Showing off more skin in the summer is usually something many of us dread. But when it's more than 90 degrees in the shade, it's time to strip down, girls. If you're not ready to bare it all, you can still keep cool and look slim and trim.

Follow a few of these tips from Kendall Farr, author of "The Pocket Stylist" (Gotham Books), which is a great take-along-book for the beach.

"All women should worship the almighty unbroken line," says Farr. "Meaning, we're always looking for silhouettes and proportions that will create the longest-looking body line."

- Look for clothing that "skims" your body. Don't wear anything that "clings or pulls, nor is so oversized that it hides your body's natural outline," she says. "Ill-fitting jackets and tops pulled over a full bottom act as a spotlight rather than a camouflage."

- Your own best hem length is the point at which your legs look their longest and slimmest. Generally, Farr recommends keeping hemlines at the knee - only shorter if you have great legs.

Longer length skirts should drape and just clear your calf, but still reveal a good 3 to 4 inches of your leg.

- A low waistline creates the illusion of a longer torso and, by placing a horizontal line through the fullness, the illusion of a flatter stomach.

Avoid any top that hits you at your navel or above; it will visually cut your body in half.

- Steer clear of these: "To my eye, sleeveless and cap-sleeve tops are not your friends at any size unless your arms are toned," she says.

Instead show off only the skin that flatters your overall silhouette.

"Create the illusion of sleeker, longer arms with lengths at three-quarter and with styles like handkerchief, kimono, or cape sleeves that fall midarm to elbow. Use sleeveless as a layering option.

- Leave oversized T-shirts and camp shirts on the racks. Ditto for any peg-top style pants with thick elastic waists and jeans with pleated waists, baggy legs and tapered ankles.

- Don't choose shorts that hit exactly at midthigh, a length that will visually widen and shorten your leg line. Choose something longer or shorter.

And Farr says "Watch out for that camp-counselor-meets-lady-gym-teacher look when wearingshorts."

- Flats may be a summer staple, but this stylist recommends having choices of pant lengths "including at least a few pairs of pants with a killer fit that you can throw on with at least a kitten heel to look a little longer and leaner."

- Keep shoes and sandals sleek. Pointed toes are more lengthening than rounded toes.

"Along with every other girl on planet Earth past high school, please skip those chunky rubber platform bottoms on any shoe," says Farr. "You'll look potted. Achieve that boost in height with a sculpted heel or a sleek wedge that will proportionately elongate the line of your leg."

- Leave the chunky workout sneakers home.

"Depending on your destination, opt instead for a sleek, flat sandal or an old-school, simple trainer."

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association.

© Copley News Service

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