Rule 2: Know what makes short shorts work
Choose something with a trouser-style waistband and flat tab front. The inseam should be no shorter than 4 inches. The legs of the garment will sit straight and crisp with some wiggle room around the thighs. (Shorts + too tight = deadly, and not in a good way.) Trina Turk makes colorful, bold-printed shorts that have punchy, retro appeal. Wear them with a solid, bright-colored tank top or T-shirt, jeweled flat sandals and a straw fedora.
Rule 3: Be bold enough to go longer
Not everyone can or should wear micro mini shorts. A mid-length style that has an inseam that’s about 7 inches suits most bodies because it will cover the fleshy upper and inner part of the thigh, leaving the thinner parts of the leg to see the sun. The Gap has a great selection of styles appropriate for a casual Friday or running weekend errands. The denim cut-offs have a 7.5-inch inseam and fall about 3 inches above the knee.
The great thing about mid-length cut-offs is that they can be rolled up and show as much or as little skin as you feel comfortable with. Pair the roughly cut shorts with something polished and elegant for that high-low appeal. Try a solid-colored twin set in a vibrant color, layered jewelry or a statement necklace and metallic sandals or loafers.
Clockwise from top left, Nanette Lepore black Alexandria shorts, $195 at Nanette Lepore, Los Angeles; 7 For All Mankind Josefina cuffed denim shorts, $169 at 7 For All Mankind stores; Nanette Lepore Riviera shorts in camel, $198 at Nanette Lepore, Los Angeles; Gap railroad stripe shorts, $44.50 at Gap stores.
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Rule 4: Don’t go too long
Bermuda shorts, which have an 8- to 10-inch inseam, cover trouble areas, but they can also swallow up someone whose legs are short. So unless you’re hitting the golf course, longer shorts should still land about 2 inches above the knee. They tend to be slouchier, so pair them with a tank top or snug-fitting shirt that can be tucked in and accentuate a less bulky top half.
The trick is finding a shorts length that flatters you, then balancing out proportions on the top. It’s really not hard to look great. Especially if you’re willing to leave the hot pants to the volleyball players.
Clockwise from top left: Gap white denim cutoff shorts, $44.50 at Gap stores, Trina Turk Duke Bermuda shorts, $188 at Trina Turk, Los Angeles; Talbots red cuffed shorts, $49 at Talbots stores; Gap cut-off denim shorts, $44.50 at Gap stores.
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