Who wears short shorts? We wear short shorts! OK not so short but still leg baring and breezy! Credit: Showbit
Shorts are tailor made for Singapore’s hot weather. They are a staple of any weekend outfit and I wouldn’t dream of flying off to a resort island without packing more than a few pairs. But I’m no Gisele Bundchen with gazelle-like limbs. I’m more like a pear with hips and solid thighs so my legs appear like sausages in the wrong pair of Daisy Dukes.
Since I was old enough to pick out my outfit, I’ve squeezed the lower half of my body into so many pairs of shorts that I have found the hip-and-thigh-loving styles that I can’t live without. I’ve not forgotten the other girls, like the petite ladies to the straight-up-and-down babes.
Girls, meet the latest lineup of shorts for your body type.
[From left] Shorts, $79.90, from H&M; shorts, $86.60, from Iroo
Boyish figure
OK, so I’m trying not to hate your lack of curves and acknowledge that yes, girls with a boyish figure do have problems finding a great pair of shorts. A pair of paperbag-waist flare shorts like these from H&M one will give your body the curves it lacks. Ladies who are straight up and down are the lucky ones who can pull off bold horizontal stripes on the nautical-themed Iroo shorts – the stripes will give you extra “meat” at the side of your hips to create curves.
[From left] American Apparel Hampton shorts, $74, from Zalora; shorts, $69.90, from H&M
Full thighs
I definitely emphasise with you, some shorts can feel too snug around your thighs. The secret is picking shorts with darts that start just at the widest parts of your hips like these American Apparel and H&M finds before flaring out. The strategically placed darts have a slenderising effect on your larger thighs; the roomier cut is kind to your legs and also balances out the smaller top half of your body.
[From left] MDS Collections Trendy skorts, $32.90, from Zalora; shorts, $111.80, from Iroo
Curvy
Curvy ladies, in the same way A-line skirts work wonders for you, so do shorts with a triangle silhouette. These A-line skorts will perfectly downplay your hips and highlight your small waist. Black is over-all slimming on your bottom and hips and this minimalistic Iroo pair is appropriate for offices with a more casual take on work attire.
[From left] Shorts, $87.80, from Iroo; Diamond Jacquard Hampton shorts, $50, from Banana Republic
Petite
Yes, so you are tiny and can pull off hot pants. Although your denim cut offs are perfect for a day at the beach, sometimes you need a more formal pair that can take you to the mall, dinner and even when paired with heels on a night out. Before you freak out at the horizontal stripes of this iRoo shorts, take a closer look – notice the slimming vertical stripes at the hips? I’m a fan of the tailored shorts like these Banana Republic Hampton ones. The five-inch inseam works great for smaller girls who can still show off enough of their legs without giving away the colour of their undies.
For a list of H&M store locations, check www.hm.com/sg/store-locator.
Iroo is at #B1-52/53/54/55 Ngee Ann City; #B2-97 Marina Bay Sands; #01-45/46 Great World City and #01-179-182 VivoCity.
Shop Zalora at www.zalora.sg.
Banana Republic is at #02-06/07 and #03-06/07 Paragon; and #B2-103 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.