First of all, Liz, we here at Zoomerist are working very hard to establish that all the old rules about dressing and grooming and general behaviour around aging are outmoded. But we get your concern. The shiny gams of our youth can look a little battle-worn by time, gravity and the marbling effects of cellulite. 

You may not choose to wear feathered, cut-off Daisy Dukes the way Heidi Klum continues to do at 51. But you could choose the pink Bermudas with matching blazer Michelle Yeoh, 61, wore to a BAFTA tea party last summer. Or you could shine in the tailored navy shorts Demi Moore, 61, just wore last week to the Dior men’s show in Paris, paired with an oversized navy blazer, gladiator sandals and her weensy dog, the fashion-show, front-row regular, Piaf.

So fear not! With a little styling wizardry, shorts can be engineered to suit anyone at any age. I’m going to assume we are talking about going-out shorts, here, Liz, as I hope you are already fearlessly wearing cropped bike shorts for workouts and cropped denims for the backyard. (Though my own backyard jean shorts have gotten longer and wider this season, on the strict advice of my early 20-something daughter, who says no one – except Klum, apparently – wears denim short-shorts any longer.) 

I tapped one of my fashion advice-givers, editorial stylist Talia Brown Thall, who is always great and has killer tricks to make new looks work for everyone. Turns out, my daughter is bang on: Shorts these days are indeed longer in the Bermuda style, and wider in the leg, sometimes even with pleats! But we will focus on going-out shorts, which Brown Thall describes as a look you can wear to work and to a nice restaurant, day to night. “You can feel very naked in shorts, so some volume in the cut of the shorts helps balance out that nude feeling.”

It’s all about staying classy, she says. “This is a polished look. The main thing to remember is to keep it classic, which is a strategy that works for all ages.” By classic she means “navy, red, white, camel, black.” Just say no to novelty prints. “Wear the new, longer shorts the way you would wear dress pants.” Consider a monochrome, matching look, either a blazer and shorts combo, or a vest and shorts combo, both paired with a crisp, white, tucked-in shirt or T-shirt. “An untucked T-shirt looks schleppy,” she says. She points to a stunning long black shorts and vest combo this season from the brand Veronica Beard.

She further cites this season’s best deals. “Aritzia shorts look really high end, but they are not expensive,” she says. “Everlane shorts work well with a blazer. H&M has chic longer shorts that look designer and come in lots of colours. Also look at the Gap and Citizens of Humanity.”

Fit is incredibly important. “This is where alterations come in. You don’t have to spend a fortune on your shorts,” she says. “Shorts have to fit just so at the waist. And they can’t be baggy in the tushy. Take the extra time, spend a little money, if need be, to get them fit to you by a good alterationist.” Brown Thall points out this is key if you go pleats, because “the pleats have to fall right. If you are on the shorter side, like I am, pleats can do a great job of elongating your leg.”

How about the extra bit of leg you are showing? That, she says, is where anyone at any age can learn from Taylor Swift. “The nude pantyhose she wears on stage give her legs such shine and polish. Skin-coloured pantyhose give your legs a second skin.” This is an evening-only solution, for sure, but in the right circumstances it can look terrific. If it is too hot for even the idea of tights, she says, consider the magic of self-tanner, or tinted body polishes. I personally recommend Nars Body Glow for this exact leg makeup function, as it doesn’t run on your furniture (or anyone else’s furniture, which would be a fate far worse).

What length is the right length? That depends on you and your feelings about your own legs. You can get Bermuda shorts hemmed to the exact point that you’re comfortable with. An elegant length is about three inches above your knees, but if you are not fond of your knees, then choose a pair that grazes the top of them.

And while sneakers or slides might be your heat-beating preference, footwear can be just the thing to elevate your whole look, says Brown Thall. “There are so many great ballet flats on the market right now,” she says, “and flats with a pointed toe. These look smart with a shorts look. A wide short needs a daintier shoe. Anything chunky adds weight to the bottom of the look.” 

Sure, you can wear stilettos with shorts, as we’ve seen on the red carpet, but it is a tricky thing to pull off. “It is not a look for everyone. You really have to have the right confidence, and the right legs,” she says. If you still aren’t fully in for shorts, there are lots of great capri pants, says Brown Thall. Showing a little leg will make you feel crisper in the withering heat. “You just feel wrong in full-length pants in the middle of the summer.” She also suggests adding a nautical striped, Breton-style sweater around your neck, for a jaunty, fresh vibe. 

Blingy, heavy jewelry can feel too much in the heat, so keep it light and breezy with delicate chains and beads, or add a little bandana around your neck for a dash of crisp adornment. Makeup should be minimal, but adding a simple pop of colour to these monochromatic outfits will raise your spirits. Brown Thall’s best outfit finishing advice is the simplest: “Just add a red lipstick and go.” 

Always asking questions,

—Leanne Delap