Summer's here, which means time to dig out all those warm-weather clothes, the ones that keep you cool by leaving you uncovered. If you are a pear shape -- someone who carries her weight primarily in her hips and thighs -- summer also means choosing between being comfortable and looking good, because OMG shorts! and short skirts! what's a pear to do?

First of all, stop worrying; you CAN look great AND be comfortable this summer. You just have to make good choices about what you wear on your bottom half.

Pear shaped women often have a love-hate relationsip with summer clothes, particularly shorts, because nothing says HELLO LOOK AT MY THIGHS like a hem line that stops above the knee. But if you choose the RIGHT shorts, you can look chic and lean AND be cool and casual.

Start by highlighting your assets: even if you have wider hips and thighs, you probably have slimmer calves and ankles. Show them off by creating a longer leg line. Choose pants and shorts that fall straight from the widest part of your hips; opt for a flat front and a wide waistband, one that hits no lower than two fingers below your belly button.

Shorts should fall above the knee when you are standing up, not below; a hemline that hits below your knee will make your legs look shorter and wider. Opt for a hem that falls between the top of the knee cap and mid-thigh, depending on your comfort level and the shape of your thighs. Ideally, shorts should hit just above the slimmest part of your thigh, for the longest, leanest leg line. For some girls, this means that a shorter short will make you look thinner, even though that may seem counterintuitive -- just trust me on this.

What about capri pants? Capris may seem like a good alternative to shorts, but if you're a pear shape and you carry your weight on the bottom, think twice about a cropped trouser; that shorter hemline can add weight to even the slimmest bottom half. Instead, look for full-length pants in lightweight fabrics, like washable linen, or simple A-line skirts.

Avoid tapered legs at all costs; a tapered leg is like a big arrow that points right to your hips. The same is true of pleats, which make even the flattest stomach look round. Skip cuffs on shorts and pants; they will make your legs look wider and shorter all at once. Keep skirt hemlines at the knee, not the ankle, to show off your calves and give you some length. And go with a light-weight shoe, a ballet flat or strappy sandal, for more length.

Looking for more plus-size style tips? Omiru has rounded up the best summer dresses, while ChicHere has advice on finding prom dresses, and New Jersey Wedding Vendors offers ten useful tips for mother-of-the-bride dresses.

Coming Tuesday: summer tops that cover your undearm wattle (you know what I mean, that little wobbly bit on your upper arm -- THAT part).

Susan Wagner writes about style at Fashion Find and The Working Closet, and about everything else at Friday Playdate. She hopes you will join her for the Fashion and Shopping Birds of a Feather session at BlogHer.