Summer Is Coming Up Shorts

Get ready for a short story.

Lots of fashion folks have one to tell.

"I'm standing here looking at 30 different styles of shorts," said Jane Webb, owner of C/K & Co. in Nichols Hills, Okla. "Is that not wild? Everything from what we used to call hot pants, now short shorts, to knee-length styles that you can wear with a little heel."

Shorts always make an appearance in summer, but this year is different. It's an explosion of lengths, colors and patterns. Nearly every designer showed them on the runways, sending a clear message that shorts are catwalk- and fashion-worthy.

Shorts, especially styles that hover around the knee, give women a much-needed option other than Capris and crop pants.

Webb said a customer came in recently and declared she was not going to wear shorts. She changed her mind after trying on a longer style and walked out with several pairs.

"You can dress them up; you can dress them down," Webb said of knee-grazing shorts. "You can wear the shorts with a jacket; you can wear them with a T-shirt. It's training people to understand that it's a skirt replacement."

What women need to know is that any age can wear a knee-length short -- and look good in it, Webb said.

"The short shorts are a different story. We're reserving those for our younger girls," she said.

Interestingly, short shorts are getting "short shorter." Most retailers agree that this is a look best embraced by those who are young, slender and firm of flesh.

Length is mostly long or short, not much in between. Mid-thigh shorts are more athletic, such as golf shorts.

"I think it's either the short short or longer that make a statement," Webb said.

Whether long or short, shorts rule the fashion page this summer, said Linda Spaeth, sportswear buyer for Balliet's.

If workplaces permit, knee-length styles paired with a jacket can go to the office. It's a look that's sleek and pulled-together enough for almost any occasion, Spaeth said.

Keep in mind that a shorter jacket tends to look best with knee-length shorts.

If you invest in only one pair of shorts this summer, style experts suggest a black, knee-length style. The shorts look good with flip-flops and a T-shirt, but they also can be the workhorse of an evening outfit. Just add a dressy top, a pair of sexy sandals and an embellished handbag.

What adds to the appeal of all shorts is an abundance of details -- cuffs, contrast piping, buttons, soft ties or rope ties.

And let's not forget patterns.

"I think plaids are huge," Webb said. "Plaids and stripes ... they look fresh."

Denim takes on a fresh look, too, with dark finishes that are dressier and more appealing.

Most city shorts are cut narrow or straight, though some shorts that strike just below the knee are fuller, almost like a short gaucho. Many of the super-short shorts are meant to be slouchy.

Almost any style of shoe complements knee-length shorts. Wedges and espadrilles are dressier options. (FYI: Don't automatically dismiss platforms. A platform wedge can make a heavier calf look more streamlined.) More casual footwear includes ballet flats, flip-flops and sandals. Shorter shorts are best worn with generous tops and flats.

Get ready, it's going to be a short summer.

Source: The Daily Oklahoman. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. Powered by Yellowbrix.