One of the greatest literary works to pass my eyes in the recent decade was shown to me by one of my most favorite colleagues, Kellie.

This 2010 article by Ellen Warren featured in the Chicago Tribune clearly detailed every rant about Capri pants that I’ve agreed with and felt oh-so-passionately about for years. Thankfully the “Capris or bust” mantra escaped my DNA, as all the females in my family tree have a personal arsenal of these horrid garments. Every color, fabric, print, and varying length of flared ankle-baring pants take up a ridiculous amount of real estate in my relatives’ closets.

I’ve heard all the excuses out there for not wanting to wear shorts. But ladies, with scorching summer temps fast approaching, it’s time to proudly bare those legs.

(Confession: I reluctantly bared my own legs during a recent steamy evening at SXSW and was frequently mistaken for Edward Cullen’s long lost vampire sister. Seriously — people were outright staring at my incredibly pale legs and inevitably questioning if I had seen the sun since exiting the womb in 1982. Note to self: commit to a spray tan, Meg, prior to any future barings).

Shorts have come a long way since I first came into contact with them as a tot. In middle school I refused to wear anything except for my polyester cheerleading shorts (translation: Horrendously thick and itchy during Texas summers) along with my pristinely white leather high-top Reeboks.

Moving on up to high school, I was often taken for a summer camp counselor as every pair of shorts in my possession spanned the surprisingly endless spectrum of khaki shades. Nothing says “who wants to go on a hike followed by a canoe ride and craft time?” quite like a pair of khaki shorts, eh?

Now having advanced to adulthood (well, kinda), my current shorts selection encompasses athletic (sans polyester cheer shorts), conservative (camp counselor-free zone), and more vibrant colors and fabrics. Lately I’ve picked up some fun graphic prints and embarked on the journey of stepping out in shorts to more formal events (think white tuxedo blazer with a dressy pair of black shorts and stilettos).

Along the same lines as the white apparel ban post-Labor Day rule confusion, in my book the weather wins when it comes to dictating clothing decisions. So just as soon as the heat reaches the point where it requires the jaws of life to remove my jeans from my body due to extreme sweat, I say bust out the shorts!

I’ve included a few selections that caught my eye to whet your shorts appetite and hopefully get you in the spirit to throw on a pair. There’s one for every color in the rainbow plus some neutral options — eat your heart out R.O.Y.G.B.I.V.

Although all of these selections err on the mini side of length, acceptable choices do also exist for longer lengths closer to the knee. Just please keep it *above* the knee, and don't fall victim to Capri fashion felonies.

1. Mason by Michelle Mason

2. Rebecca Minkoff

3. Robert Rodriguez

4. Milly

5. TopShop

6. Aqua

7. Zara

8. Aqua

9. Vanessa Bruno Athe