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

By Swedan Margen

Put Aside Your Denim Cutoffs—These 4 Shorts Trends Are Way More Elegant
a woman wears pink shorts

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.

a woman wears long shorts
Naiara Shorts
Brit Stretch-Linen Shorts

Veronica Beard

Brit Stretch-Linen Shorts

Niselle Shorts

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.

a woman wears pink shorts
Summerweight Nylon Short With Removable Lining

j.crew

Summerweight Nylon Shorts With Removable Lining

Varsity Blues Shorts

FP Movement

Varsity Blues Shorts

Nylon High-Rise Short 5

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.

a woman wears satin shorts
Fern Satin Short

Reformation

Fern Satin Shorts

Lace-Trim Satin Pajama Short Set

Old Navy

Lace-Trim Satin Pajama Short Set

Intimissimi Lace Trim Silk Shorts

Intimissimi

Lace Trim Silk Shorts

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.

a woman wears linen shorts
Easy Pull on Linen Blend Shorts

ELOQUII

Easy Pull-On Linen Blend Shorts

Charles Linen Short

A.L.C.

Charles Linen Shorts

Linen-Blend Suit Bermuda Shorts - Women | Mango Usa

MANGO

Linen-Blend Suit Bermuda Shorts

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