Fashion is currently pushing out some of the teeniest bottoms seen since the Daisy Duke, giving rise to a super leggy silhouette. Last season, Prada and Miu Miu led a resurgence of this lofty style even in the depths of winter’s grip. Now, come spring “how high can you go” is a recurring theme for many designers, and slicing a quick path through the collections, the mini skirt trend has given rise to the micro short.

Dolce & Gabbana staked their claim as pioneers of underpants masquerading as trousers. It’s a style they have championed for nearly four decades, 40th birthday celebrations pending. This season, an all-encompassing, black-toned collection gave us some of their best with the opening runway look showing a sultry pinstriped hot pant suit. This, like most spring collections, came with a heavy dose of thigh. Are these shorts or lingerie? It was often hard to tell.

Overexposed this might all sound risqué, but many of these micro shorts were paired with a more conservative top half. At Gucci, we saw ultra-high hemlines with one particularly standing out, a soft leather burgundy short matched with a long lime green coat and swinging fringed hem. Peter Hawkings, the new creative director at Tom Ford, delved into Ford’s past at Gucci, reimagining the iconic ruby red velvet suit that Gwyneth Paltrow wore on the red carpet back in 1996. This time it came in a rich, dusty pink and included some matching micro shorts.

Tom Ford is still very much about sex and glamour. Prada kept up their love of the tiny bottom with a collection that was exquisitely tailored and included high-waisted belted shorts yanked up to the hilt, accompanied by broad-shouldered, lapeled jackets with cuffs resembling shirts tucked in. The chunky, square-toed brogues worn with socks gave for a masculine ending, a recurring theme for many of these outfits.

Kim Smith has been a professional wardrobe stylist in Honolulu since 2004. Born a true Londoner, Smith had a successful career in public relations in the fashion industry in London for more than eight years before moving to Hawai‘i in 2002. Smith’s work spans a vast array of magazines, retailers and television as well as working with individual clients on their specific style needs. See her work at kimsmithstyle.com.