The hottest season of the year is here, and ladies would now be making the switch from their trousers and other long bottoms to a more comfy pair of shorts. Indeed, it’s time to let those legs breathe and experience some sun to bring back some color to them.
So, if you are all about shorts fashion for the summer, listed below are some of the styles to wear for malling, brunch with friends, a day at the beach, a night-time event, and even work (if your workplace supports fashion freedom and fun).
1. Short Suits
Short suits are perfect to wear for a flexible workplace. You still look professional yet playful and season-appropriate. Some of the best options for sharp short suits are those that come with shorts that fall right above the knee, similar to the lovely rust-colored short suit that actress Julia Roberts wore in the film “Pretty Woman.”
Another fashionable short suit for work is one that has an oversized jacket and long-ish tapered shorts, which is an ensemble that is quite ideal for long and slender women. And the third option is the classic linen short suit with a really structured jacket and shorts that are a mid-thigh length, which is perfect for petite women.
2. Skorts
The hybrid of a skirt and shorts will always be controversial in the fashion world (is it a fashion no or a fashion go?), but it’s a piece that’s fun to play with. You can pair it with almost anything — a funky Afro T-shirt, a crisp classic white blouse, a crop top. The possibilities are endless.
The truly lovely thing about skorts is they provide a more feminine silhouette than other shorts styles, but they are just as comfortable and convenient to wear even if they’re really short. Another advantage of wearing skorts is that you don’t have to worry about strong gusts of wind creating an accidental Marilyn Monroe moment (in the film “The Seven Year Itch”) for you.
3. Vintage Grunge
The ‘90s boast awesome shorts styles, which are evident in iconic films from the era such as “Reality Bites,” “Singles,” “Clueless,” “Cruel Intentions,” and even “The Baby-Sitters Club.” Shorts were paired with everything from a long vintage button-down dress, to mismatched patterns, to oversized plaid shirts, to baby doll dresses, and many others.
Here are some grunge styling tricks to follow for shorts:
When pairing shorts with a long button-down dress, only button the dress down to the waist for a slit to show off the shorts. This will create a whimsical, high-low summer style.
With a baby doll dress, on the other hand, make sure that the dress is almost the length of a shirt for the peek-a-boo shorts.
If you want to play around with grunge patterns, you can’t go wrong with plaid and florals, plus stripes and plaids. Go for plaid shorts or wear denim shorts with a flannel plaid shirt tied around the waist to pair with a striped top or a floral blouse.
4. The S&S (Stockings or Socks and Shorts)
If you enjoy the dressing up styles of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘90s, you will notice that they featured a lot of fashionable legwear — from vibrantly colored tights to knee-high stockings, and fluffy school socks. Socks can beautifully accentuate your legs and also pair nicely with whatever style of shorts you have.
There are no rules to follow for the S&S, and if you want to be fashionably adventurous this summer, experiment with different styles, materials, and socks tricks (such as color-pairing them with shoes to make them look like boots). Stylists also suggest pairing different kinds of legwear when you’re wearing shorts, like fishnet stockings under printed socks.
5. Shorts and Suspenders
This is another S&S style to try for the summer. Suspenders can work for all kinds of shorts, and they’re a charming alternative to belts because they can enhance the shape of the female body.
A lot of shorts even come with built-in suspenders, and they make great additions to your wardrobe, especially if they come in interesting shapes and lengths such as bloomers and pedal pushers.
6. Jumper or Overall-Shorts
Jumpers or overall shorts have a similar style to shorts and suspenders. This particular style of shorts is quite popular these days, especially among young people. They are beloved because they are comfortable and figure-flattering. On top of that, there’s no right or wrong choice when it comes to tops to pair these overall shorts with.
Best of all, a lot of women find that overall shorts make for an excellent cover-up at the beach. It’s all they need to wear over their swimsuits. If they want to layer a bit more either for modesty, warmth or style, all they have to do is wear a long-sleeved shirt over it or tie a sweater around the waist.
7. Biker Shorts
These athletic shorts were popular during the time of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” and they have made a strong comeback in the last three years. Biker shorts are worn with oversized suit jackets, designer pullovers, tank tops, and ‘80s-style blouses. They are for the brave because they require a fierce attitude to wear them as style pieces. So, if you have this essential attitude for them, there clearly are a lot of ways to rock these shorts.
Fashion stylists, however, point out that if you want to make these biker shorts look high-end instead of mere athletic wear, go for exotic prints such as leopard, as well as geometric patterns. Also, choose your top wisely; opt for loose silhouettes and eye-catching designs such as African tribal clothing with their colorful patterns and unique cuts. Plus, make accessories work for you. Don a fanny pack, sunglasses, and jewelry, and select your shoes carefully.
For biker shorts style inspiration, turn to Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Zoe Kravitz.
Those are seven shorts styles that are perfect to try for the summer. Therefore, if you have decided that shorts will be this season’s fashion staple, the styles discussed above are sure to provide you with outfit ideas for different occasions and settings.
AUTHOR BIO
Ethiopian-born and Dubai-based fashion designer Feiruza Mudessir discovered her curiosity to mix the traditional with contemporary at a young age, and this has become the trademark of her designs for Finchitua today. With her unique style standpoint, she served the VIP Color Forecast Panel 2017 for Al Jazeera Paints Company and VIP Color Forecast Panel 2019 for Asian Paints Berger. Ms. Mudessir is a shortlisted nominee for the prestigious Fashion Scout London 2018.
