Sorry, Lace-Trimmed Shorts—This Fancy Shorts Trend Is More 2026
It's elegant and chic enough for any occasion.
While I'm a huge fan of lace-trimmed shorts, I'm growing fatigued of them. They've been having a major moment this summer, but a new shorts trend has taken over, and I'm not mad at it. The shorts trend in question? Taffeta shorts. Now, we've all seen taffeta pants rise in popularity over jeans, so shorts coming into the fashion scene shouldn't be too surprising, especially given this extreme heat lately.
Brands such as Donni and Chan Luu have been popping up with these luxurious-looking shorts to wear for summertime, and fashion people and It girls on Instagram have been eating them up in chic, copy-worthy outfits. While taffeta pants are the It pant style of summer, it's safe to say taffeta shorts are becoming the new go-to shorts trend of the season. Keep scrolling to find the most elegant and sophisticated pairs I've discovered.
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Kerane Marcellus is a New York-based writer. She joined the Who What Wear team in 2025 after writing for Essence Magazine and freelancing for a number of other arts and culture publications. Fashion is a form of expression that she encourages everyone to take part in. There is no right or wrong in getting dressed! When she's not writing, she's reading in the park or gallery hopping in the city.