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How to Wear Hot Pants

Jun 16, 2011 / By Kathleen Gasior

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Rihanna takes her hot pants to the edge.

Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Hot pants are a clothing item that should come with an additional label: Wear At Your Own Risk. This smoking hot trend has been on the radar since 2008 and just seems to get bigger every year. So, you've been watching Rihanna footage and decided that you're ready to rock this look. Not so fast, there are a few things you need to know before you take your bad self to the streets.

Check your rear-view mirror before test-driving. Make sure your booty and legs match your level of fearlessness. No, they don't have to be skinny or little, just make sure they look good to you. Your hot pants should hit above the top curve of the thigh and below the bottom edge of your derriere. Sure you're fine -- but no one needs to see the line where your glutes meet your quads.

Make sure you've mastered Grooming 101 before you make your hot pant debut. If you're going to make a brief statement, you'll need to tan, tone, shave and wax your little heart out. Bend, sit and strut in front of a full-length mirror with a kind but honest eye. No one is going to notice your fierce eyeshadow today -- so make sure your legs are sleek and sexy.

Pair your hot pants with cool basics. Because hot pants send a sultry message, you'll want to style them with clean, simple tops and jackets. Try a fitted vest and loose lightweight scarf or a simple silk tee and a boyfriend jacket. If your shorts are in a flashy fabric such as metallic, leather or sequins, make sure your top has a smooth or matte texture to balance the look.

Select your shoes wisely. The most appropriate venues for hot pants are clubs, the beach or a casual lunch with the girls. Clubbing calls for either heels or ankle booties, which will give you that take-no-prisoners, glam look. For the beach, stick to wedges or a flat sandal so you can project a fashion-forward but casual vibe. For an al fresco lunch, style your shorts with espadrilles or a low-heeled bootie.

Take a cover up, just in case. Sometimes even the most confident ladies make mistakes. What starts out as a night in the club could end up at an upscale restaurant, and you may feel overexposed. A boyfriend jacket or silky trench (roll the sleeves for a funky look) are both on-trend and provide perfect solutions to this dilemma.

Be prepared to take the heat. Yes, it's a brave new world, and an independent woman should be able to wear what she wants. However, if you're rocking the hot pants look, make sure you can handle the attention that comes with this audacious territory. Men, and possibly women, will stare, make comments and wolf whistle. So if you're not up to it, work a skirt instead.