How to Bare Your Body With Confidence This Summer

For example, if you love your toned arms, smooth décolletage or toned back, look for sleeveless long, midi or maxi dresses with scoop, square or V necklines that highlight your top half, like the Quince Women Tencel Jersey Fit & Flare Dress in Dark Olive, Black, Brown or Carbon Gray ($50, quince.com), with a scoop neck; LC Lauren Conrad Women’s Shirred Maxi Dress in Gold Isabella Blooms or Mint Elena Ditsy ($70, kohls.com), with a square neck and low square back; Gap Factory Women Halter Midi Dress in Black ($49, gapfactory.com), with a tie neck; and the sassy J.Crew Factory One-Shoulder Smocked Midi Dress in Vivid Jade Multi ($67, factory.jcrew.com).

If you love your legs, go short in above-the-knee styles with a more covered-up top, like the Talbots Organic Cotton Interlock Striped T-Shirt Dress in Sleigh Stripe Deep Turquoise ($98, talbots.com); or the Style & Co Women’s Cotton Gauze Tie-Waist Shirt Dress in Blue Stripe and Pink Stripe ($40, macys.com). Flattery and poise guaranteed.

(From left) Ellos Women’s Linen-Blend V-Neck Button-Front Dolman Sleeve Oversized Tunic in Dark Sapphire; Croft & Barrow Sleeveless Tank Swing Dress in Navy Aqua Pop Palm; Cupshe Women’s Denim Short Sleeve Button Down Cover Up Dress in Light/pastel blue; Banana Republic Factory Women Poplin Tiered Above-Knee Dress in Red Print.

AARP (Target, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Banana Republic Factory)

3. Loosen up your clothes, and lose your inhibitions

It’s easier to display more skin when you’re not also worried about clingy clothes that reveal extra pounds and bulges. This is where looser, relaxed or just plain oversized tops and dresses make it possible to show off, cool off and cover up enough to stay self-assured. Try an Ellos Women’s Linen-Blend V-Neck Button-Front Dolman-Sleeve Oversized Tunic in Dusty Cornflower, Raspberry or Dark Sapphire ($56, target.com), a roomy style; the Old Navy Women Luxe V-Neck T-Shirt in Calla Lilies, Heather Gray, Light Black Heather or Amaryllis ($12, oldnavy.gap.com), drapey with short sleeves; or Chico’s Cotton Slub Epaulette Tee in Amparo Blue, Alabaster or Black ($33, chicos.com), with deep armholes and an easy fit. Pair them with your crops or Bermudas. 

Or, for a one-and-done solution, slip on a no-waist shift or swing dress, like the Croft & Barrow Women’s Sleeveless Tank Swing Dress in Teal Classic Floral, Coral Tan Mod Palm and Navy Aqua Pop Palm ($15, kohls.com); the Banana Republic Factory Women Poplin Tiered Above-Knee Dress in Black, Oceana or Red Print ($72, bananarepublicfactory.gapfactory.com); or the Cupshe Women’s Denim Short-Sleeve Button-Down Cover-Up Dress in Dark Blue ($68, macys.com), a midi that unbuttons for a flash of leg.

One last tip: Do your feet a favor and swap closed shoes for sandals to keep you cooler and sweat-free, eliminating another source of dress-bare anxiety.

(From left) Loft Rivete High Rise Denim Bermuda Shorts in Dark Rinse; Lands’ End Women’s Plus Classic 12” Chino Shorts in Desert Tan; Style & Co Women’s High Rise Pull-On Bermuda Shorts in Cruz Wash.

AARP (Loft, Lands’ End, Macy’s)

4. Make Bermudas your go-to shorts

For many women, shorts are the most challenging part of bare dressing. Like swimsuits, they have a rep for being “difficult.” Women ask, “Do I even need shorts?” and worry, “What about my flabby thighs and leg discolorations?”

So here’s the truth. Avoid shorty-shorts. Their 4- to 5-inch inseam reveals a lot of upper thigh and emphasizes the widest, wiggliest parts of the body. You’ll be tugging the crotch and hem down all day, too.

The sweet spot for many women is a mid-thigh medium length with a 7- to 11- inch inseam and a tapered look, like the Style & Co Women’s High Rise Pull-On Bermuda Shorts in Cruz Wash, Vega Wash, Summit Wash or Scout Wash ($50, macys.com) in stretch denim; the J.Crew Factory Women 9-Inch Frankie Bermuda Chino Short in Black, Light Khaki or White ($25–$30, factory.jcrew.com); and Croft & Barrow Women’s Effortless Pull-On Skimmer Pants in Odell Beige, Iron Weld, Navy and Black ($25, kohls.com). Yes, the last pair says “skimmers” and “pants,” but they’re top-of-the-knee shorts with a Bermuda-tapered fit.

Bermudas not only provide enough coverage but also shape your thighs (almost like gentle shapewear), and they have a modern, sexy attitude. Those who want a roomier fit or a little more length can check out styles with an 11- to 13-inch inseam and a straight, looser leg, like the Coldwater Creek Summer Light Casual Day Bermuda Shorts in Latte, White or Black ($45–$55, coldwatercreek.com), with a 12-inch inseam; the Banana Republic 11-Inch Denim Bermuda Short in Medium Wash ($70, bananarepublic.gap.com); Lands’ End Women’s Plus Classic 12” Chino Shorts in Desert Tan or Light Stone ($33, landsend.com); the Loft Rivete High Rise Denim Bermuda Shorts in Dark Rinse ($27, loft.com), with a 13-inch inseam; and Talbots Perfect Shorts 13-Inch in White or Indigo Blue ($70, talbots.com). Depending on your proportions, they will hit just above or at the bottom of the knee. Don’t hesitate to take styles that are too long to the tailor. Even a half inch can make a difference, especially for women who are 5-foot-2 or shorter. For extra coverage at the waist, pair them with a relaxed, untucked top; for an even slimmer effect, match the color of your top to the shorts.

