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SHORT CUT TO STYLE

Show off your legs in style with our guide on the best shorts to pick for your body type in the heatwave

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THE heatwave has us all sporting shorts . . . and sales are up 40 per cent since the warmer weather kicked in.

But it is not an easy look to pull off.

 Here's which shape of shorts to pick for your body type
Here's which shape of shorts to pick for your body type

The key is finding the style that best suits your body shape. From Bermuda designs to classic denim, shorts can provide the summer pick-me-up we all need right now.

We reveal how to show off your pins in style . . .

Petite

 Sam Faiers is petite but knows how to show off her pins
Sam Faiers is petite but knows how to show off her pinsCredit: BackGrid
 Petite body types should opt for tiny pairs of shorts
Petite body types should opt for tiny pairs of shorts
  • Pink shorts, £39, Topshop - buy now

FOR a petite frame, short shorts are best. Longer pairs will swamp you, making you appear smaller. Your aim should be to lengthen your look – and you have the shape to pull off tiny Daisy Dukes.

Shorts suits are a standout trend this season, while tailored styles are perfect for showing off your legs. Sharp lines will be slimming for your hips and elongate your silhouette even more.

Opt for a boxy blazer, like reality star Sam Faiers, 29, to finish off your look.

Hourglass

 Priyanka Chopra is a typical hourglass with same width bust and hips
Priyanka Chopra is a typical hourglass with same width bust and hipsCredit: BackGrid
 Show off the narrowest part of your body with a high-waisted shape
Show off the narrowest part of your body with a high-waisted shape
  • Khaki shorts, £14, Dorothy Perkins - buy now

IF you have a fuller bust and hips, with a smaller waist, you need to balance your shorts with your top.

High-waisted shapes emphasise narrow waists, while prints and detailed pairs or a “skort” – a skirt-shorts hybrid – will flatter your legs, as shown by 37-year-old actress Priyanka Chopra’s co-ord.

To balance your shape and achieve a strong hourglass definition, wear tucked-in tops with V-necklines or puffed sleeves.

Mature

 Gwyneth Paltrow may be 47 but looks youthful in shorts
Gwyneth Paltrow may be 47 but looks youthful in shortsCredit: The Mega Agency
 A Bermuda style is versatile and flattering for the mature lady out there
A Bermuda style is versatile and flattering for the mature lady out there
  • Neutral shorts, £49.99, Zara - buy now

A LOT of older women doubt they can pull off shorts – but there is no reason why they can’t.

Longer Bermuda styles are as elegant as they are flattering. Wide legs skim over hips and thighs, while they are easy to dress up or down.

Take tips from Gwyneth Paltrow, 47, and wear yours with a relaxed shirt or a lightweight knit for a stylish and summery look.

Athletic

 Dutch supermodel Doutzen Kroes is long and lean
Dutch supermodel Doutzen Kroes is long and leanCredit: The Mega Agency
 Create curves with frills and flowy fabrics
Create curves with frills and flowy fabrics

IF you are long and lean with modest curves, high-waisted shorts in a “mom jean” style will create hips.

Add a belt to cinch in your waist and create more contours, as model Doutzen Kroes, 35, demonstrates.

Extra detailing, such as prints or pockets, will give the illusion of fuller hips and thighs.

Pear

 Beyonce is a classic pear but knows how to appear as an hourglass
Beyonce is a classic pear but knows how to appear as an hourglassCredit: BackGrid
 High-waisted and loose-fitting shorts will cinch you in and skim over your widest parts
High-waisted and loose-fitting shorts will cinch you in and skim over your widest parts
  • Bright red, £29, Glamorous - buy now

WOMEN who carry weight around their thighs should highlight their smaller waist.

Pear-shapers should look for shorts with belts and “paperbag” styles, which are high-waisted with a loose, relaxed fit on the legs.

Be like Beyonce, 38, and pair them with a bright top to draw the eye upwards. Then, your shorts will not be the main focus.

Apple

 Scarlett Moffatt is an apple - a common body shape in the UK
Scarlett Moffatt is an apple - a common body shape in the UKCredit: BackGrid
 This pair of belted, high-rise shorts will give the illusion of a snatched waist
This pair of belted, high-rise shorts will give the illusion of a snatched waist
  • Tan and white stripes, £24.99, Mandco - buy now

FOR those that tend to carry their weight around the middle, create an hourglass shape by opting for high-waisted, belted shorts to give yourself a waist.

Longer lengths that fall to the middle of your thigh will be flattering if you are conscious of your legs. Further emphasise your waist by tucking in your top and adding a blazer with structured shoulders, like Scarlett Moffatt, 29, to balance your silhouette.

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