A model wears hot pants for Donna Karan’s DKNY during Fashion Week in New York City in this September 2009 photo.

Runway shows for spring 2010 are emphatic about one thing: Shorts are called shorts for a reason. And whew-y, folks: Ya’ll better gear up this season, cause I can guarantee, she’ll be all leg!

Hot pants and boy shorts

Models for DKNY, Marc Jacobs and Missoni walked spring 2010 runways looking fabulous, wearing hot pants. I’m not sure I’ll ever have the guts to walk down Mass. Street sporting shorts with a negative hemline. But if you have the confidence to pull these babies off, read on for some tips about choosing the right style.

First, decide whether hot pants or boy shorts are the style you’re after. Hot pants are shorts with a negative hemline — the cut goes upward on the outside of the thighs; boy shorts are a nondenim version of “short shorts.”

Buying tips/styling tricks for hot pants:

• Choose a mid-waist or high-waist version. High-waist hot pants have a fun, retro feel. Also, extra fabric around your waist helps to balance the lack of fabric around your legs.

• Find a pair that covers your bum and will remain in place (if you plan to go to a nightclub, for example, you won’t want your shorts creeping).

• Choose a shoe with a heel. Extra height is slimming, and high heels engage your leg muscles and show off their shape.

• Wear tights! In general, tights or stockings make your legs look better. Pick plain or patterned hose that best suit your outfit.

• Consider hot pants for nighttime wear, especially if you are nervous. They will look more appropriate in the basement at the Eighth Street Tap Room than during the breakfast rush at Aimee’s Coffeehouse.

• Pair your hot pants with a loose top and blazer. For this look, it is all about balance.

Buying tips/styling tricks for boy shorts:

• Purchase a pair of boy shorts that is fitted in the back and loose in the front for a flattering style (and one that won’t ride up in front and or move around in back).

• Pick a leather pair for a retro/sporty/boxer take on boy shorts.

• Wear heels to dress shorts up. Flats are OK for more casual circumstances, but keep in mind, typically heels are more figure-friendly.

Tap pants, baggy shorts

If you’re not into super-short shorts, no worries. Look instead for a loose boy short (with a tad more length) — the tap pant. To avoid the oops-I’m-wearing-my-cotton-gym-shorts look, pick a more feminine pair with subtle lace detail or an exposed, sheer underlayer. Pair your tap shorts with a crisp Oxford shirt or boyfriend blazer to give your outfit more shape.

Still not your thing? Check out the new baggy shorts, aka “hotpantaloons.” These shorts are loose-fitting but their tailoring is chic, complete with pleats and upturned cuffs. Wear these comfy, cute shorts with loose-fit tops and sharp blazers.