The Best Denim Shorts UNDER $100! April 18, 2017 | It’s Tuesday, friends and you know what that means…The Style Board Series! Today I’m tackling another highly requested post, which is all about Denim Shorts. They are a Summer staple, but most women dread shopping for them and you guys really don’t have all of the time in the world to research them, try them on, and understand which are best for your body-type…so I’ve done all of the hard work for you. You guys know the drill…these posts are long, detailed, and take a few minutes to read through…but I promise it will be worth it, so grab a cup of coffee and let’s talk denim shorts. First, let’s talk trends. There are a few things that are different with denim this season, so let’s chat about what you should be looking for and/or open to trying out. -High Waisted // waist lines are coming up, which is great! – Distressed // Not really anything new, but distressed denim is sticking around for the Summer in a big way. -Clean + Cuffed // Quite a few of the options that I chose have a clean 1” or so cuff around the hem, which I think is a great polished look. What you should think about. Many of you have requested a few longer inseam options, which I really tried to focus on for this post. We’ve all probably heard the tern “Janties” (aka Jean Panties) by now and that’s really something most of you are trying to avoid…am I right?! So, I’m sure that inseam is probably the #1 thing you should think about when buying shorts. I personally look for right at a 2.5-3” inseam when buying denim shorts. That way I have length enough to not have my hiney hanging out, but I also don’t add too much weight around my thighs. If you’re going to go with a 3”+ inseam (or more of a boyfriend fit), consider wearing them with a belt or more fitted top. This way you are still giving yourself some shape and creating a flattering silhouette with the shorts adding more weight to the outfit on the bottom. If you decide on a shorter inseam, you might want to wear a more flowy baby doll top or boyfriend t-shirt to balance out the silhouette. Even front tucking the top, gives a great silhouette. Okay, now on to my favorites! These are all under $100 (you’re welcome!) and broken down by inseam and a few details! JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content. Turn on your JavaScript to view content one | $69 3.5” Inseam. Run TTS. So these technically should be in the other category, but they look a wee shorter than 3.5” inseam to me, so I left them here. I love this brand and own quite a few denim pieces from them. The exposed pockets are a great style detail and I love the lighter was and minimal distressing. two | $78* 3” inseam. Run slightly big, only size up if you are between sizes anyway. When I asked my favorite sales gal at Nordstrom to lead me to their most popular denim short so far this Spring, she went for these right away. This brand always gives the best bang for your buck when it comes to denim, so I scooped them up right away hoping that I would be able to wear them after baby. The dark wash is awesome and I love the cuff. Also there’s some distressing, but it doesn’t expose any skin. These are a *TOP PICK. three | $55* 2” inseam. Run TTS. Another pair that I personally own and highly recommend. These are definitely on the shorter side, but trust me when I say that they are not TOO short. They have a relaxed fit that makes them feel like more of a pair of boyfriend shorts. They great light wash is casual and cool and I love throwing them on with a white t-shirt for a laid back Summer look. They do have distressing that exposes skin, so if that bothers you, these might not be the pair for ya. *TOP PICK (Same pair // last years version) four | $79.50 6” inseam. Runs small. So that inseam number is a little misleading, because these roll up to 2.5-3” inseam when cuffed. These are another pair that my gal at Nordstrom said have been a huge hit among clients of all ages. Levi’s really hit a home run with the wash, fit and waist-line of these shorts that hit high enough to cover up muffin tops. They have a washed and worn feel, which makes them a great casual pair of shorts. Size up for best fit. five | $39 2.5” inseam. TTS. How stinkin’ cute are these ruffled chambray shorts?? If you’ve got true denim shorts covered, these are a great way to mix up your closet for a more playful look. They are SUPER lightweight and such