OK. Here's what you'll get based on my purchases. I love the flat front style...no zipper bulging out. The FLAX color are my favorite because they are a linen-cotton blend which makes them more substantial and a higher quality look and feel. The striped ones would be my next favorite...the linen in ...them is higher quality even though there's no cotton. The aqua blue and the orange are probably not going to last too long. They are very lightweight and slightly sheerer (you can see the shadow of the pockets which is noticeable in the photos.) But I love the colors anyway. I tend to wear these around the house, in the backyard and not out in public so the length doesn't matter much to me. I live in a hot summer climate and I like staying cool. However, I do wear the FLAX ones out in public. I love their fabric blend. They feel substantial and the sewing quality on them is A+. These shorts would also make great sleep shorts if you maybe order a size up if you want them roomier for comfort. I don't find them scratchy, but then, I am a "linen" person. I washed the FLAX ones in cold water in the machine, dried for just 5 minutes on LOW and then pulled them out to air dry and I did iron them to tidy them up a bit. Haven't washed the others yet. The Viscose in the blue and orange makes them lightweight, but it's also very fragile fabric. So without the cotton in them, they feel a bit flimsy, but they are working for me. So I decided to keep them because I got them on sale. The FLAX and STRIPE feel of a more higher quality. Yes, the legs do flare. That's a matter of personal preference depending on body type. So that's my experience. I'm 5'5 and weigh 140-150 lbs. The waist is snug on me, but not uncomfortable.