what would you have done?

I agree with you it's good for youngsters to know how to dress appropriately and what is acceptable where .

I ve got five granddaughters who all wear short shorts wouldn't expect them to change its summer they ve got lovely figures and legs why not as long as they cover what's needed to be covered I love to see them wish I could still wear them ...when I look back on my mini skirts the shorts are not much shorter and at least the knickers are covered
Probably because she lives in Kuwait she was so responsive to your request I can't imagine many teens would rush to change to be honest it's a fashion fad it will change

I think it is fair enough for you to ask for a change in attire to suit the environment if the child is going out with you. You know your own home town and what is acceptable to the locals. If she'd been going to the beach it would have been fair enough and ok for playing in the garden but probably less suitable in a market place.

dusty angel - yes, I hope that she and her Mum saw it that way. I think they did.

Thanks for the replies.
The strange thing is that they live and work in Kuwait, where women and girls are expected to dress modestly. Maybe she feels she can let her hair down when she comes back for the summer.
gettingonabit - a few years ago I was in the market cafe (in France) and a family came in with a teenager in very skimpy outfit, obviously holidaymakers. All local eyes were on her, and I didn't want my DGD to be looked at like that.
I do think, though,that I'm rather oldfashioned about how girls dress, especially when they reach puberty. She'll be there soon.

My mother was always a bit of a stickler over clothes so when we visited we dressed to please her. DD & DS happily accepted how their grandmother felt, and DD actually suggested I buy her one garment 'because I can wear it when I visit grandma.'

It never hurts children or adults to do as dustyangel suggests and learn that different things are acceptable in different environments and also different generations.

I would have acted as you did TriciaF.

Why does it bother you, do you think?

Shorts are VERY short, at the moment.

I doubt if the locals would have minded TriciaF they would probably just put it down to 'foreigner's strange ways'.
On the other hand I don't think it does any harm for children to learn that different things are acceptable in different environments and also different generations.

Was she showing her bottom?

Just agree with her.