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Shoot, these shorts were all the rage for the girls of '80s Westchester, a total surfer neighborhood. I think they ...  More »
Posted on 02/09/07

The jogging craze of the 1970’s demanded comfortable short pants. Dolfin to the rescue! Clothing companies (“Dolfin” being the original brand) simply remade the super-short hot pants of the early 70’s into a breathable shape. They slit the sides and rounded the corners for greater mobility. Then they added trim in a contrasting color - and dolphin shorts were born. 

The original brand evolved into a generic name as people came to call any super-short shorts, regardless of the fabric or color, “dolphin” shorts. Made of cotton, terrycloth, nylon, or velour, dolphins came in every color of the rainbow for both men and women. Exercise guru Richard Simmons still wears his.

It wasn’t only joggers who took to the streets in dolphin shorts. Women and girls discovered that the style made their legs look extra-long. An occasional peek at the posterior was an extra benefit for the boys. Dolphin shorts were even forbidden at some schools because of their tendency to distract kids from their studies. (Imagine that!)

Before the age of legwarmers and leotards, dolphin shorts - worn with a matching tank top - proved that athletic garb could be cute and sexy. And while they didn’t remain highly fashionable, they’re still popular with runners, who like the free and easy movement, and the chance to show off the shapeliness or musculature of their legs.