an easy, comfy fit. Wear them with a cute striped tank and you are ready to go. Also, the price is amazing. six | $68 2” inseam. TTS // Size up for a little length. Ok gals, this is the shortest pair that I could go with on here, and only because I also own these myself. They definitely are on the shorter side, but I really love the way they look on…granted I must have a tan and be feeling halfway decent about my legs to wear these. If you have great legs that you are proud of, these are the shorts for you! They are super flattering, easy to wear and a good neutral wash. If you wanted a little extra length, I would size up and let them sit a little lower on the hips. (Same pair // last years version) Turn on your JavaScript to view content seven | $78 3.5” inseam. Run TTS. Madewell definitely knows what they are doing when it comes to denim and I think that these are a great staple short because of their medium wash, clean lines, no distressing and slim fit. Although there are no reviews yet, it *looks* like these fit a bit slimmer through the thigh. eight | $69 5” inseam. Run TTS. These are longer, but not too long. They are a lighter wash WITH distressing, making them super casual. A more slim fit along the legs, but they do have 1% spandex making them stretchy. An awesome everyday option! nine | $54.50 3.5” inseam. Run big (size down one) I put these shorts on here in two colors, because that’s how great I think that they are! My mom bought these last season and LOVES them. They are a clean, great basic short that’s not too short and not too long with no distressing. They can be rolled once more to make them a bit shorter if that’s what you’re looking for, but otherwise have an overall flattering fit. I always find that for me personally LOFT runs big, so size down if you feel the same way. ten | $54.50 3.5” inseam. Run big (size down one). SEE ABOVE. eleven | $58 4” inseam. Run TTS. If you are looking for a great basic short that you could wear almost daily, these are your picks! I love this brand for denim and also love this darker wash, clean cuff and slightly longer fit…perfect for a mom on the go! twelve | $64.50 3” inseam. Run TTS. Another Madewell pair, this time with a few more trend features. These are a higher waisted pair, if you want to give that trend a whirl. While they do have a frayed hem (which I LOVE!), they don’t have on-short distressing, making them a good go-to in your closet. thirteen | $69* 4” inseam. Run TTS or slightly big. Another GREAT basic. These are a mid rise (a great option if you’re not ready to fully commit to the high rise) and also have that 1% spandex, which really makes them mold to your body for comfort. I love the medium wash and slight frayed hem, too! *TOP PICK fourteen | $59 4” inseam. Run big. I think that these are one of my favorite choices for on-the-go mom shorts…appropriate for chasing toddlers, grocery shopping…you name it. They aren’t matronly, but have a great, clean look to them so that you could wear them virtually every day and no one would notice. I love the dark wash, nice cuff and overall more boyfriend fit that won’t hug the thigh. Make sure to glance at the reviews to decide on sizing down one OR TWO sizes. *TOP PICK Well, gals, there you have it…a full guide to buying denim shorts from the comfort of your sofa! I hope that you found this useful and that you also find some denim shorts that you love! I know that they are truly a Summer staple for me 🙂 In case you’ve missed any recent Style Board Series posts, here they are: Volume 1: Week 1 | Date Night Look + Athleisure Outfit Volume 1: Week 2 | Transitional Tunic + Office Chic Outfit Volume 1: Week 3 | Casual Valentine’s Day Outfits Volume 1: Week 4 | Red Dress Look for Less Volume 1: Week 5 | Athleisure + Mixing Blush and Metallic Volume 1: Week 6 | Athleisure + Wearing White and Chambray for Spring Volume 1: Week 7 | Spring Date Night Inspiration for Every Occassion Volume 1: Week 8 | Athleisure + Wedding Guest Style Volume 1: Week 9 | What to Wear for Easter Volume 1: Week 10 | Swimwear for Moms Volume 1: Week 11 | Top 20 Neutral Sandals for Spring Volume 1: Week 12 | Casual and Cool Don’t forget to pin this image to your Style Board Series boards on Pinterest! See mine HERE.
jaime says April 24, 2017 at 10:12 PM Thank you for making shopping for my summer denim so easy! . What inseam do you feel is low enough for someone in their early 40’s.