Best Shorts for Your Body Shape
As a rule, I have been opposed to shorts as a fashionable option, much as I have been opposed to turtlenecks. But folks are clamoring for an entry on what is reported to be the hot new trend – shorts!
Okay, I'll do my best, but here is one major caveat for body type issues – you really can't wear shorts unless you have decent legs. And mind you, decent legs does not mean tall and skinny necessarily. Whatever your SIZE of leg, the important part is its SHAPE. If you have a good leg shape, you're in a much better position to sport shorts. But for the average woman, there are many pitfalls when finding a flattering pair. Its just a fact that shorts tend to look best on hipless, narrow or shapely legged people. Here is the best I can offer:
Short Shorts for the Petite
If you're on the shorter side (5'3" and under), the shorter short is the best way to elongate the look of your leg (combined with a heel or wedge of course!), but not the 70's version of short shorts - something that looks a bit more like a 40's style trouser if you want to take it to work.
Check out these dark denim 'short shorts" from the Gap. These can really be femmed up for a summer office look, if paired with a nicer top and heels.
For Straight Slim Figures
If you've got more of a ruler shape (very narrow but less shapely legs), try this longer version in denim, also from the Gap.This style is not for pear-shaped women since the pockets are right at the hip.
Cargo Embargo
Though it's tempting to use them as a cover up for other common figure insecurities (heavy thighs), AVOID the cargo short – they tend to look dumpy and unkempt, not fashionable, As I've said before, a more fluid fabric just adds to the problem:
Bermuda Style
Though J Crew has a ton of cute stuff this season and are known for their shorts, they options are much the same (for the well-shaped legged or the hipless). Main problem, slim cut legs, with pockets right on the hip, that emphasize (in a bad way) larger hips.
But slim cut Bermuda shorts can accommodate wider hips due to angle cut pockets and a lower rise:
These J Crew shorts come in a lot of colors, but I might stick with the more classic Khaki, white, navy, black or yellow to keep these toned down – but feel free to bust out the color on your top half though!
Terrible Tapers
One major don't in the shorts department is the tapered shorts:
This shape of short tends to make your thighs look huge and the higher rise emphasizes a wider hip – truly terrible.
A safer bet would be this longer cuffed and fuller cut walking short from Anne Taylor – which when paired with a nicer top and a thin, delicate belt could even make it to work with you:
http://www.anntaylorloft.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=13607&N=0&Ntk=KeywordSearch&Ntt=shorts&Nty=1&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&found=144&defaultSizeTypeFromCategory=Misses#ATLtop
Listen, if you've got long legs, or shapely legs, I'm not saying don't indulge what seems to be the exciting 'rediscovery' of the season, but my guess is, this is not most of us, and after all, it IS just a trend.
Stayed tuned for my entry on summer dresses, a MUCH more reliable way to stay cool, and shapely, in the summer!
- Emily
Okay, I'll do my best, but here is one major caveat for body type issues – you really can't wear shorts unless you have decent legs. And mind you, decent legs does not mean tall and skinny necessarily. Whatever your SIZE of leg, the important part is its SHAPE. If you have a good leg shape, you're in a much better position to sport shorts. But for the average woman, there are many pitfalls when finding a flattering pair. Its just a fact that shorts tend to look best on hipless, narrow or shapely legged people. Here is the best I can offer:
Short Shorts for the Petite
If you're on the shorter side (5'3" and under), the shorter short is the best way to elongate the look of your leg (combined with a heel or wedge of course!), but not the 70's version of short shorts - something that looks a bit more like a 40's style trouser if you want to take it to work.
Check out these dark denim 'short shorts" from the Gap. These can really be femmed up for a summer office look, if paired with a nicer top and heels.
For Straight Slim Figures
If you've got more of a ruler shape (very narrow but less shapely legs), try this longer version in denim, also from the Gap.This style is not for pear-shaped women since the pockets are right at the hip.
Cargo Embargo
Though it's tempting to use them as a cover up for other common figure insecurities (heavy thighs), AVOID the cargo short – they tend to look dumpy and unkempt, not fashionable, As I've said before, a more fluid fabric just adds to the problem:
Bermuda Style
Though J Crew has a ton of cute stuff this season and are known for their shorts, they options are much the same (for the well-shaped legged or the hipless). Main problem, slim cut legs, with pockets right on the hip, that emphasize (in a bad way) larger hips.
But slim cut Bermuda shorts can accommodate wider hips due to angle cut pockets and a lower rise:
These J Crew shorts come in a lot of colors, but I might stick with the more classic Khaki, white, navy, black or yellow to keep these toned down – but feel free to bust out the color on your top half though!
Terrible Tapers
One major don't in the shorts department is the tapered shorts:
This shape of short tends to make your thighs look huge and the higher rise emphasizes a wider hip – truly terrible.
A safer bet would be this longer cuffed and fuller cut walking short from Anne Taylor – which when paired with a nicer top and a thin, delicate belt could even make it to work with you:
http://www.anntaylorloft.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=13607&N=0&Ntk=KeywordSearch&Ntt=shorts&Nty=1&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&found=144&defaultSizeTypeFromCategory=Misses#ATLtop
Listen, if you've got long legs, or shapely legs, I'm not saying don't indulge what seems to be the exciting 'rediscovery' of the season, but my guess is, this is not most of us, and after all, it IS just a trend.
Stayed tuned for my entry on summer dresses, a MUCH more reliable way to stay cool, and shapely, in the summer!
- Emily
amber 5-15-2009 @ 7:14PM
emily,
you should be ashamed of your self my daughter is at the age where she is becoming body concious and recently googled best shorts for your body and your article came up.
"you really can't wear shorts unless you have decent legs. And mind you, decent legs does not mean tall and skinny necessarily. Whatever your SIZE of leg, the important part is its SHAPE" . People like you and comments like that are what is making our children so self concious. because of what she read now she is refusing to wear shorts in fear that her legs look fat! or that someone may say that they do. I am embarassed and saddened for you that you would feel the need to say something like that. all women are beautiful fat,thin, perfectly shaped legs or not! who are you to decided that people with what you may feel have funny looking legs should not wear shorts. who are you to put that fear into a woman that someone may think she is not worthy of wearing shorts. women as a whole have enough insecurity issues when it comes to there bodys lets add one more! perhaps you think only attractive women should be aloud at the beach too!
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