12 best summer shorts for any sunny situation
Stuck for the best swimming trunks? Confused about what shorts to wear to work? Don't worry, we've got your back.
Without meaning to jinx it, this is very likely the best summer we’ve had in a long time. Maybe ever. And with no sign of the sun waning it’s high time that you stocked up on some decent shorts to see us through the rest of summer. That one pair you always drag from the darkest depths of your laundry basket every year are already looking pretty tired aren’t they?
Whether you needs swimming trunks, shorts for running or shorts to wear to work we’ve got you covered.
Best shorts for the weekend
Diesel’s P-Ground shorts mash up Japanese embroidery and casual streetwear and will wear well into autumn (as long as your legs can stand the chill). Dress them up with a plain shirt buttoned all the way up and a chunky Derby shoe or keep it simple with a plain crew neck T-shirt and your favourite trainers. But do have fun with the colours within the print - there’s cerise-red and light blue in there along with a lilac tint in the background.
Best shorts for running
Lululemon’s ingenious Switch Up Shorts feature a bounce-free phone pocket. BOUNCE-FREE PHONE POCKET. Goodbye annoyance.
Best shorts for work (for a casual-ish office)
It’s sunny, the pavement is melting, the world is suddenly boiling and after a weekend liberated and unshackled from your full-lengths you realise you have no-idea what your office shorts policy is come Monday morning. Eek. Do you risk it? Well Dickie’s have hit the mark their work shorts. This pair sits on or below the knee and are perfectly smart. Team with a neat plain pastel shirt (Gant’s spearmint or papaya are really nice) and immaculate skate shoes and I don’t think you’d be pushing it to stick a pocket chain on them.
Best swim shorts
Orlebar Brown make the best fitting swimming shorts around. It’s a fact. How? They’re all made using a tailored trouser pattern (blueprint) and feature Savile Row-style side-adjusters to make what they call ‘shorts you can swim in’ – not trunks. And that’s exactly what they are, proper beach to bar shorts, and if these ones aren’t quite you, you can create your own using any image you like which is pretty fun. With the correct fastenings and proper fit on these you don’t need to worry about them slipping down when they’re waterlogged so try on a few sizes to make sure you have ones that sit on your hips the best. You’ll know they’re right when you don’t have any skin bulge or ‘muffin-top’ hanging over the top that everyone gets with most other trunks.
Buy now: £175; orlebarbrown.com
Best denim shorts
The contrast stitching on these twill Weekday shorts are just crying out to be matched with logo T-Shirts and socks.
Best shorts for sunbathing on the beach
River Island’s swimming short shorts will allow for maximum tan potential and they’ll also look very lovely while doing so.
Best shorts for summer workouts
Nike’s NBA-inspired shorts just scream summer. Their loose-fit and sweat-wicking fabric will keep them feeling cool and breezy but they’re long enough that you can work-out without fear of an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction.
Best shorts for festival season
Ultimate wavy garms in the form of NikeLab’s floral print shorts and their matching shirt. It’s so far from festival try-hard we’ll even say crack on and stick a bucket hat with the look.
Best shorts for park to pub
If you’re lucky enough to live near a lido or swimming ponds it might be nice to have a pair of shorts you can have the option to swim in as well as get around the city in without feeling underdressed. Enter these Fantastic ones by Thames. They are, obviously fantastic but that’s actually their name too. They’re black, stylish and so well constructed that you can roll straight from the park to the pub garden without anyone ever knowing they were intended for the water.
Best luxury shorts to invest in
Graduate from the school of Adidas and onto Thom Browne for a smarter casual look but save these for the street and not the gym.
Buy now: £409; endclothing.com
Best shorts for comfort
“75 quid?!” you’re thinking. Trust us – these cotton and modal shorts will be the best investment for your lounge-time you’ll ever know. Future hungover/HIIT-destroyed you will be eternally grateful.
