Once upon a time, skirts ruled summer. You'd have a pair of shorts, sure, but they'd be the lone pair of denim cutoffs, chaffing your backside with their ever increasing fray. But skirts? You'd have loads. A mini, a maxi, a drop hem, hell maybe even a tube skirt (dead forgiving on a cider-bloated belly.)
Then 2014 came along and with it paraded a whole news shorts culture. Seriously, we've never seen the humble short pant represented so fulsomely. From below-the-knee pantaloon, to longline denim, to drawstring bermudas, to silky boxers, to crochet, to culottes, to cycling shorts –we could have shot them for days. We've compiled the best four and shown you ways to wear them. Caution: Requires you to be brave of leg. And have good moisturiser.
The Culottes
The most obvious of the shorts brigade, the culotte – traditionally the most anti-sexy short of all – has enjoyed a blistering return. Wear them with heels, wear them with trainers – they're far more flattering and useful than initially given credit for. Seen on dozens of SS14 catwalks, including Hermes, Armani and Derek Lam, try a white pair and feel like a broad on (a deliciously low-rent) Riviera.
Textured Snakeskin Culottes, £50, Topshop, and Crop Top in Colourful Stripes, £18.55, Front Row Shop
The Boxer Shorts
Well, this one came out of left field, right? But it's here for keepsies (for the summer at least), errupting into our consciousness via Alexander Wang, who sent models down his SS14 catwalk in New York in pyjama-inspired button-down shirts and boxer shorts. Strange as it may seem, they're actually a winner – the boxy fit, the silky material, stripes (or in this case, paisley). No longer do boys get to have all the (boxer-related) fun.
Pomme Shorts (similar here), £132.92, Sandro, and NYC Baseball Jersey Shirt with Stripe Print, £50, Majestic at Street Casuals
The Drawstring Denim
Forget those denim cut-offs we spoke of earlier, it's all about the longer line denim this summer. Think skinny jeans hacked off at the knee and drawstring denim bermudas. Like the boxers, this style is all about the comfort. Not only will it remind you of your Billabong days (c'mon, everyone had that board short phase aged ten), but they're sedate enough to handle an '80s fanny pack, thrown over the top. Incase you hadn't noticed, this is a festival ideal.
Denim Pull On Bermuda Short, £28, ASOS, Vintage Renewal Bum Bag in Black and Purple, £15, at Urban Outfitters, and Weird Pink Top, £38, Lazy Oaf
The Cycling Short
Before you freak out, can we just point out that if you can't commit to cycling shorts worn solo, they look pretty cool poking out the bottom of a LWD, or a pair of super-short black shorts for an interesting summer layer. You've got Chanel (and Karl's vigorous interest in streetwear) to thank for this trend coming back. Another serious bonus is that being spandex, and therefore clinnging to your thighs, there's no chance of anyone seeing up your shorts. Such an easy winner.
Leg-a-See Print Cycle Shorts, £25, Nike at Urban Outfitters, and Vintage T-Shirt, £15, from a selection at Beyond Retro
Follow Pandora on Twitter @pinsykes
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.