The Summer Shorts Edit (Classic styles under $100)
I tried on them all on so you don't have to! The losers, the winners, and the ones that came home with me
*It’s my birthday today 🎉 so this post is on me and free for all :) If you enjoy my work, and you’d like to make my birthday extra special, the best gift you could give me is becoming a subscriber. Thank you! 😉 And on with the post….
While I continue to mull over whether or not i’m going to do another no buy wardrobe challenge, I spent the past week taking stock of what I do have, revisiting my traffic light wishlist and preparing the items I want to sell/donate.
As a trouser lover, summer poses an obvious struggle. If you’ve been here while you already know of my love for the Aritzia Effortless Pants, and how I’d estimate I spend half of my life (the cooler months specifically) in these trousers.
In addition to getting two pairs of white linen slouchy trousers, and one dress, what I realised I really needed, were shorts. More specifically to diversify my choices when it comes to shorts given that the few I do have I wear a lot. What I miss about summer is being able to utilize my belt collection, as most of my linen trousers are drawstring pants, and only one of my existing pairs of shorts actually has belt loops. Belts add so much to an outfit, and I think i’d feel more like myself if I could incorporate more belts into the mix this summer.
I wanted more classic short options that could serve for any occasion, be dressed up or dressed down. I wanted above all else, comfort…sorry no Agolde jeans here! I’m also on a budget. My go to for highstreet pieces in the past has always been H&M premium but I was curious to see what else was out there. After a rampant internet search and several screenshots later, I head out to spend an entire afternoon trying on said shorts and these are the results.
For every image of me in the fitting room/wearing them at home, I’m also going to show how they are styled/fit on a straight size model. As someone in a midsize body I always want to know what these items actually look like when they’re worn on anyone other than a size 4 or smaller. I made sure to wear a classic white tee, a black belt and my black flip flop heels which I’ve worn throughout.
Abercrombie High Rise Dad Shorts in Dark wash
I wanted to start off on a positive note, and knowing I already had this short in a lighter wash, (what I would describe as medium, which I don’t think they do any longer in my exact wash) I had been meaning to add the dark wash to my wardrobe. They didn’t have any curve love ones in stock, so I actually went with a size 33 which felt very comfy, and less fitted than my curve love size 32.
Abercrombie High Rise Dad Shorts in Dark wash What you need to know:
Price: $70 (bought on offer for $44.63 (they matched the price instore with the online/app pricing)
Fabric composition: Body: 99% Cotton, 1% Elastane / Pocket Bag:70% Polyester, 30% Cotton
Sizing: 23 - 37 (also available in the curve love edition)
Comfort: Very comfortable, that 1% elastane does give that little bit of stretch that I think you need if you want comfort.
Quality: Great! As someone who has quite a few pieces of denim from Abercrombie, i’ve yet to find a brand who does denim for curvy women better.
Banana Republic High Rise Linen Bermuda Short
Why I chose today of all days to wear black knickers, i’ll never know! Needless to say it showcases just how see through these are. These looked promising on the hanger, but I just didn’t love them on me. I’m wearing an XL here.
Banana Republic High Rise Linen Bermuda Short What you need to know:
Price: $90
Fabric composition: 100% Linen
Sizing: XSS - XXL
Comfort: A bit up the bum…IYKYK. Not for me, and not for this price.
Quality: They were nicely made, but nothing groundbreaking.
J. Crew 4" Heritage Chino Short in Black
Am I chino wearing woman now? Why I believe I am! From looking at the image of the shorts not on a model I probably would have passed on these, but these were so comfy, and I loved the fact they were mostly cotton, with a little structure to them. I’m wearing a US size 14 here and I loved them so much, I also bought them in white (see below).
J. Crew Heritage Chino Shorts What you need to know:
Price: $59.50 (But purchased for $34.50 due to a promotion)
Fabric composition: 97% cotton/3% elastane.
Sizing: 00-24
Comfort: Extremely comfortable!
Quality: Love the fabric, and the simple classic design.
J. Crew 4" Heritage Chino Short in White
Again the simplicity of these struck me when it comes to stylistic choices. This is also about as short as i’m willing to go with my shorts, but they do come in longer lengths, but alas they were out of stock. I feel like I need a sailing boat to go with this outfit, feels very ralph lauren on a budget, and I’m kind of into it. Also wearing a size 14.
J. Crew Heritage Chino Shorts What you need to know:
Price: $59.50 (But purchased for $34.50 due to a promotion)
Fabric composition: 97% cotton/3% elastane.
Sizing: 00-24
Comfort: Extremely comfortable!
Quality: Love the fabric, and the simple design.
J. Crew 3" Harbor Short In Linen White
I didn’t love these, even though I swear they’re similar in length to the Chino shorts, they just felt a little too short. I also didn’t love the fit. Granted a good iron would make these look ten times better, but I felt like the pockets sat weird and it kind of grabbed a bit at my crotch, yet they were too baggy around my waist. I tried these on in an XL.
