Setting one?s feelings on knees aside, it appears that the image of Bermuda shorts is bounding back into the limelight this year.

The Tourism Department?s promotion of the world-famous traditional garb earlier this month had models displaying a version of the shorts on catwalks at New York?s Fashion Week, and word appears to be getting out ? the Wall Street Journal picked up on the trend yesterday.

The Journal article noted that the new overseas version of the shorts ? dubbed ?city? or ?walking? shorts ? are more tailored than their predecessors, ?designed less for the beach than for lunch at the Four Seasons?.

Designer Narcisco Rodriguez?s version, made of stretchy scuba fabric, is retailing at an impressive $795.

Though the version of Bermuda shorts sold in Bermuda strictly adheres to tradition ? namely, a cut which allowed the shorts to fall several inches above the knee ? the Wall Street Journal revealed that this cut may not be as popular elsewhere.

?Where they hit really brings attention to the knee,? the Journal quoted Scott Tepper, fashion director at Henri Bendel as saying. ?The knee is not very many women?s favourite body part.?