How to Wear Shorts

Co-authored by Neepa Sikdar

Last Updated: December 7, 2022 References

Shorts are comfortable, versatile, and cool, especially in the hot summer months. Wearing them, on the other hand, can seem like a fashion black hole. Is it ok to rock a pair of camo-print cargo shorts to the office? Can you pull off that pair of daisy dukes? wikiHow can help you figure out how to wear women's shorts, men's shorts, and shorts for your workouts. See Step 1 for more information.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Wearing Women's Shorts

1
Buy shorts that will flatter your figure. There are all kinds of stylish options for women of all shapes and sizes. Consider your proportions to select the right style for your body type.^{[1]
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- Consider your height: Longer shorts create the impression of shorter legs, while short shorts lengthen the leg, giving the impression of height. Play it safe. Women of most heights can find stylish and flattering shorts that hit around the mid-thigh.^{[2]
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- Consider the fit: Shorts that flare out toward the bottom, rather than hugging the thigh, are flattering for petite girls and curvy women alike. Long styles like mid-thigh shorts or Bermudas are best, while taller women might find longer shorts more appropriate.
- Common inseams for women are 3 in (7.6 cm), 4 in (10 cm), 5 in (13 cm), and Bermuda shorts that go to 8 in (20 cm).^{[3]
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  Neepa Sikdar
  Personal Stylist
  Expert Interview. 11 February 2022.}
2
Look for shorts that have clean, straight lines. The large pockets on cargo pockets tend to draw attention to your hips and thighs. Instead, opt for shorts in fun bright colors, or with floral patterns. Dark-colored shorts are also slimming and can look both casual and sophisticated paired with the right shoes.

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3
Pick print shorts with a print that is small and spaced close together. Floral or tropical print shorts can be a fun and flashy addition to your wardrobe, especially in the summer months.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Neepa Sikdar
Personal Stylist
Expert Interview. 11 February 2022.} Pick out prints that take up most of the fabric, letting the smallest amount of background color show between the prints to make them as flattering to your figure as possible.
- You can wear printed shorts, a solid top, and sandals.^{[5]
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  Expert Source
  
  Neepa Sikdar
  Personal Stylist
  Expert Interview. 11 February 2022.}
4
Go professional with high-wasted shorts. Increasingly stylish, popular, and flattering, high-wasted shorts are making a big come back. Experiment with fitted and looser styles to get a feel for what's the most slimming. If you've got a shorter torso or are especially busty, you might consider buying shorter waist-style shorts that will look similar on your body.^{[6]
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- Buy shorts that extend past the hip, but not quite up to the narrowest part of your waist. These are sometimes called "mid-rise" shorts and can be more flattering.
5
Wear shorts that are reasonably short. Many women's styles feature bottoms that are quite short. While wearing short-shorts will elongate your legs and make them look longer, it's not always the most appropriate look for all occasions and is sometimes smarter to opt for a more conservative approach to the length of the shorts.
- Rule of thumb regarding length: Nothing but your legs should be sticking out from the bottom of your shorts. This goes for the pockets of jean shorts, underwear, and anything else your shorts cover.
- For a professional look, select high-waisted shorts that fit in with the fingertip rule. With the shorts on, let your arms fall loosely to your sides. The bottom of the shorts should be below your fingertips.
6
Tuck in your shirt for high-wasted shorts. When wearing high-wasted shorts, tuck your shirt in to elongate your stomach and raise your waist. With lower-cut shorts, it's usually best to leave your shirt untucked to avoid creating a dimple at the belt-line that can be somewhat unflattering.
7
Color-block. Pair brightly colored shorts with contrasting brightly colored tops to create a stylish look. Work within the same intensity palate, pairing pastels or neutral colors, say, and create a simple elegant look with shorts, appropriate especially for the summer.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Wearing Men's Shorts

