Five Ways to Wear Denim Shorts

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There are some women out there who, no way, gun to the head, absolutely not, won’t wear shorts, even if it is the same temperature as the sun outside.  I tend to be one of those people.  Give me a skirt or summer dress over a pair of shorts any day, please.  However, a pair of denim shorts, especially a pair like a slim Bermuda style, like these from Lucky Brand, has me rethinking how against shorts I really am.  Unlike a dumpy, frumpy, wide as a bell, ick, pair of shorts that can make a woman’s butt look like a drive-in movie screen, a tapered pair of denim shorts are practically like the summer equivalent of skinny jeans.  Plus, they’re nostalgic. I can’t be only one who cut their jeans into shorts like Baby’s in Dirty Dancing when that movie released, right?  So, if you’re going to wear shorts this summer, how about a pair like these?  In today’s One Item, Five Fashionable Ways, I am going to show you how to stylishly wear denim shorts.

How to Wear Denim Shorts

Outfit #1- With a t-shirt, done stylishly, of course

It’s highly unlikely that you need a style blog to suggest wearing a pair of denim shorts with a t-shirt.  A look like this is obvious.  However, to take an easy look like this up a notch, you can play with color and pattern.  Here I styled these shorts with a classic red and white Boden striped t-shirt, a pair of blue printed casual slingbacks from Lands End, a rope bracelet from Lemon and Line, a super-fun conversational watch Nooka in red and a blue Vince Camuto handbag bring this laid back look together with style.

Outfit #2- With Wedges

With longer denim shorts you can get away with wearing them with wedges without looking like a hooker on the Tuesday afternoon skank shirt.   Heels obviously have a leg slimming and lengthening effect, which is a bonus when wearing shorts.  If you’re feeling bold enough to pair your shorts with a pair of heels, a summer wedge is definitely the way to go vs. anything looking remotely like a stiletto.  I know it’s not for everyone, but this is why I style one item five different ways.

Here I paired these shorts with a yellow top from Zara that has some relaxed swing to it (great when wearing a slimmer pair of shorts) and, for a bit of a safari look, a lightweight summer cardigan in olive from Target and orange wedges from Franco Sarto.  The deep v-neck is filled in with an ivory bib necklace from Stella & Dot and the outfit is finished with a versatile gold bag from Big Buddha.

Outfit #3- With a chambray shirt

Just like some people are against wearing shorts, no matter how hot it is, wearing denim-on-denim is a discussion that is just a polarizing.  Some are for it and others are wildly against it.  While the trends are saying it’s totally okay, I will leave it up to you to decide.  If you are for it, adding some pop of contrast color to an all denim look will definitely break the monotony of the outfit.

Here, I styled these denim shorts with a J. Crew chambray shirt and, for that punch of color, a pair of printed TOMS shoes, a pink and purple tote bag and purple Kate Spade stud earrings.  The beauty of an all denim outfit is that you can throw in whatever pop colors you want.  An all denim is a great base on which to go crazy with accents of color.

Outfit #4- With a summer-weight sweater

On  a cool summer night, a summer-weight sweater, like one this from Mango, will give you warmth and style.  You know those nights, when you’re taking a stroll on the boardwalk or are huddling around a campfire with marshmallows and you can’t get close enough to the heat of the blaze?  You want to throw on a sweatshirt, but would prefer to be more stylish. This is when this type of a sweater will come in handy.To keep it casual, yet stylish, I styled this outfit with a pair of comfortable Birkenstock sandals in gold, a long gold necklace, simple earrings and the same gold bag used earlier.Outfit #5- The stay-at-home mom who is sick of wearing yoga pants all day As a stay-at-home mom your day looks a lot like this: Get up, race the kids to school or, if it is summer, some sort of day camp type activity, try to eke in Zen time at a yoga class before rushing through the grocery story aisles to come up with some concoction for dinner that, hopefully, all your children will find edible, pick up kids from wherever they are so you can shuttle them to wherever they need to go, drop off dog at groomer, pick up repaired vacuum cleaner, possibly meet up with a friend, maybe swing by the park to let your kids blow off some more steam, clean your house so it isn’t nominated for Hoarder’s: Buried Alive, feed kids, (who all hate what you cooked) throw children in tub, read them the same story you’ve read to them a million-and-a-half times and pour yourself a huge glass of wine.  Okay, maybe your day isn’t exactly like this, but, given the description, is it any wonder why moms rarely get out of yoga pants?If the yoga pants, or schleppy mom who can’t get her act together, look just isn’t your thing, a pair of denim shorts can help you move through your day with your style sense in tact.  Here, for example, I styled them with a workout top and active cardigan, both from Athleta, so that when you can go to a yoga class (instead of going insane) all you have to do is carry your yoga pants in your tote bag, like this one from Stella & Dot.  After class, you can continue on your day without looking like a gym rat, pulled together with a pair of easy flip-flops, like this orange pair from Havianas, and some fun coral earrings you won’t even notice are hanging around.

Still don’t like shorts?

If after reading this post you still don’t like shorts, you can always swap out the shorts for a denim skirt or a pair of jeans.  In addition, if you hate your pasty white legs, consider using Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs.  It is my favorite summer leg-baring solution once the weather gets warm.

If you’re now on the search for the perfect denim shorts

Check out these additional styles at some of my favorite retailers

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