Dirty Dancing: When Short Shorts Weren’t in Style

In Dirty Dancing, Baby, played by Jennifer Grey, sports jean shorts that stand out as a costume mistake. The movie is set in the early 1960s, but short, cutoff jean shorts didn’t become widely popular until the following decade when rock stars like Patti Smith and Debbie Harry popularized them.

While some teenagers might have been experimenting with fashion, Baby’s shorts are ahead of their time. Though not significant to the plot, this detail is a fun error for fans to spot. It adds a bit of unexpected modernity to the nostalgic setting of the film, blending eras in an unintended way.