Women's designer shorts
Women’s designer shorts are among the must-have pieces for summer 2022. However, we are not referring to the short jeans shorts with rips that we’ve seen in the last seasons. By women’s designer shorts we mean classic shorts that are short and loose on the leg to be worn with tops, blouses and shirts, but even with crop tops and bolder bralettes in the evening.
Women's shorts have that touch of mischief that is reminiscent of college girl uniforms, reminding us of Nabokov’s Lolita mixed with Crepax’s Valentina, the protagonist with a black bob from the risqué comic. All mixed with the right dose of sports spirit that plays down the look and makes for a practical garment.
Women’s designer shorts can be worn for casual chic occasions and for everyday looks as well as for evening drinks or a night on the dance floor.In addition to being trendy, they are comfortable, practical and always ready to travel.
The origins of women's shorts
The very first shorts were worn as school uniforms by a certain social class towards the end of the nineteenth century and were only worn by boys, paired with long white ribbed cotton socks. The first woman to have ever worn shorts is the famous tennis player Alice Marple in 1933, who surprised the referee and the spectators with a pair of short shorts above the knee.
Shorts then became popular in the 50s with the rise of pin ups, Burlesque dancers and Rockabilly music. Then in the 60s and 70s, women’s shorts were a symbol of women's sexual emancipation and freedom, masterfully worn by Brigitte Bardot, supermodel Twiggy Lawson (Andy Warhol's muse) and in an elegant and sophisticated way by Jacqueline Kennedy.
Even the inspiring Made in Italy showgirl Raffaella Carrà made shorts famous by wearing them with her show outfits full of trinkets and sequins. Nowadays women's shorts are reinvented in a bon ton way by big Italian fashion designers such as Giorgio Armani, who has restyled them and turned them into a sophisticated, elegant and super chic garment.
How are women’s shorts worn today?
Currently, women's shorts can be worn in a sporty way, like true polo or cricket players who are a bit snobby but irresistible, or for a perfect disco look. Yes, that's right, women’s shorts have become a must-have in every woman’s wardrobe and they have the ability to make the outfit.
Loose, in either white or cream-coloured cotton or linen and paired with a polo shirt they create a perfect everyday sporty look. Filled with rhinestones and sequins and with a bralette on top, they are an ideal look for dancing all night long.
Balenciaga has created a canary yellow pair of women's shorts with a crumpled look that are so practical and comfortable that they pack well and don’t need to be ironed. No iron show-stopping shorts can be paired with gorgeous frilly lace shirts with flounced and ruffled sleeves.
Miu Miu has checked ones in perfect Easter Monday picnic style while Dsquared plays with fabrics and creates original women’s shorts in camel and suede. Prada has created a beautiful sailor version and Valentino has sophisticated ones with clean and essential lines that makes them perfect for special occasions or to feel on top of your game with jewelled sandals.
