News that micro shorts are making their way from the catwalk to the high street has filled the majority of the female population with trepidation. As seen on the likes of Kate Moss and Giselle Bündchen - with their endless bare legs and impossibly high stilettos - the 13in band of fabric is about as female-friendly as whalebone corsets and foot binding.
But the hot pant is here and, love it or loathe it; we can expect to see more than a few celebs wearing the headline-grabbing shorts in the coming months. Beyonce looked amazing on stage recently in a cheeky pair, and the likes of Lady Gaga has been making the most of their best assets in skimpy shorts, which look more like knickers.
This year shorts are going to get even shorter – and - they are going to be incredibly difficult to wear unless you're young with a terrific body or have legs like Glenda Gilsen; possibly the only Irish woman who can get away with wearing them.
Micro shorts are certainly not for the faint hearted but, like it or not, hot pants, seen on the catwalks of Blumarine and Balmain, are making their way down to high street stores such as Topshop, New Look and Miss Selfridge and - come the summer months - everyone will be wearing them.
But don't shoot the messenger. I know that hot pants are a tough trend to pull off. If you want to wear the look, but can’t quite pull off the ‘I forgot my pants’ versions there are plenty of chic styles on the Irish high street to suit your figure...and your wallet.
The key to getting the perfect pair of shorts is to be brutally honest with youself before setting off to the shops. Size up your best points and choose a pair to suit your shape. Remember, shorts will emphasize the area where they cut across your leg - for that reason, mid-thigh length is best avoided; just above the knee or high on your hip is more flattering for most women.
If you are proud of your pins (lucky you) go for a high-cut style and add a heel to lengthen your leg, but, unless you have a washboard stomach, it is best to stay clear of short, pleat fronted styles that can add bulk just where you don't want it.
In wearing hot pants you're showing a lot of skin, so consider pairing them other articles of clothing that tone them down. A loose cut top, such as a billowy blouse or a boyfriend blazer, might be the perfect match. It’s all about balance, if you are showing a lot of leg; cover up the rest if you want to look stylish and chic.
If your style icon is Jordan, however, just ignore the last sentence.
Also, wear hot pants only with heels, unless your name happens to be Gisele Bundchen, Natasha Poly, or you happen to be employed by Victoria's Secret for the job of 'Angel'. Heels will slim out your figure, and give shape to both your legs and derriere. If you want to wear the trend, look to stars such as Kate Moss or who always manages to look cool and chic, by wearing them in a low key casual way.
According to Shane Watson of The Sunday Times , it’s easy to look great wearing micro shorts - all you have to do is to get the basics right.
DO get going on leg preparation. You need a good exfoliator, plus a tanning product. Johnson's Holiday Skin body lotion is brilliant — it not only gives instant glowing colour, but works on developing a tan underneath. A cover-up stick is good to hide broken veins or bruises from riding your bicycle. Alternatively, you may just want to keep your tights on for as long as you possibly can.
DO go up a size. Too tight and too high-cut equals too seedy. You really don’t want to look like Jodie Marsh or Jordan, do you?
DO embrace opaques. Luckily for us, black opaques and shorts — particularly denim — go together like fags and Kate Moss. They are not merely a great chicken skin concealer, they also make all shorts look automatically chicer.
DO add a blazer or long cardigan. Let it graze the hem of the shorts to soften their impact and give them a cute, sophisticated edge (think Alexa Chung).
DO remember you cannot go wrong with denim. And they don't have to be indigo. White, light blue and beige are hot for summer.
DO get the fail-safe summer look. A big white T-shirt, bare legs and flat gladiator-style sandals (ankle height, though, not to the knee) or chunky, strappy sandals with a heel could well be your staple summer outfit. Seriously.
DON'T tip over into slutty territory. Shorts should be sexy, not vulgar. Cool everything else down to compensate. Wear fitted hot pants with a big T-shirt or loose checked shirt, Converse trainers and no make-up.
DON'T team heels with hot pants. A very bad combination, unless you are deliberately camping it up. It's too Victoria Beckham, and you want to be Kate Moss. Heels with shorts, definitely.
DON'T attempt a playsuit. Unless you are under 26, or could be, forget it. Cat Deeley's legs look terrific in a playsuit, yet, somehow, the look doesn't work. It's a bit like wearing those bikinis with the frilly bottoms when you're over 40.
DON'T wear with nude tights ever. A sin on a par with wearing tights under jeans.
