I Live in Denim Shorts in the Summer—9 Pretty Trends I'll Be Pairing With Them

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(Image credit: @louloudesaison)

If there's one item I wear more than any other once summer rolls around, it's denim shorts. And as a market editor whose DMs are full of shopping requests, I can say with certainty that it's one of the most sought-after summer items for plenty of others as well.

Denim shorts may seem pretty boring in the grand scheme of fashion attire, but they serve as the perfect basic backdrop to all my trendy pieces, as they're easy to dress up with a satin blouse and kitten heels or dress down with Birks and a button-down. Whether I wear them on the city streets, at the beach, or during a market appointment, they're the ideal practical and cool piece when the temps hit above 70°.

Today, I'm sharing all the pretty and chic trends to wear with your denim shorts this summer. From chic ballet flats to beautiful blouses, take a look below to inspire your next denim-shorts summer outfit.

White Embroidered Blouse

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(Image credit: @michellemdriscoll)

There's something so pretty about crisp white embroidery in the summer. It adds a beautiful touch to simple denim shorts. Just add gold earrings and slides and you're outfit is complete.

Pair with:

Ballet Flats

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(Image credit: @leiasfez)

Ballet flats are having a major moment this summer (and will continue their dominance into fall). The classic shoes undoubtedly add polish to the casual nature of denim shorts, making them the perfect pairing for summer in the city.

Pair with:

Chic Belt

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(Image credit: @anoukyve)

Whether you go for sleek leather or a trending chain silhouette, a chic belt will pull together a denim-shorts outfit in an instant.

Pair with:

Oversize Button-Down

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(Image credit: @amaka.hamelijnck)

Breezy button-downs exude an effortless elegance and are a match made in heaven with denim shorts. Neutral hues are great, but summer is the perfect time to add a bold pop of color too.

Pair with:

Something Shimmery

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(Image credit: @tamaramory)

Shimmery, glittery pieces are trending this summer, and they'll add allure to your basic denim shorts. Opt for a glittery swimsuit with your shorts at the pool or a sparkly top for early evening drinks.

Pair with:

Lace-Up Sandals

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(Image credit: @erinoffduty)

Add interest to your denim shorts and pair them with lace-up sandals for a fresh summer look.

Pair with:

Crochet

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(Image credit: @littleblackboots)

Nothing says summer quite like crochet—it adds such a romantic, free-spirited touch to your staple denim shorts.

Pair with:

Tweed Topper

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(Image credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

Take your denim-shorts outfit from meetings to margaritas with the addition of an elegant tweed jacket. It's such a chic look.

Pair with:

Charming Blouse

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(Image credit: @annelauremais)

Exude French-girl charm and pair your cutoffs with a pretty puff-sleeve blouse. You simply can't go wrong with this duo.

Pair with:

Up next, 10 Uncomplicated Summer Outfits I'd Like to Copy and Paste From Instagram

Judith Jones
Senior Fashion Market Editor

Judith is the senior fashion market editor at Who What Wear and has worked in fashion for nearly a decade. Judith started on the Shop Who What Wear team, creating content and managing a team of merchandisers for the Who What Wear shopping app. She later crossed over to the editorial team, where she shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands in her shopping-focused stories and social takeovers. She has become one of the top affiliate earners during her six plus years at Who What Wear. Before working in fashion, Judith was a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) and shared her passion for travel and food. She studied at the prestigious London Academy of Dramatic Arts as well as Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York. She later studied fashion merchandising and design, which laid the foundation for her career in fashion.


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