Shorts aren’t just for weekends anymore.

Don’t be surprised to see a co-worker sporting a pair at the office, especially on a hot and humid day.

“We are seeing a lot more shorts taking on a dress-up attitude since more of them have tailored detail and are made of dressier fabrics,” says Gregg Andrews, Nordstrom’s fashion director. “There are a lot of women’s shorts with male-inspired details, such as cuffs and pleating and tab closes at the waistline. So that makes them a little dressier, where they can be worn to work.”

It’s what you wear with your shorts that makes them office-worthy. You can give them a more corporate edge by adding a jacket and blouse for a suit-like look. The perfect shoes are heels. Add a belt as an accessory. But don’t wear panty hose under shorts, Andrews says. Keep your legs bare. And never pair athletic shoes and shorts for your job.

Shorts, because they are being shown in longer lengths, such as the Bermuda style, actually might cover more than a skirt, Andrews says.

Take the Bermuda short with its tapered leg. With or without a cuff, it looks really good and works well on curvy shapes as well as straighter-shaped women, says Simon Kneen, executive vice president and creative director for Banana Republic.

Shorts in the workplace must come to the knee. Anything else is never appropriate, says Tracey Lomrantz, Slaves to Fashion blogger for Glamour.com.

Before you take this fashion risk, however, check with your supervisor to see whether shorts are even appropriate for your place of business. A marketing firm might have a different dress code than a law firm, Andrews says.

Very short shorts also are a trend, but keep those outside the boardroom.

Continuing with the menswear-inspired trends of fall and winter, pinstripes and plaids have made their way onto shorts, Andrews says. You also are seeing various fabrics from wool to cotton blends. While shorts with pinstripes might be nice, that design is more of a winter-wear style than a summer look, Lomrantz says.

You can never go wrong with a pair of pressed plain shorts in tan or navy blue. They always look stylish.

And you certainly can choose white shorts, because they create the feeling of summer, Lomrantz says.

Remember: White shorts must be worn with full-coverage nude panties and not be see-through, Lomrantz says. Take a friend with you when you are trying on white shorts to make sure they cover everything.

Cut-off jean shorts are in style and easy to acquire. Just open your closet and pull out a pair of jeans that might be too short or not the right style, and cut them. Then wash and dry them to get that naturally frayed look. Toss any shorts you need to keep tugging or feel too tight.

Colors and prints are big this season, says Jani Strand, vice president public relations-corporate communications for American Eagle Outfitters. Shorts are a fun addition to every woman’s summer wardrobe and come in hues from khaki sand to bright teal to lemon soda yellow.

“Prints range from patchwork to plaids to gingham checks,” Strand says. “The destroyed, worn-in look is also very important this season, tying back to the ‘boho-chic’ trend, and can be seen throughout the shorts category.”

Know the proper shoe to wear with different short lengths. A high heel or wedge looks best with a longer short, while a small heel or flat goes with a shorter short, Kneen says.

“Best-kept secret: nude sandals,” Kneen says. “They allow the foot to almost disappear, which is great for making legs look longer and leaner. What woman doesn’t love that?”

Tips on summer shorts

Zoe Glassner, senior shopping editor at Marie Claire, offers tips on summer shorts for women:

• Shorts are a cool alternative to a skirt.

• High-waisted shorts are for the young and daring.

• The boyfriend short is a big trend this summer.

• Shorts with a paper-bag waist are “so cool.” They come in all lengths and fabrics and meet at the natural waist so they look good on most women.

• Buy shorts that are age-appropriate.

• Shorts that are too small are a big no-no. When in doubt, buy a size bigger and get them tailored.

• Denim cut-offs are for the under-30 woman.

• White shorts are nice, but where do you sit down in them without getting them dirty?

• Cropped pants are an alternative to shorts if you don’t want to show too much leg.

• Extremely high heels are tacky with short shorts.

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