by Maria K.

Created on: June 11, 2009   Last Updated: June 22, 2009

Questions like this one make me wonder... If the only summer fashions out there are those designed to flatter the skinny, does that mean the rest of us should just not show up in public at all during the summer months? Based on the "Devil Wears Prada" definition "six is the new fourteen" that would include a significant portion of the population. North Carolina summer starts sometime in early May and ends in late September, and in some states summer lasts year around (think Arizona). That would be an awfully long time to be cooped up indoors, just because too many fashion designers didn't bother help you feel fit to be seen. Fortunately, not all clothiers are quite that clueless, enabling those of us who are not size 2 and 5 ft 10 in tall to still venture out and walk proudly during the warm weather months.

That said, being a non-model size makes it that much more important to dress decorously - in all times of the year and in the summer especially, because so much more is on display. Tapered pants look bad on everyone - get rid of them. Capri pants only look good on the super-thin models in catalogs - get rid of them. Cargo shorts only look good on Abercrombie photos - get rid of them. As pants go, both gentlemen and ladies should opt for flat front styles that are long enough for a bit of a drape over the top of the shoe in lighter colors and fabrics (black is positively stifling in hot weather). Companies like Travel Smith and Magellan specialize in cool and comfortable travel clothes that are also easy to care for - these are good sources for flattering and comfortable summer bottoms.

Just as cargo shorts and capri pants hardly flatter anyone, the conventional American summer tops like t-shirts, polo shirts and tank tops, do not favor 100% of the population. A t-shirt may seem like a universal garment, but in reality it only works if it is the right cut for you - the right neckline, the right sleeve length, the right fit and the right fabric. Skin-clinging, super-thin fabrics are out - they will only make you feel self-conscious. Opt instead for higher-quality and slightly heavier silk weaves that will not emphasize every single roll of skin, but will make you look neat and trim. Silk is the coolest fabric to wear in the summer, so instead of throwing away your hard-earned cash on multiple synthetic blends that will make you sweat like pork in plastic, invest in two or three quality silk short-sleeve shirts, that are available to both men and women.

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