The Everyday Shoot: The Cycling Shorts Trend, Shirt Dress

I thought I’d try something a little different. Do you notice anything different about this post of mine? It doesn’t look the same. It looks a lot cleaner and fresher, like a whole new website. I’ve been slowly but surely in the background updating both this website, my social media presence and where I see this website going in the future. One of the first things I want to do, is focus more on-trend pieces, fashion articles and shoot much more often. Hopefully, the days of waiting months for a new high-production shoot will be gone. These shoots aren’t disappearing, instead they are going to be supplemented by more of these everyday outfit shoots that are much easier to produce and publish. So this is the first of them, and it’s going to be a bit more special. I’m going to publish a series of everyday outfit shoots focusing on the cycling shorts trend. I’ve produced 5 different outfits in how you can wear cycling shorts and make them work for you no matter what your body type is.

So let’s begin.

For the first of the cycling shorts trend outfits; I’ve built an entire outfit around the concept of a shirt dress and black shorts. What can probably seem quite frightening for most people who aren’t six foot and have model-esque proportions, is how can I wear such tight, small shorts and not look like an absolute whale? First off, you don’t look like a whale! I was kinda terrified of this trend at first too. I’m by no means big, but I’m also not a size 6. I’m a very healthy size 10/12, but for a girl who is only 5 foot 3 and has a definite hour-glass shape, short tight shorts generally don’t look very good on me. I have hips and thighs that just really throw my body proportions off. I also have short legs. So how do you make this trend work?

Tip number 1, is go with black and go only with black! I was pleasantly surprised by how well these shorts look on me compared to others just by being black. It made my legs all of a sudden look very skinny.

Tip number 2, is go with a thicker fabric. Don’t go for the cheap jersey material if you’re worried about your thigh and bum. Go for a heavier, thicker fabric as it sits better, hides any unflattering bumps and doesn’t produce a camel toe. Trust me on this one.

Do those two things, and suddenly, you have a lot more options. So for this outfit, I wanted it to be more smart. I also know because of my hourglass shape, for this to really work my waist has to be cinched in. It’s the only way bulky items don’t look horrendous on me. I had this really old H&M shirt dress with the curtest A-line skirt that worked perfectly with these shorts. I teamed the outfit with this cute double Western belt from ASOS, a nod to the cowboy trend from last season that is still all over our high street. Then I added this very adorable Baker Boy cap, that my hubby hates, but I think is pretty cool. I really don’t wear enough hats and it makes for a nice change. The outfit is completed with my Chloé Nile Minaudiere bag and these ASOS patent black hiking boots that I’m still obsessed with. Another pro tip for wearing cycling shorts. If you’re worried about your weight or you think your legs look quite short, wear these shorts with heels. It doesn’t matter what kind they are; but I needed some height to balance out the fact that the eye makes my legs look shorter and cut off because of the shorts. Even a pair of platform sneakers could work, but you do want your feet to be off the ground.