If you asked 10 women over the age of 30 whether or not they wore shorts, at least 7/10 would say “No”, “I prefer a skirt”, “Of course not”, “I never find any that look good”, “Not unless I’m staying home”…..you get the picture. Most women feel like shorts are for the younger set but, you can bare your legs while looking good too by heeding these key tips (this coming from a woman who would rather sport a summery dress):
- Focus on the cutoff point — mine is 7-inch shorts (not too short but, not matronly). Aim to look youthful, not young!!
- Think of gabardine or linen materials to look more business-like (…think Saturday meeting to discuss a bit of business over morning coffee)
- The current trend is boyfriend roll-ups and bleached washes…typically seen with 3-inch inseams which means young!
- If you think shorts make you look stubby, try a pair of wedge heels to elongate your silhouette
- For plus-size, the frist instinct is to go baggy but that just makes you look bigger — go for a tailored and clean, non-pleated front!
- A petite frames needs to avoid looking like they’re lost — choose close-fitting, shorter styles
- Pear-shaped ladies do best with more substantial fabric (flimsy material can show jiggle….) and should avoid wide cuffs as they draw the eye to the thigh. also, when possible, opt for a higher heel to create a leaner silhouette
- Apple shapes need proportion to balance broader top so, opt for flat-fronts and wider leg openings…along with a looser, longer top!
- Boy-shaped ladies usually want shape so, stick with slimmer, shorter cuts and go for a longer top that can be belted
And, as if they knew we were writing about shorts, JCrew is offering 20% off + free shipping on all women’s shorts (and flip flops) today only!
2 Responses
I thought it was just me. I don’t even own a pair of shorts b/c of your 4th bullet point but I’m always looking to step my game up and try new things!
Ronda – try it, take a picture, send it to Blueprint for Style, and we can make a few recommendations/suggestions!