Shorts

With temperatures on the rise, there's no time like the present to show off your yoga-toned legs in a pair of chic shorts. The latest trends range from metallic finishes from DVF, bold florals from Zimmermann, and crisp white renditions from Alexander Wang. Shop the best Summer short picks below.

Source: Phil Oh

We can't get enough of Zoe Saldana's always on-point red carpet looks for the Star Trek Into Darkness promotional tour, but we also welcome her casual approach to making the daytime press rounds. En route to an interview at The Grove in LA, the actress supplied us with not one but two inspirational shorts ensembles. The first one was by Emilio Pucci: a turquoise printed silk top and crisp matching shorts, both from the Fall 2013 collection. The other — a dusty-rose lace blouse with white shorts, both by Dolce & Gabbana — was entirely dainty. Zoe completed both styles with the same pair of turquoise peep-toe pumps for that unexpected pop of color. We've pulled together some Saldana-inspired outfits to get you inspired to make shorts a style mainstay. Shop our picks below.

If you're a Spring leather skeptic, look no further than Dree Hemingway showing off a fresh pair of black leather shorts with an easy white sweater for Madewell as proof of its wearability. Sure, the Spring runways from Alexander Wang to Marni and Fendi served up the inspiration, but if you've been hesitant to get on board, this laid-back take might be more your speed. Leather shorts don't require quite as much commitment as, say, a leather dress, and they're better-suited for Spring and Summer weather than your leather pants. All you need to channel the cool-girl vibe à la Dree is your favorite transitional knit or a great slouchy tee. Easy, right? We're about to make it even easier, too. We've done the legwork and narrowed it down to our 14 favorite pairs of leather (and faux leather) shorts. The rest is up to you — shop our editors' picks below and start thinking of all the ways you can wear them.

Last season might have been all about print-on-print-on-print, but Spring's latest leans toward a more subtle way of styling your bold patterns. At the Diesel and Edun Studio Africa party in LA, brand ambassador Solange Knowles showed us how to style printed shorts (one of our seasonal must haves) for a look that's high on impact, but not over the top. The key to getting this trend right is finding the perfect pair of statement shorts — we suggest a pair that's not too tight and not too short — and pairing it with minimal accompaniments. Solange's abstract-print cuffed Edun shorts pop against her white Theyskens' Theory sheer-sleeve blouse, while gold metallic sandals add just the right amount of shine to her party look. For added pop, Solange polished off her ensemble with a modern Lucite CC Skye clutch ($295) and gold rings. Easy, right? Shop our editors' selection of printed shorts, then get to styling!

Shorts come in all sizes and shapes, but the culottes craze has us especially smitten. Spotted first on the streets of Paris Fashion Week — and on the runways of Etro, Marni, and Rag & Bone — this effortlessly chic silhouette is perfect for just about any occasion. And with Summer almost here, we think they're the coolest way to let your legs breathe. Here's how to work it:

• For a bold take on culottes, pick a printed and/or colorful style. For a subtle approach, go for a solid in a dark hue.
• We love the idea of pairing a silk-patterned rendition with a loose tank and low-heeled sandals for daytime.
• When it's time for work, go for a more structured shape, then throw on a button-down and a blazer for further polish.
• To rock your culottes for nighttime, just add a leather or sequined tank and the highest of heels.

See more perfectly styled culotte looks, plus shop the trend here.