Fashionistas have shunned shorts for decades as outdated, unflattering garments, but new lengths have brought the once-feared shorts into the fashion spotlight.
“The two extremes are really in,” said Kelly Brewer, owner of Glitterati and University graduate. “Really short and really long [shorts] work.”
The new city shorts – short, cuffed and near-baggy – and the longer, slimmer shorts are both popular among designers such as Corey Lynn Calter, Coco Kliks, True Meaning and Karanina this spring and at Los Angeles Fashion Week.
The two lengths are surprisingly flattering, said Angelle Delaune, co-owner of Amies Boutique and University graduate.
“They look cute on everyone if you wear heels,” she said. “But people would rather wear the longer ones -they are a lot more sophisticated and classy.”
Delaune said Jessica’s Simpson’s cut-off denim shorts may have helped sparked the trend.
“I think the Daisy Duke thing may have had something to do with it,” she said.
Brewer said jean shorts are stylish again for the first time in decades.
“The ones that are frayed are huge,” Brewer said. “But still, cutoffs aren’t cool unless they are long.”
Brewer said the jean-short trend can be expensive, running up to $238 a pair at local boutiques.
“Getting a girl to buy $200 jean shorts is a hard thing to do,” Brewer said.
She suggested wearing the shorts with boots or heels for a finished, trendy look that works for both day and night.
“I saw a girl go to a really nice L.A. club with short shorts and heels,” Brewer said.
Shorts are more versatile than ever with uses from casual wear to going-out clothes and work-attire, said Bessie Papazis, owner of FeBe.
“Every year, there are shorts, but this year it’s bigger than ever,” Papazis said. “It’s fun fashion.”
 
 
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