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The warm weather can be a fashion minefield for guys, and there is no summer style question more vexing than the eternal "to bare, or not to bare" dilemma when it comes to legs. Not that there's a dearth of options for the brave and foolhardy. Cut-offs, short-shorts, cargoes, tailored shortpants and baggy board shorts -- all exist to tempt us men into showing off our hairy shins and knobbly knees, and all are fraught with opportunities for sartorial suicide.

The solution: Know your enemy, and plan ahead. Treating short-wearing as a last resort is a recipe for mismatched, ill-fitting items and a general impression that you've given up on life. However, well-cut, outfit and situation-appropriate shorts: These are your friends.

Check out our gallery to see some of the most egregious short crimes, and a few suggestions for how to do bare legs right.

Guys in Shorts

    Bad Aw, look at widdle Paul! In his special T-shirt and his big boy shorts. He'll look so cute when he grows into them. What? He's a 28-year-old rapper? Jesus! That's just wrong.

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    Bad Yes, we know that the whole knee socks, tucked in shirt and formal shorts is considered acceptable office wear in Bermuda. Doesn't make it any less disastrous looking, does it?

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    Good Instead, perhaps the good people of Bermuda might take a cue from Dsquared's preppily hip version of business shorts chic.

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    Bad The truth will set you free. But will it help you escape from you super skintight stripey short shorts?

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    Bad We wanted to use a picture of Fred Durst to illustrate the overgrown teenager with bad tattoos, bleached hair, a stupid beard and oversized board shorts look, but he seems to have disappeared from public view of late. Luckily Food Network's Guy Fieri is keeping the douchebag spirit alive.

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    Good While slobby, garish board shorts are a no-no, this casually chic plaid pair from Gilded Age demonstrates the point where beach-based comfort and sartorial awareness meet

    Gilded Age

    Bad Okay, we'd be grossed out if these if were your swimwear. Surprisingly, combining them with a belly shirt, soccer socks and shoes doesn't seem to make them any less creepy.

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    Bad Shorts as evening wear is an odd call at the best of times. Borrowing a pair of camo shorts from a 13-year-old "Medal of Honor" geek only makes matters worse for Mr. Armstrong.

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    Good If anyone was going to master the elusive shorts-on-a-night-out style, it would be Kanye. This dashing blue pair are just the right length and perfectly matched with a simple, understated pair of all-white kicks.

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    Bad Check out little Spidey-boy making a common shorts mistake. You may have spent college slouching round the dorm in baggy sport shorts, but that doesn't mean they're acceptable streetwear in the grown-up world. Good luck at 8th grade basketball camp, champ!

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