Summer’s here, and for many of us that means facing one of the most dreaded clothing items after the swimsuit—shorts.
Shorts. So comfortable and practical in hot weather, so unflattering and unforgiving if you choose the wrong ones. For years I didn’t wear shorts at all except at the beach or the gym. But styles have become more fashionable, with the advent of city shorts that can be worn to work and shorts paired with wedge heels on the runways. As my options have increased, so has my desire to make shorts work for me. In an effort to incorporate shorts into my day-to-day summer wardrobe, I have tested every shape and length of short with every top and shoe combination. Are there shorts for every shape? If you’re like me and destined to be plagued with spider veins in five years, maybe not, but here are a few things I’ve learned about choosing the right shorts for your shape.
A note on micro-shorts
Shorts that hit high on the thigh to barely below the tush work on very few people—primarily those who are supermodels or twelve years old—so I don’t know why there are so many of them in stores now. It’s infuriating! Do us all a favor and boycott them so this trend goes away and never comes back to haunt us. Don’t even get me started on the 1970s-style roller-disco shorts at American Apparel right now. Also, if you do wear short shorts—at the beach, I hope—don’t wear them with heels. It’s just trashy. Yeah, it’s been done on the runway, but so has electrical-tape bras with suit jackets. Would you wear that to work?
A note on straight-legged Bermudas and city shorts
These look good on almost everyone and are thankfully easy to find in the past couple of years. The tip is getting the right length (most of us look good in those that hit two inches to three inches above the knee) and the right fit. One caveat: many of these longer shorts taper in at the bottom, which gives the lovely ice-cream-cone effect. Unless you’re booty-less, avoid them like the plague. Loose-fitting shorts or shorts that hit mid-thigh or above will look casual and are weekend wear; longer shorts can work for weekends or for dressier occasions—even for work if done tastefully with the right top and shoes.
My picks: Habitual olive straight-leg shorts, Freedom of Choice denim Bermudas, Anthropologie casual Bermudas, Joe’s Jeans green cotton Bermudas, Joie cargo Bermuda, Banana Republic slim city short
Petite
Stay away from cuffed shorts that make short legs look stubby. Go for shorts that are above the knee and buy petite sizes or tailor the shorts so they hit the leg where they should. Higher-waist shorts elongate the legs, as do shorts with vertical lines (even one vertical seam). Avoid low-waist hip-huggers. Try sandals with a bit of a heel, like a wedge, to add length—especially for longer shorts. Since shorts break up the leg, they do tend to make short legs look a bit shorter. I’ve found that flat thongs can work with a mid-thigh or shorter style.
My picks: J. Crew high-rise chino, Ann Taylor petite belted shorts, Michael Kors petite city shorts
