Skirts

Wind factor: In windy Montreal, the burdensome task of walking to school in a skirt can really ruin your morning. If you have to brave the vast tundra of Jeanne-Mance Park or the inevitable wind tunnel known as Prince Arthur, I would advise against a skirt. In addition to other morning accoutrements, such as coffee, iPods, or keys, it is hard to find a free hand to defend against sporadic gusts. 

Variety: Today, fashionable skirts can range anywhere from micro-mini to maxi. Although I do not recommend donning micro styles to class, skirts present an opportunity for fashion freedom and more room to experiment. On campus there are people wearing anything from boxy shift dresses to flouncy circle skirts, and flowy chiffon maxis. Sometimes one skirt can bridge several different looks depending on which top it is paired with. 

Shoe factor: Skirts are much less risky when pairing with footwear. The Montreal spring, being the transitional period between the harsh climates of winter and summer, often prompts people to continue wearing  boots. Bare legs and boots can complement a more springy skirt quite nicely. Even if not executed perfectly, skirts and boots runs less risk of looking foolish than shorts and boots. 

Sprawl-ability: This is a very important category in the context of the end of semester at McGill. With the impending hilly landscape of lower field and OAP, it is important to consider how comfortable you will be sitting in a skirt. Short skirts often force people to sit like they are posing for a dance photo: legs bent, stuck together, and swung to one side. Although this position conveniently allows for the subtle repositioning of your skirt under the anchor of your behind, inevitably your foot will fall asleep, forcing you to swing your legs to the other side and risk flashing a downhill neighbour. That said, in a flatter, park setting, maxi skirts are the ideal lounge attire. In addition to their likeness to blankets, maxi skirts allow you to sprawl, uninhibited, for hours, without risk of sunburn. 

Shorts

Wind factor: Shorts are largely windproof. Unless you come across a pair of ultra-wide-legged short culottes, the wind will have a hard time putting a damper on your spring morning. 

Variety: Shorts can be more prohibitive. There is no such thing as maxi-shorts, unless we plan to amend everything that is now considered pants. Capris are hard to pull off in 2012, and, while knee-length shorts might be the most practical, it is safer to save them for a safari. Most shorts in stores and around campus fall in the mid-thigh category. Needless to say, skirts are the clear winner when it comes to diversity. 

Shoe factor: Of course, if done properly, the right shorts and the right boots can look fashion-forward and cool. However, if not paired perfectly, shorts and footwear other than little sneakers, sandals, or flats walk a very fine line between chic and overzealous. 

Sprawl-ability: This is a no-brainer, as shorts don’t present the same problems as skirts do when sitting on the grass. However, in terms of lounging, which I think we can all agree is what springtime is really about, it’s a toss-up if you dress strategically. 

Overall Winner: Skirts

All things considered, I would advise you to embrace skirts this spring. Although they are irritating in the wind and might force you to sit like you did at age five in a family photo, skirts echo the easy breezy feeling of the season. Experiment with different lengths, prints, and styles, to find your perfect skirted ensemble. Lounge away!