It's hard to tell the difference but basically hot pants are just a species of cut-off jeans and short-shorts are not far behind. When Catherine Bach wears cut-offs on the Dukes of Hazard she is certainly in short-shorts, but then again, who would say they are not also 'hot pants' ?

Cut-offs are just home-made shorts created by cutting the legs off pants, usually jeans, just above the knee. They were especially popular in the '70's. It is important to make the cut look 'unfinished' and the jean material is left to fray.

Cut-off shorts were so popular that they were developed commercially as a product line. The short-short version of jean cut-offs are today called 'Daisy Dukes', vis a vis Catherine Bach's sexy portrayal in the movie. Another popular name who likes cut-off jeans is Tobias Fünke from the TV series Arrested Development.

Hot Pants

While categorized as "short shorts" hot pants often have an inseam of about two inches or even less. They are short, always snug women's pants, sometimes made of cotton, jeans, nylon or some other common material.

Hot pants are aiming to emphasize the butt or bum and the legs--to name the most obvious. They are often worn with dark tights and tall, knee-length boots which presents a very hot and , sexy look.

Hot pants were very big in the early '70's, in particular with baseball's Philadelphia Phillies, who daringly instituted a group of usherettes called the Hot Pants Patrol, however the shorts fell off in popularity during the latter 1970s and was revived in the 1990s.

Q: I want to wear short shorts or skirt and boots and long hair with a headband. I am a character in a play from 1969.

A: If you want to go 'retro' the one most popular top we wore with the mini skirt was a rather hot but attractive stretch knit turtleneck pullover. It was referred to as a shell and it zipped up the back neck.

Polyester in the '60's was just beginning to be used and was usually ribbed so that it fit easily and clung to our cute slender body and our Playtex Living Bras stuck out. There was usually a long beaded necklace that we wrapped around our neck a few times. We referred to it a granny necklace. Yardley cosmetics were the rage cosmetically, with lip -gloss in little pots were where it was at. Groovy! And pantyhose. garter belts and fishnets were out. We just knew we looked hot without them.

• Hot pants are often worn with dark-colored  tights and knee-length boots to give an edgy, sexy and 'hot' look.

• Hot pants were  popular in the  1970s and are considered to be the safest bet by most. Amanpreet wahi, who makes appearances on the ramp in sizzling hot pants often  She says,  women should wear hot pants only if they have a well-toned body which means absence of cellulite deposits. Also  women should be able to sit comfortably while not looking crass or vulgar in hot pants.

• Hot pants are shorts that could not reasonably be any shorter --  Understandably, they bring a lot of stares when paired with killer legs.

• Hot pants are really not pants, but are short-shorts. 

• Hot pants are thought to have been a sequel to the mini-skirt.  Having two separate holes for legs, the hot pant could go to even shorter lengths than the miniskirt, while still remaining in place. 

Hot pants are
sometimes worn with
dark tights and
knee-length boots to
create an edgy, sexy
look.

Hot pants were
very popular in the
early 1970s,
especially with
baseball's. , who
created a unit of
usherettes
but the
shorts declined in
popularity during
the late 1970s.

This
fashion revived in
the 1990s, partly
influenced by the
fictional character.



Hot pants are
actually not pants,
but are shorts. Hot
pants are, in fact,
characterized by
being short. They
are about as short
as possible, and are
sometimes known as
short shorts.
Hot pants
first became a
popular fashion
during the 1970's
and were often worn
to disco clubs
during these years.
They are considered
a disco fashion, but
hot pants were not
only worn while
grooving under the
mirrored.disco ball -
they
were also a popular
fashion item for
everyday street
clothes. During the
heyday of hot pants,
the office place
held mixed reviews.
For example, while
many companies
forbade their
employees to wear
the shorts to work,
others embraced the
fashion. Southwest
airlines, for
example, proudly
incorporated hot
pants into the
company uniform.
1970's television
commercials and
print ads for the
airlines show
stewardesses wearing
hot pants, along
with tall, heeled
boots, which were a
popular
accompaniment for
hot pants.

...people should
wear hot pants only
when they have a
well-toned body
which means no
cellulite deposits,
no bulky hips and no
thunder thighs. They
should be mentally
prepared before
wearing one. They
should be able to
sit comfortably
while not looking
vulgar. And they
should also go for
the right length of
the pants So what
are you waiting for?
go and pick some up,
and team them with
cool tees. Hot pants
are shorts that
could not possibly
be shorter -- i've
got a pair of them
which i keep pulling
down because i feel
so self-conscious.
Understandably, they
draw a lot of stares
when paired with
killer legs.
"they're -- sexy,
but a bit too sexy.
I don't want anybody
trying to touch you,
all right?" - my
mom.

Hot pants are
the most shameful
products ever -
gadgets. Alejandra
tries on a pair of
hot pants at urban
outfitters. Hot
pants are a
different beast, and
they are gobbling up
your pelvis,
Beyonce says " I'm not
sure what else to
do, other than plant
myself in the front
row at her next show
with a staple gun
and some strips of
cotton. "