The summer of short shorts is well underway, thanks to Harry Styles, Milo Ventimiglia, and Paul Mescal, all of whom have been known to rock gym-ready styles with next-to-nothing inseams. Hailey Bieber, Sophie Turner, and Zendaya, too, have shown an affinity for the sporty style. Now, we want to join in on the action. But while there’s no shortage of options to choose from, with every brand from Nike to Prada serving up some version of the athletic summer staple, finding a pair that’s just right is harder than some might think.
For instance, if you want a pair with high slit sides for 360º movement, your best bet is to try and buy them vintage from the ‘80s or ‘90s (see Ben Covington, played by Scott Speedman, running in Season 1, Episode 4 of Felicity), since the modern versions rarely offer styles that are quite so breezy. Do you plan to wear them more as a fashion piece than a gym look? Perhaps you want to opt for something a bit more exclusive than Nike’s ubiquitous swoosh. Lining, pockets, drawstrings, and rise all play an important role in the short shorts shopping process. Really, it just depends on what look you’re going for.
To ensure that you find a pair that checks off all your sartorial boxes, we went ahead and rounded up the best bare-all pairs on the market. Now, there’s nothing standing in the way of you achieving your Harry Styles style goals — that is, besides 3 to 5 business days for shipping.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
iets frans Blue Satin Runner Short, $, available at Urban Outffiters
Girlfriend Collective Moss Trail Short, $, available at Girlfriend Collective
Oak + Fort Elastic Waist Short, $, available at Oak + Fort
Nike Woven Plus-Size Shorts, $, available at Nike
CDLP Swim Shorts, $, available at CDLP
TNA Alayli Pull-on Running Short, $, available at Aritzia
Anticvalley Vintage Running Lightweight Shorts L, $, available at Etsy
Reebok Plus Repeat Logo Check Boxing Short, $, available at ASOS
Isabel Marant Vicente Swim Shorts, $, available at Isabel Marant
Patagonia Women’s Barely Baggies™ Shorts – 2 1/2″, $, available at Patagonia
Reebok By Victoria Beckham Printed Shell Shorts, $, available at Net-A-Porter
Los Angeles Apparel Nylon Taffeta Shorts, $, available at Los Angeles Apparel
FP Movement | Free People Run For It Shorts, $, available at Free People
Umbro Women’s Checkerboard Short, $, available at Amazon
adidas by Stella McCartney Logo Waistband Running Shorts, $, available at Farfetch
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