m so glad I found you. I so appreciate your fashion news and self-care advice. Moreover, I love how you reflect on fashion’s current place and role in your life — and you keep it all in perspective. Now, at 71, I find joy in fashion. It wasn’t true in the past. Since I have to try a bit harder to find a good fit and style, I’m appreciating the process more. Of late, I’ve been using some second-hand stores (Poshmark, eBay, and local consignment stores) to largely find Talbots and J. Jill items — that fit. We’re a frugal family, so it works. Thanks for reaching out with your blog! It’s always a relaxing read.
Welcome Judy! I’m so happy you’ve joined our community
Jennifer- wear the shorts!!! You look great in them and also the white dress. Thanks for another great Monday musing. I wish I could find a direct here in hot muggy Florida 👀 🤪 I think it’d be just the thing for thoughtful walking.
Jennifer,
Your shorts and top look great! You certainly look put together for a hot day. Shorts are always an issue and I found that if I find a style and brand that I love they become my go to. Talbots always seems to have the Bermuda shorts that fit me best so year after year I introduce new colors. Into my wardrobe. This summer, I’ve been exploring skorts as an option to shorts as well.Talbots had a few that seem promising, but I am looking for something that hits me at the right length and is comfortable in the hot weather.
My husband has also made some interesting comments on what I’m wearing but I’ve learned to laugh and carry on!
Carry-on is a great attitude!
You look great in your shorts so don’t hesitate to wear them is you want to do so. I must confess that people’s remarks about my clothing do impact my choices. Most recently my cousin remarked that my blue checkered shirt looked a bit folksy. I haven’t worn it since. Every time I reach for it I hear his words. I don’t know, maybe there is truth in his words and it has made me think that this is not the style I want to wear anymore. I hope your white dress will continue to bring you joy. As for my shirt, it is in the donation bin.
You look fine in shorts Jennifer. My knees look just like yours except I now have a 17” scar from having a total knee joint replacement. I did ballet until age 17 and my doctor husband said that is why my knees look like they do. I wear mid thigh shorts everyday at home and for dog walks. It was 83 at 8:30am today! I also got five mosquito bites! I did wear white uniform dresses and cap from 1973-1979 when I went into CCU-ICU and wore ugly grey scrubs from the hospital laundry from then on. I never missed ironing those uniforms. Your dress is so much more elegant than my uniforms were. Think Nurse Ratchet. I also liked my hat until I was getting it caught on bed curtains that were used back in the day between beds. Single bed rooms were expensive so usually there were four beds with one tiny bathroom. Things have really changed. I told my husband what your husband said to you and he remarked that when he met me in 1976, I was all in white working nights on Med-Surg. It was his first day as a brand new intern, July 1. He told me with a smile that he knows better than to comment on my clothes.
Was just recently diagnosed with alopecia areata, which can be a dreadful disease! I was having a “poor me” moment this morning after washing my hair and having handfuls of it come out in my hands during that process! Then I sat down at my computer and read your blog and just had the best laugh ever!! So thanks for helping me get up out of my doldrums and feel better about life and the day!! Laughter IS mostly the best medicine!!
We have a lot of alopecia in our family, so I can empathize with what you are experiencing. I agree laughter is our best medicine. I am so glad you’re here.
You look great in your shorts! I loved your comment “my legs and I are still renegotiating our relationship” – exactly how I feel!
The white dress also looks very nice and cool on you – I don’t wear much white myself but it’s because I seem to be a dirt magnet every time I wear white.
I do know what you mean about the impact of random comments – not too long ago a male friend told me that my purse looked like a feed bag. I guess you just gotta laugh!
I LOVE your wit, your sense of humor and your wonderful turn of phrase. Reading this brightened my morning!
I’m also renegotiating with my body. I’m losing at that bargaining table! 🤣
And you look great in the white dress.
I would wear that white dress in a second! Looks so cool and chic. My mom was a nurse and did wear those white uniforms, with white shoes and stockings. More utility than chic.
Id love to shop with you, as you always look so great.
The white dress looked fantastic on you. Love the hemline! Husbands, mine would wear the same clothes everyday if I didn’t stop him.
So would mine, although half his wardrobe is from the ’90s still!
My husband usually says nice comments about my clothes, but one time after we were in a hurry and I wanted to watch my hair before we left, he said “well, it doesn’t look any better when you wash it.” Yikes!
Well, I wear shorts every day from April through November here in hot steamy Florida! I cannot stand being hot! I only wear long or crop pants if we are going out to dinner at a nice restaurant.
Husbands are something else aren’t they!
I think the dress looks adorable on you. It has perfect proportions and the crisp white is a wonderful color for you. Also seeing the dress evokes feelings of coolness and calm. 😌😍
The white dress is so cute on you. That’s exactly something my husband would say! He is really good about shopping with though. It is really hot here too but I don’t even own any shorts. I have so many spots, not even body makeup can cover them. When I wear my golf skorts I wear toeless pantyhose. Honestly you can’t really tell and I feel better about my skin. Walking is so beneficial. We walk every day on lovely trails in our neighborhood.
Your husband was just teasing you! I remember wearing white pants and white shirt to work one day and my boss asked me if I was impersonating the ice cream man ha ha. Never wore that to work again. I just had my colors analyzed and found I’m a different season than I thought I was and how I was dressing. I find dressing in my new colors is very empowering. My husband never noticed a thing lol.
I have never seen a nurse dress like that. There is nothing wrong with that dress.