J. Crew 3'' Harbor Short In Linen What you need to know:
Price: $69.50 but I paid $34.50 due to a promotion they had
Fabric composition: 100% Linen
Sizing: XXXS - 3X
Comfort: These had stretch at the back waistband so they were definitely comfortable but in a way that affected the overall fit negatively in my opinion.
Quality: These weren’t bad, but also not amazing. I have a better linen short coming up!
Gap 11" Mid Rise Longline Denim Shorts in Medium Indigo
I really wanted to love these, I liked them, but I didn’t love them. I think the mid rise fit through me off a little, plus they felt a little too wide at the bottom of the leg. They were also quite a thick denim which I worried would be a little too warm in the LA summer heat. These were a size 32.
Gap 11" Mid Rise Longline Denim Shorts What you need to know:
Price: $69.95
Fabric composition: Cotton 95%, Recycled Cotton 5%
Sizing: 24-35
Comfort: Not bad, but a little too thick for my liking, perfect for LA winter I guess.
Quality: Very nice, I had forgotten how good certain pairs of Gap denim can be.
Madewell The Drapey Twill Pleated Short in White
These looked better on than they do in the photo, which i’m not sure what to make of and I do think these look better with a belt. They were very comfortable and gave the feeling of a short with a bit more structure, a little more formal which I liked. I went back and forth on these, so much so I actually went back to the shop for a second try on. I think it was the pleats on this that I just couldn’t make my mind up on. I loved the length of the short and that it wasn’t too close to the leg, but ultimately I didn’t come away with these. I’m wearing these and the black ones below in a US size 14.
Madewell The Drapey Twill Pleated Short What you need to know:
Price: $84
Fabric composition: 48% TENCEL™ Lyocell/33% cotton/19% linen.
Sizing: 00 - 16
Comfort: Very comfortable, roomy but still with a secure fit (no gaping at the back).
Quality: I appreciated the cut of these, they offered something a little more polished compared to the other shorts, and the fabric felt very breathable.
Madewell The Drapey Twill Pleated Short in Black
(See above review)
Madewell The Drapey Twill Pleated Short What you need to know:
Price: $84
Fabric composition: 48% TENCEL™ Lyocell/33% cotton/19% linen.
Sizing: 00 - 16
Comfort: Very comfortable, roomy but still with a secure fit (no gaping at the back).
Quality: I appreciated the cut of these, they offered something a little more polished compared to the other shorts, and the fabric felt very breathable.
Madewell The 1997 Denim Bermuda Short in Bronxville Wash
These were one of the pieces I was most excited to try on from images I had screen grabbed before heading into town. I love the look of the white denim but they were sold out in store and out of my size online. This dark wash was stunning though, and after trying the Gap one’s I mentioned earlier I much prefer the cut of these. Happy to report that these came home with me, and I can’t wait to style them!
Madewell The 1997 Denim Bermuda Short What you need to know:
Price: $98
Fabric composition: 100% cotton (5% of which is recycled)
Sizing: 23-33
Comfort: Incredibly comfortable considering these are 100% cotton. Not as heavy as other jeans i’ve tried which is what I want from a summer short. I will say there was a smidge of gaping at the back but I think I need that in a denim short without any stretch if I want to be able to eat a burger in it…which I 100% do.
Quality: I loved everything about these, the cut, the wash, and the fabric.
Madewell Pintucked Shorts in 100% Linen Black
I don’t feel like the photo does these justice, but these shorts feel the perfect linen short. We have belt loops, a relaxed tailored cut and in many ways I almost feel like this creates the illusion of a short skirt which I quite like. These felt light as a feather without scraping on quality.
Madewell Pintucked Shorts in 100% Linen What you need to know:
Price: $78
Fabric composition: 100% Linen
Sizing: 00 - 16
Comfort: Very comfortable, with or without a belt.
Quality: Really nice, top marks for the cut, the fabric and the way it falls on the body.
The Final Five
Going home with five pairs of shorts may seem excessive, but I feel like living in LA where it’s hot most of the year, I can justify it. I’m also not a skirt person. I feel more confident at the thought of going into another no buy now I have a wider selection of short options. I also think I need to donate/sell some of my old shorts that are now too small for me, so some of these are also replacements.
Make sure you’re subscribed because in my next post i’ll be sharing how to we shorts, and giving you the formulas I use in my own wardrobe plus all the styling tips. You won’t want to miss this one!
Thanks so much for reading and if you found this helpful, please give it some love and share it with anyone you think might find it helpful.
Speak soon
Harry x
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Shorts content FOR FREE??? I don't think we deserve it but I did enjoy it! I've tried on a few of these myself and had similar reactions. But the Madewell ones really caught my eye!
Two things jump out at me. Number one in every photo you look better than the model number two I’m just so inspired by how carefully you pause and consider even with purchases under $100.