To note: While capris and pedal pushers are trending, both can be tricky to wear because they often end right at the widest part of the calf — never a flattering look. My advice? Stick with Bermudas or cropped loose pants.

(From left) Gap Women Rib Scoop Tank Top in Chakra Red and Black; Sonoma Goods For Life Women’s High Neck Layering Tank Top in Vital White.

AARP (Gap, 2; Kohl’s)

5. Treat your arms to an updated tank

Bare tops are always iffy for women who see untoned upper arms as a deterrent. My advice? You’re choosing the wrong ones! The trend for high-neck tanks with what I call “indented armholes” has changed everything. Styles like the Gap Women Rib Scoop Tank Top in Fresh White, Black, Blue Track or Chakra Red ($25, gap.com); the Sonoma Goods For Life Women’s High-Neck Layering Tank Top in Vital White, Navy Tundra and Cosmic Lava ($10, kohls.com); and the J.Crew Factory Women Ribbed High-Neck Tank Top in Hthr Cloud White, Navy, White, Pale Spinach or Black ($23, factory.jcrew.com) sit closer to the neck and bare more of the shoulder to visually elongate and trim your arms. This eliminates the “pork chop” effect of a full upper arm when tank straps start at the shoulder/arm seam.

And let’s not forget the high neckline, which, combined with the sculpted armholes, has a cooler vibe than low-cut tanks and camisoles, and no concerns about cleavage exposure. They’re game changers that pair nicely with your new Bermudas, wide-leg crops and midi/maxi skirts for a stylish summer look.

(From left) Lands’ End Women’s High Impact Crewneck Active Dress in Black; Quince Women Power-Up Square Neck Dress in Classic White; All In Motion Women’s Knit High Neck Active Dress in Black.

AARP (Lands’ End, Quince, Target)

6. Give performance dresses a try

A growing category of activewear dresses with built-in shorts is providing a shorts alternative. What started as purely a golf/tennis/pickleball look has slipped into casual settings like family barbecues, pool parties and boat excursions. Yes, they’re skimpy, but some are actually less revealing than swim dresses. The combo of biker-style shorts hidden beneath a flirty skirt overlay appeals to women who don’t like the thigh- or rear-end-defining look of shorts but want an active outfit with some coverage at the butt and upper thighs. Are they for everyone? No, but for those a little less shy about exposing their legs, skorts can work.

My tip: Opt for smooth one-piece sport-dresses with built-in shorts, like the Quince Women Power-Up Square Neck Dress in Classic White, Deep Navy or Black ($50, quince.com); the Lands’ End Women’s High Impact Crewneck Active Dress in Black ($84, landsend.com); the All In Motion Women’s Knit High Neck Active Dress in Sapphire Blue or Black ($40, target.com); or the Athleta Tee Time Dress in Eclipse/White ($159, athleta.gap.com) instead of a “skort” skirt. They’re more flattering on those with a belly bulge, muffin top or a big bust, and they visually make the skimpy skort seem less so.

(From left) Tarte Key Largo Glow Serum Bronzing Drops for Face & Body in Deep Bronze Glow; Bondi Sands Self Tanning Drops for Face and Body in Light/Medium; Tanologist Self Tan Drops for Face + Body in Light.

AARP (Kohl’s, Target, CVS)

7.  Let self-tanner and body makeup help

Using a gradual self-tanner all summer is the easiest way to blur body discolorations. It bumps up your skin tone just enough to reduce contrast with brown spots, veins or broken capillaries, and adds a warm glow to skin that’s pale, ashy, sallow, dull or reddened. However, it requires daily all-over use. You don’t want to end up with darker legs or a tan chest and mismatched arms and face.

Look for self-tanner drops for both face and body, like Jergens Instant Sun Drops ($16, walgreens.com); Tanologist Self Tan Drops for Face + Body in Light, Medium or Dark ($22, cvs.com); and Bondi Sands Self Tanning Drops for Face and Body in Light/Medium ($20, target.com), that can be added to any moisturizer or body lotion daily. You control the depth of color by the number of drops you add. Start with a low number to evaluate the degree of glow. The big draw here is that tanning drops are waterproof and sweat-resistant. 

For instant camouflage, especially on your legs, try temporary tints that wash off in the shower, like This Works Perfect Legs Skin Miracle ($60, dermstore.com); Tarte Key Largo Glow Serum Bronzing Drops for Face & Body in Champagne Glow, Bronze Glow, Deep Bronze Glow and Rich Bronze Glow ($35, kohls.com), which can be mixed with your moisturizer or body lotion) for “blurring”; or Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Spray in Light Glow ($16, cvs.com), available in Light, Medium, Tan, Deep, Beige and Fairest Glow, which is more of a water-resistant makeup designed to blend with your skin tone.

If you have a prominent vein or extreme discoloration on the front of your legs (or elsewhere) and want spot coverage, try the one and only Dermablend Leg and Body Makeup ($42, ulta.com), which comes in 11 shades and is smudge- and transfer-resistant. All you do is tap-blend it on as needed with a makeup sponge.

My final word: Be sure to groom your legs beforehand. Hairy legs and leg makeup/self-tanner don’t mix. You need to shave, exfoliate and moisturize, and then cover!