How To Upgrade Your Shorts

Put your khaki staples on notice: These super-flattering summer shorts cross low-key cargo styling with the flirtiness of a silk skirt. Wear them with these five chic outfit ideas for every warm-weather occasion.

Start with:

Silk georgette shorts, Club Monaco, $99; clubmonaco.com.

Video: Shorts for Every Shape >

Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

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Get your party on

Add a glitzy top, some gleamy jewelry, and (walkable!) heels--then stand back and watch your dance card fill up.

Top, $198, and vest, $268, French Connection; French Connection stores. Earrings, Aqua, $30; Bloomingdale's. Bangle, Cost Plus World Market, $9.99; worldmarket.com. Clutch, Olivia + Joy, $72; oliviaandjoy.com. Heels, Nine West, $89; Macy's Herald Square, 212-695-4400.

Video: Four affordable accessories for spring >

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Prep it all up

Be polished--and hipster-cool--in snappy, stolen-from-the-boys classics.

Watch, Armitron; $75; amazon.com. Shirt, J.McLaughlin, $138; jmclaughlin.com. Cardigan, Uniqlo, $29.90; Uniqlo stores. Oxfords, Ecco, $180; amazon.com. Necklace, Warehouse Chic Accessories, $12; warehousechicaccessories.com. Bag, Shop Suey, $58; shopsueyboutique.com.

Video: Summer's Here: Live it in Style! >

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Play the earthy sex kitten

Ah, the power of a drapey knit: It conveys total seduction, yet is still relaxed enough for Sunday brunch.

Tank, Talbots, $49.50; talbots.com. Sweater, Express, $70; express.com. Cuff, Worldstock, $13.29; overstock.com. Sandals, Daniblack, $150; amazon.com. Bag, Sofia by Sofia Vergara, $19.99; kmart.com.

Video: Summer's white-hot fashions >

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Be sporty & chic

This mix of fun pieces makes you a shoo-in for the Best Dressed at the Park award.

Watch, TKO Orlogi, $95; amazon.com. T-shirt, Kensie, $38; Macy's. Jacket, Eddie Bauer, $49.95; eddiebauer.com. Backpack, Target, $29.99; target.com. Sandals, IsaacMizrahiLive! for QVC, $39.75; qvc.com.

Video: Suit up for summer in shorts >

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Make a pattern of it

The nautical print has an old-school charm--while funky accessories give the outfit a modern vibe.

Top, L.L.Bean Signature, $89; llbeansignature.com. Bangle set, Bombay Fashions, $9.99 for 3; bombayfashions.com. Enamel bangle, R.J. Graziano, $45; 212-685-3737. Shoes, Lands' End, $65; landsend.com. Bag, The Limited, $75; thelimited.com.

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