A Guide to the Best Summer Shorts: From Micro-Mini to Bermuda
Summer is nigh—do we dare bare thigh?
For such a deceptively simple garment, shorts manage to unravel even the most self-assured dresser. Hems rise and fall, widths balloon and shrink and inseams inch up and down—inspiring chaos when planning summer ‘fits. This year, let the sunshine wash away any reservations about these arbitrary rules. If you’re on the market for the best summer shorts, your chief consideration should be your personal style.
That said, the runways can certainly spur inspiration. This season, for both men and women, hems are both high and low, from Gucci’s teeny-tiny tailored options and outright bikini bottoms at Miu Miu to slacker-chic culottes at Bianca Saunders, Rier and Ami. We can also seek counsel from our most styled—I mean stylish—stars, like Gigi Hadid remixing a nerdy pair of checkered bermuda shorts or Pedro Pascal and Jacob Elordi’s skimpy suit bottoms.
Whether you’re eyeing thigh-baring hot pants or calf-grazing cargos, consider this your field guide to finding shorts for this summer.
The Barley-There Bikini Bottoms
When designers opt to use underwear as outerwear to make a rebellious runway statement, it can sometimes feel like a hollow gimmick. Only Miu Miu could take the divisive style mainstream, turning a fad into a genuine idea. After all, the very same brand has already done the heavy lifting to convince countless cool girls to wear tights as pants. Why not try bathing-suit bottoms? They’re irreverent and daringly cool—just like the people who are bold enough to wear them.
The Scandalously Short-Shorts
If you’re dystopian inclined with a taste for freaky fashion, Acne Studios has got you covered—well, not literally—with these distressed micro shorts. Style them with destroyed knitwear and utilitarian boots if you want to resemble an extra in a post-apocalyptic epic, or dial down the shock factor with sneakers and a T-shirt.
The NSFW Work Shorts
Gucci devoted its Spring 2025 menswear show to one standout style: the tailored short shorts. This pleated pair is both smart and sexy. Think the head-turning length of Paul Mescal’s running shorts mixed with the savoir faire of luxury tailoring. Athletic ease meets elevated edge.
The Cool-Girl Boxers
Simply put, Comme Si has turned loungewear into clothes you can wear anywhere. Offered in a range of colours from optic white to business blue, these crisp cotton boxers reimagine a menswear class as cool-girl catnip. Why not style a business-blue pair with a matching button-down and an oversized blazer?
The Prep-School-Villain Starter-Pack Pair
Banana Republic specializes in wardrobe staples that inspire wanderlust. And these smart linen shorts look exactly like the kind that Patrick Schwarzenegger’s White Lotus character would leave lying around for staff to pick up during another sordid offshore sojourn. With a nine-inch inseam and a variety of versatile colours, from khaki to navy, this pair works for casual Friday and cocktails in Costa Brava.
The Baggy Bermudas
These shorts—oversized and comfortable—tick all the boxes. So billowy they could pass for a skirt? Check. Surprisingly structured despite their elastic waists? Check. Designed to fit most bodies? Check. The fluid silhouette lends a sense of ease, but the proportion adds a little edge. Dress them up with a structured blazer or keep it effortless and skate park-appropriate with a vest and Vans.
The Actually Cute Culottes
These MSGM culottes look like your Dickies work nine-to-five. Made from crisp khaki cotton, these structured shorts balance a corporate-coded length with an ultra-wide silhouette. The exaggerated volume adds a witty element to a business basic.
This article first appeared in FASHION’s Summer 2025 issue. Find out more here.
This article contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Fashion FWD:
The next best thing to being a fashion editor - BTS access to trends, products & news.