Shorts

Shorts are definitely a conundrum for most of us — let's face it, they're short — but with the right silhouette and a healthy dose of confidence, you can rock a pair of shorts this season with no problem. Now that we've shown you how to amp up your Spring wardrobe with a crisp blazer and shorts, we're helping you try out the trend without breaking the bank. If you're feeling reluctant, don't go investing in a pair that you'll never wear; instead, peep our budget-friendly picks (they're all on sale!) and ease into it. Click through to see our picks now, then get ready to go forth and go short this season.

If you're looking for someone to blame for your current short-shorts addiction, may we suggest Dr. Zoe Hart (played expertly by Rachel Bilson) from Hart of Dixie? Answering the age-old question "can doctors wear shorts?" with a resounding yes, Zoe shrugs off criticism from her fellow Bluebell-ians by sporting short-shorts under her lab coat with confidence and aplomb. From slouchy leather, to soft scallops, to laid-back cuffed denim, Zoe's penchant for shorts is chic and refreshing — no matter how "inappropriate" Lemon Breeland thinks she is. Click through to see — and shop — seven of our favorite Hart of Dixie short-shorts moments.


All photos courtesy of CW

As a Summer staple, we reserve the right to wear our shorts constantly from June through August, and as much of September as we can get away with. But while more typically we're turning to our shorter bottoms for beach days and BBQs, we're newly inspired to dress them up, thanks to these five celebrity examples. Between Katie Cassidy giving hers a breezy-chic spin for an event, Nicky Hilton styling hers up for a night out, and Kourtney Kardashian showing off a work-appropriate pair — there's more than a few ways to show off your stems in this summery staple. Click through to get inspired by the rest of our celebrity crew, then shop their looks.

>> Super hot Summer weather calls for super cool Summer outfits. Enter one of the season's most versatile pieces: shorts. Whether tailored and cuffed or A-line and drapey, they're the perfect item to take you from day to night — if you style them right. Click through for inspiration on what to wear with 18 of the cutest little shorts around.

Image by Greg Kessler

After spying high-waisted shorts on the runway — see Tibi, far left, and Adam's Spring 2011 collection, and then in some of our favorite editorials including a lovely Glamour cover with Freida Pinto, we got the hint — these shorts-up-to-here are too cute to pass up. For starters, we love that a higher waist means we can get away with wearing our cropped knits and tees, while showing off our stems. And, if you prefer to keep it more covered up, high-waisted styles are ideal for tucking in your button-downs and blouses — it makes your outfit seem sharp and helps create an hourglass figure. We've narrowed it down to 10 of our favorites, so just shop our editor's picks to start styling up your own pair.

Photo courtesy of Glamour

>> Now that we've checked Spring dresses off of our list, it's time to get shorty. The latest arrivals include a bevy of cool prints, directional cuts, and cute details. We're rounded up our top 25, highlighting a lace-up confection from Rodarte x Opening Ceremony, a gauzy flowy number from Vena Cava, and exotic patterns from Madewell, for you to add to your shopping list. Believe us, your stems will thank you.

When you're shopping, the real test of a piece's value is how versatile it is. Can you wear it to work, on the weekend, on a date, on a trip? If you can, most likely you've got a wardrobe winner. Case in point: this Quiksilver printed tunic is pretty, with a springy print and sheer texture. It's perfect for the beach and throwing on over your bikini. But it can also be worn every single day of the week, for pretty much every occasion. Want to see? We style one piece, seven ways. Click to shop.