Who wears short shorts? Issue #28

By Amber Drea
Published: June 1st, 2006 | 12:00am

Need another excuse to stop shaving your legs? In addition to increased sexual dimorphism, the emergence of shorter skirts, and the invention of the disposable razor blade (along with subsequent advertising campaigns), many historians cite World War II–era French prostitutes as instrumental in the widespread trend of shaved legs among women. Since items such as silk stockings were rare commodities, the working lady would shave to appear smooth for her clients, even drawing a line down the backs of her legs to simulate a seam. After discovering this ingenious money-saving tactic, the American soldiers returned home and convinced their wives to do the same while the French hookers went back to buying stockings. Sure, it’s a sound argument, but in the summer heat, I’ll take bare, hairless legs any day.