The higher the better is what you should be thinking about shorts this summer. Shorts, skirts, and jeans are all adding inches to their waistline, but these inches will sinch in your silhouette - not add to it. Having a higher waistline can create the illusion of a small midsection and an hourglass figure.The 80's high-waisted trend is making a come around once again. The fashion trend goes much further back than the 1980s; it first appeared in the 1940s when almost all women's clothing was tailored for a natural waistline.

High-waisted pieces work for all body types. Here are the body benefits of high-waisted bottoms:

If you are SHORT: a higher waistline will elongate your legs
If you are CURVY: high-waisted bottoms create flattering and even proportions
If you are THIN: pairing a crop-top with your high-waisted bottoms will create definition in your narrow figure
If you are TALL: high-waisted bottoms will divide the length of your midsection.
For ANY body (because we don't all fit into a specific "type!"): high-waisted bottoms look great on all shapes and all sizes if you wear them confidently. Everyone's body has an asset he or she can work and flaunt. There are no rules of who can wear what! It is good to know what styles, cuts, and lines look best on your body, but those aren't hard and fast rules. Break the rules, bend them, or make your own.

One thing to pay attention to, especially with high-waisted shorts, is the proper fit. Because the higher waistline might be resting right on or just below your diaphragm, make sure they aren't too tight or making it difficult to breath. High-waisted shorts also have the tendency of riding up, so make sure the inseam is long enough to cover your behind! Shorts that are cuffed or rolled on the bottom stay in place better than frayed or cut-off shorts.

Take a look at how the high-waisted trend has evolved through the history of women's fashion starting from present day and moving back to the 1940's:

Singer Christina Perri wearing high-waisted shorts and a bra top in the music video for her new single "Humans" that debuted January 4, 2014.

Supermodel Claudia Schiffer's Guess campaign in 1989 featuring high-waisted jeans (pinterest.com)

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Movie star Audrey Hepburn wearing white high-waisted shorts in 1953 (picsaweb.google.com)

Popular film actress of the 40s, Vivien Leigh wearing high-waisted trousers with a flare leg. (flickr.com)

Retailers are ready to get into the game as unexpected brands add activewear and sportswear to their stores. Brands like American Eagle Outfitters, Old Navy, Hollister Co., and Aéropostale have added workout tops, sports bras, leggings, and many other items for fitness to their stores. Traditional sportswear companies like Nike, Under Armor, and Adidas have made huge jumps in fashion to keep up with these new competitors. Iconic sporting good brands are bringing in big-name designers to contribute to their designs. Adidas currently has a collection with Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto. Where ever you choose to shop for your workout clothes, you are sure to have some fashion-friendly pieces to choose from.

A fashionable alternative to your typical sports bra. Stripe B Bra by VPL. Find at lagarconne.com

How much you’re willing to pay for clothes you will sweat in is personal, but sportswear isn’t just for sports anymore. Sporty clothing has become popular choice for day-to-day activities. This is especially true on University campuses. Nike shorts and yoga pants were practically the uniform at my alma mater. The popularity of activewear probably has something to do with how comfortable it is! Even if you aren’t planning to visit the gym, many of you are on the go and constantly moving throughout the day, and jeans can be restricting or uncomfortable.

Wearing Victoria's Secret PINK yoga pants and active top.

Fashion is one of the most difficult things to write about because it's subjective. No one has exactly the same tastes and preferences as anyone else, yet for some reason there are always widely and unanimously followed fashion trends. Trends are fun to talk about and to take part in, but there is more to be experienced when you dress yourself than following a trend! When you get dressed in the morning try asking yourself WHY you are wearing what you chose today. For me, I am wearing gray leggings and a black t-shirt with the sleeves cut off and a witty saying on the front.

I am wearing this 

1. to be comfortable
2. to have a reason to laugh
3. because I think it looks great
4. because it says something about my mood today (laid back, mobile, free)

I am not wearing this to

1. follow the inescapable trend of leggings as pants -- a trend I support along with the other legging lovers out there.
2. show that I have a sense of style, because it's truly debatable
3. fit in
4. stand out

My frat-style tank and leggings are trendy, but that isn't why I am wearing them. What we wear is  a significant part of our identity. We are clothed all day and our clothing seems just as important to some of us as our very skin. Fashion is a lifestyle and a luxury. Not everyone gets to consider multiple outfits when they get dressed in the morning. They may have just one shirt and one pair of pants they wear day in and day out because that's what they can afford. Make sure you ask yourself the right questions when you get dressed in the morning. Do you feel comfortable and confident? Are you presenting an image that reflects you, or that simply reflects the people around you? Don't compare yourself to the people around you expecting or hoping to be as much like them as possible; there will always be differences and that is beauty.