Put Aside Your Denim Cutoffs—These 4 Shorts Trends Are Way More Elegant

I’m nothing if not a creature of habit. From shorts and skirts to dresses and jeans, I wear some form of denim at least five days a week. (Living in Southern California, I can luckily get away with this even in the dead of winter.) Lately, however, I’ve been pushing myself to expand my horizons and temporarily ditch the denim. When it comes to shorts, in particular, there are so many chic non-denim options out there right now.

One of my colleagues even dedicated an entire story to one of these trends: lace-trimmed satin shorts. While I’ll admit that they do resemble pajamas, they’re simply too pretty not to show off in public. Reformation and Old Navy are just two brands that are on board with lace-trimmed satin shorts. Many designers are churning out extra-short silhouettes, but if you prefer a longer pair, these knee-length versions by Free People will do the trick. Scroll down to shop this trend plus my three other favorite non-denim styles of shorts.

1. Summer Suiting

Right now, I’m on a quest to find the perfect pair of tailored shorts to wear with matching blazers or vests. Veronica Beard is one designer who’s particularly fond of this trend—I counted no less than eight variations of shorts suits on the brand’s website.

2. Colorful Nylon Shorts

I credit J.Crew Creative Director Olympia Gayot for putting me on to this trend. When she posted a casual mirror selfie wearing J.Crew’s Summerweight Nylon Shorts ($151), I knew I had to have them in my closet.

3. Lace-Trim Satin Shorts

Haven’t you heard? Innerwear is the new outerwear. The delicate shorts you used to reserve for bedtime are trending in a big way this summer.

4. White Linen Shorts

This one’s a no-brainer. Linen is the perfect fabric to wear during the summer because it’s breathable and wicks away sweat. I’ll be wearing white linen shorts with white tees for a monochrome look.