1
Wear the right cut. Shorts should be neither too long nor too short. The hem of appropriately-cut shorts should fall just above the knee when you're standing up straight, and should be no more than an inch or two higher when you're seated.^{[7]
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- In some zones (read: hipster) short jean shorts, also known as jorts, are increasingly popular, while elsewhere extra-long baggy shorts that hang below the knee are stylish. If you're curious about whether or not you can pull off either of these styles, it's probably a safe bet to go traditional and leave the experiments to the trend-setters.
2
Wear the same waist size as your trousers and use a belt. Shorts should sit on your hips normally, like jeans or trousers. Always wear an appropriate belt when you wear shorts. Other than looking professional, shorts have a tendency to sag that you want to avoid. Keep your underwear under your shorts and make sure you've got a belt on.
3
Leave your weekend shorts to the weekend. There's nothing wrong with wearing those old soccer shorts while you're sitting around the house watching the game, or keeping on the ratty old cargo shorts you've had since high school while you do the laundry. No shame. But even if you're in the middle of a heat wave, don't wear them out to work on Monday.^{[8]
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- If you work somewhere it would be appropriate to wear shorts, get the appropriate cut and style and use the same judgment you'd use in your regular work attire. They should be clean, pressed, and professional.
4
Let khaki trump cargo. Khaki shorts come in many colors and look good on almost all men. Unless you live in the Bahamas, trying to rock cargo shorts, board shorts, or jean shorts past the age of your early 20s won't make you look younger, it'll make you look like you can't dress yourself. Khaki shorts pair well with casual styles and more professional looks, as well. It's a good investment and more recommended than other styles.
- When in doubt, go for mute colors. Beige, gray, navy, and black shorts will always be in style. The bright pink pair you picked up for the yacht trip might spend a lot of time at the back of the closet. ^{[9]
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- If you wear cargo shorts, aim for the smallest possible pocket, in inverse proportion to your age. If you're in your 50s, that pocket needs to be incredibly small. If you're 15, you can get away with larger pockets.
5
Pair shorts with the appropriate kind of shoes and socks. Wear shorts with low-top loafers and low-cut socks to get the right kind of stylish look. Wearing pulled-up white socks looks goofy, even if you're a German tourist, and high-top shoes have a tendency to make your legs look stubby and short. Unless you're on the basketball court, opt for low-tops.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Wearing Athletic Shorts

1
Wear them up on your hips. Slip the shorts over the waistline about two to three inches and pull the drawstring to tighten them. The elastic waist should sit comfortably above the hips, while the hem should sit just above the knee.
- If you want to sag, do it carefully. Slip on the shorts up to your pubic line. Make sure the back of the waistband is just below the "fault line," so to speak, but tight to your body, using the drawstring to secure the shorts as you walk. To get them to stay, combine fairly large boxer shorts with a tight drawstring to get them to stay without having to constantly tug at them and pull them up.
2
Get the right size. If shorts are the perfect size, you don't really have to mess with the drawstring. They should stay on comfortably without much effort, not too tight and not too loose. Jump around a bit to make sure they're secure when you're trying on a pair at the store. Make sure they don't snag against your knee so you'll be ready to hit the field, regardless of what sport your athletic shorts are for.
3
To stay safe, go dark. Since you're going to be wearing athletic shorts to sweat in, white varieties are often a bad choice. They'll show the sweat more quickly, sometimes even becoming a bit translucent as you work out. You don't want to end up halfway through a 10 mile (16 km) jog to find out your hiddens are not so hidden.^{[10]
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4
Save them for the gym. Wearing booty jogging shorts or bike shorts around is not recommended. You wouldn't wear a bathing suit to the ball and you shouldn't wear your exercise gear either. What looks normal at the gym doesn't look normal in public. Regardless of how comfortable and cool they are, and regardless of how sick your jump shot is, save the work out shorts for workouts and opt for more professional wear in public.

Expert Q&A

Question

What goes well with shorts?

Neepa Sikdar
Personal Stylist
Neepa Sikdar is a Personal Stylist and the Founder of Accessible Style. With 18 years of fashion experience, she specializes in working with female leaders to develop their style through personal styling, brand styling, and online styling. She also coaches women on personal style through her membership program. Neepa has worked with brands such as Nordstrom and J. Crew and has been featured in publications such as Business Insider. She holds a BS in Economics and English from Rutgers University and trained in styling through Fashion Institute of Technology.

Neepa Sikdar

Personal Stylist

Expert Answer

Shorts pair well with lots of different outfits! Go for a simple look with a T-shirt, shorts, and jeans, or dress up with a tuxedo blazer, tank, shorts, and heels. You can even pair your shorts with a blouse for a nice look.
Question

Do I have to shave my legs to wear ladies shorts?

Community Answer

No, not if you don't want to. You might get some unpleasant looks or comments with unshaved legs, but in the long run, they're your legs and you can do whatever you want.
Question

How do I wear black Nike athletic spandex shorts so that it shows my figure more? Also, when I wear my shorts, how do I hide my privates in high-waisted shorts?

Community Answer

For the black Nike athletic spandex shorts to show more figure I'd wear a crop top, preferably white.

Warnings

If you freeball (the act of not wearing underwear under your normal clothes), take caution when wearing shorts. Some sitting positions can cause you to inadvertently expose yourself. Additionally, shorts made with thin fabric, like basketball shorts, are known to create a prominent bulge.

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