Short shorts to suit your body type

Once reserved only for weekends and the hottest days of summer, shorts have come out of the casual closet and are turning up just about everywhere this summer.

“This is a year when people wear them even in the winter, with a pair of tights or a pair of leggings. It’s become a huge staple in everyone’s wardrobe,� says Nicole Campre, head designer at local boutique Loft 82.

Shorts are more versatile now than in the past, showing up in a variety of lengths and materials that make them work for many occasions, adds Alma Visscher of Coup Boutique.

She suggests shorts paired with a blazer in the same colour and a contrasting top underneath. Dressier shorts can look great with thicker tights underneath and an ankle boot or pump to carry the look into fall.

Campre says pretty much anyone can wear shorts, regardless of body type. “It really depends on how they wear them. For example, if you’re showing a lot of leg, I would wear a longer-sleeved top, covering another part of your body to balance the amount of skin you’re showing.�

A longer, flowing cardigan is also a nice look with shorter shorts, she says. “So you kind of play with your layers. And I’m not super-skinny, so it makes me feel more comfortable.�

For curvier gals, try high-waisted shorts, which are more flattering and accentuate curves, she says.

Older women might want to go with a longer short — to the knee — paired with a tank or sheerer top, she adds.

In fact, longer shorts are one of Campre’s favourite looks for the future — a knee-length short in a flowing fabric. The look is also one that could work for the office.

“I really like the look of the flowy, wider, longer shorts, like gaucho pants from the ’70s. With a tailored jacket, I think that’s appropriate for the office.�

As a barometer of appropriate length, Visscher suggests considering the length of the skirt or dress you’d normally wear to the office, then wearing shorts that are at least that length as well.

Wear the shorts with a relaxed blazer, a tucked-in blouse and a pair of flats for the office, then add a bold accessory like earrings or a clutch to head out for the evening, she adds.

For next spring, Campre is designing a mullet-style short for Loft 82, again in a flowing fabric, that is slightly shorter in the front than in the back.

For shoes, Campre recommends a simple, strappy, platform sandal with shorter shorts for warm weather. For fall, she likes shorts with an ankle boot and slightly longer socks that peek out above the boots. Visscher loves the “flatform� or flat platform sandal, which works well with any length of short, adds height and is still comfortable.

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The doors are open, which will Mangan choose?

Dan Mangan is the subject of a documentary titled, What Happens Next? Good question. It’s like all the doors are open and he just has to choose one. Screening is Wednesday at CBC’s Studio 700.

With three hit singles on it, Shut Up And Dance could be a big album for Abbotsford’s Victoria Duffield. LP is out Tuesday. She headlines the West Jet stage at the PNE on Monday and opens for Big Time Rush, Sept 16.

After three years, Faber Drive has a new LP, Lost In Paradise. It’ll be out Aug. 28, but you can hear the first single, Candy Store, on YouTube.

Bryan Adams welcomes the arrival of his first book of photography next month. His sideline as a photographer has been growing for years. Exposed, the book’s title, comes with a foreword by Sir Elton John. Subjects include Morrissey, Amy Wine-house and Michael Jackson.

Having played jazz in Mother Of Pearl and sung opera, Lauri Lyster turns her attention to the theatre. Lyster is The Drummer Girl, which opens Sept. 20 at the Firehall Arts Centre. Madchild’s Dopesick album is released Aug. 28. A tour with Tech N9ne will bring him to the Commodore. Devin Townsend caps promotion of his 15th solo LP, Epicloud, with a date at the Commodore, Sept. 18.

Japandroids are at the Rickshaw, Dec. 22. Its album, Celebration Rock, has been getting tremendous reviews. The duo is on tour in Europe as this is being written.

Fine Times releases its first album on Light Organ, Sept. 18. Produced by Howard Redekopp, whose resume includes Tegan and Sara.

Jonathan Chan is playing next week for a 1696 Stradivarius cello valued at $7.5 million. The Langley musician is competing with 30 others to have the right to “own” the instrument for three years. The cello is one of the prizes of the Canadian Council Musical Instrumental bank, which loans its valuable instruments to promising players.

Sean Byrne, known to those who followed Celtic music as Mr. Irish Music, has died at 85 years old. Byrne was a kind of liaison between the traditional and more modern but not the wild stuff.

Delhi 2 Dublin’s Turn Up The Ste-reo is available, Aug. 28.

The next concert at North Van’s Shipbuilder Square presents Neil Osborne (54-40), Jesse Ferrel, Dave Genn (54-40), Wil, Headwater, Wetherman, Babe Gurr, Carli and Julie Kennedy, Aug. 25.

GARAGE CD OF THE WEEK

The name might say Steve Taylor’s Drum Boogie, but Taylor’s album, Hot Nuts, is not dominated by drums. Rather, Taylor does what he’s always done in the roots community, which is to provide sympathetic but strong rhythm. If there is one difference it’s that he has challenged himself by playing a variety of percussion pieces. Not too flashy but a good test as not every drummer can play a boogie and then switch to a country waltz. The music is a merger of jump blues and breezy country hitting a middle ground evocative of Texas Swing … or Asleep At The Wheel’s version of it.

CDS RECEIVED THIS WEEK

These came in the mail to The Garage: Steve Taylor’s Drum Boogie: Hot Nuts; Omnisight: Path; Christa Couture: The Living Record; Jim Byrnes: I Hear The Wind In The Wires; Delhi 2 Dublin: Turn Up The Stereo.

GIGS

Steve Gidora and Neil Harnett, both with recent CDs, are collaborating (Beecher St. Cafe, Wednesday), Kickaxe reunites (Venue, Thursday), Five Star Motel (Shipbuilder’s square, Friday), Black Mountain, Ladyhawk (Waldorf, Saturday), Steve Dawson, Dave “Boxcar” Gates (New West’s Concert On The Quay, Sunday), Head-water, Heidi Morgan (Firehall Arts Centre, Sunday) David Ward sings his ambitious new recording The Arrival (Shark Club, Aug. 31), Some X Six launch a new CD, The Hoodoo Shake (Cottage Bistro, Aug. 31).

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