12 Cute Pairs of Shorts That Aren’t Jeans

Your definitive guide to branching out from denim; the shorts I have, love, and highly recommend to you!

We’ve had some seriously summery days here in Virginia lately, and you better believe I’ve already busted out the shorts! After dresses, shorts are my favorite clothing item in terms of comfort but not all shorts are created equal. I’ve experienced more than my fair share of ill-fitting, pinching, wedgie-prone styles but after years of investing time and money into this search, I’ve found a handful of go-to shorts that are the peak in comfort and style. I love my denim shorts but not every day or occasion warrants such a laid-back vibe as denim puts off. Most of the time I like to be more on the dressed up-casual end of the spectrum, so I’ve shared my favorite shorts for those days and outfits below, like these investment pair from Zimmermann, or my favorite chinos that come in a variety of colors and lengths (I prefer the 3.5 or 4 inch). On the other hand, there are days I need to still be totally dressed down but not want to sacrifice any bit of my personal style, so I opt for my favorite seersucker shorts which look adorable with tees, tanks, or even golf polos! Sometimes it can be overwhelming to branch out from a style that you’ve stuck with for so long, and with all of the options out there it’s hard to know where to begin. Similarly, online shopping comes with the risk of not knowing if they will fit you correctly. To help with both of these dilemmas, I’ve linked some of my favorite cute pairs of shorts that aren’t jeans, and most of these stores have free shipping both ways, so there’s nothing to lose!

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Khakis

Khaki shorts are a classic staple. These offer a modern, feminine twist on traditional menswear that I am all about!

Sweats

Imagine my excitement when I discovered my favorite joggers now come in shorts! Organic cotton, the perfect beige, under $50, perfect for workouts, gardening, or just looking chic and casual on a hot day!

Lace

The BEST shorts for style and fit but definitely an investment – I wear a size 1 (US 2-4) and got them last fall for 60% off. Get the look for less here, here, and here.

Linen-blend

When summer becomes unbearably hot, linen and cotton are the best fabrics to wear to keep cool. These linen shorts in beautiful blush pink are made for such a time as that and are under $40!

Floral

I had these in white but sold them, and forever live to regret it! I can honestly say they are the most flattering, comfortable, and beautiful shorts you will ever wear. This new floral print is just to die for, too!

Tweed

Tweed shorts (paired with matching tweed jacket) are timeless, elegant, and an easy way to be comfortable and look utterly chic! These are made with organic cotton, huge bonus!

Gingham

I love gingham in the warm months, and these with the paperbag waist and roomy legs are too cute!

Scalloped

Kelly green scalloped shorts – is there anything more summery!? I love these for everything from running errands to brunch.

Seersucker

These come in a few sweet colors and run a size large, I am usually a S but wear an XS in these – one of my most worn pairs in summer!

High-waist

I bought these shorts in two different colors last year because they are that good! For the price you wouldn’t expect anything good, but these are a total gem find! The perfect length, comfortable and breathable and light, and works just as well with a linen button down as they do as a swim cover up.

Chino

I have these in a few colors and this purple is next on my list! Be warned, the light colors are pretty sheer.

Embroidered

This designer is featured in this post for a third time for good reason – they are absolute masters at making the most flattering shorts! Especially if you are curvy and normally have a hard time finding shorts that are small enough at the waist but also accommodate wider hips. For that reason alone, the cost of these will always be justified to me! The next pair on my radar is this amazing embroidered set!

Do you have a favorite pair on this list? Leave a comment below!

xo, Mia