Claire's Picks

← Trousers Worth Hanging in Your Wardrobe

Shorts Worth the Closer Look

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Shorts get dismissed far too quickly by women who think they've simply grown out of them. We disagree entirely. The problem is almost never shorts as a category. It's the wrong cut, the wrong length, the wrong fabric for the occasion. Get those three things right and shorts are genuinely one of the most versatile pieces in a summer wardrobe. We've been pulling together the ones that reward a proper look rather than the kind you clock from across a room and immediately forget. What we've curated here ranges from tailored wide leg styles that work in an office with the right blouse, to relaxed linen options that are holiday packing essentials, to denim cuts that prove the humble jean short still has serious ground to cover. Fit is everything. A well proportioned short flatters in a way that many skirts and dresses don't because the structure gives you control. These are not afterthoughts. They're the shorts we kept returning to because something about the cut, the fabric, or the detail made them genuinely interesting. Shorts that ask to be looked at twice.

Claire's Top Picks

Short Sleeve Jackets That See You Through the Season TRILOGY Soeur - Gyoda Jacket in Craie Jump to section ↓

£355.00 TRILOGY

Short Sleeve Shirts That Work Hard All Week SNEAKIN UK Women's off-the-shoulder shirt Build Your Brand Jump to section ↓

£7.15 SNEAKIN UK

Shorts That Earn Their Place PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Shape Grey Tailored Adjustable Waist Shorts Jump to section ↓

£8.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Shorts That Just Work MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's shorts Craft rush capri Jump to section ↓

£18.19 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Shorts Worth a Closer Look TOKYO LAUNDRY Jogger Shorts Siding Multi-Pocket Brushback Fleece Jogger Shorts in Jet Black Jump to section ↓

£12.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

Shorts Worth Adding to the Rotation SOCK SHOP SOCKSHOP Music Collection Pack Red Hot Chili Peppers Boxer Shorts Black Extra Large Jump to section ↓

£14.99 SOCK SHOP

Shorts You'll Be Glad You Found SNEAKIN UK Women's denim shorts Moss Copenhagen Elide Ada Jump to section ↓

£51.50 SNEAKIN UK

Short Sleeve Jackets That See You Through the Season

The gap between a light cardigan and a full jacket is where most wardrobes fall apart. Too warm for one, not quite enough for the other, and you end up wearing the wrong thing half the year. Short sleeve jackets solve this with a directness that full coverage styles simply cannot. They give you the structure and polish of a proper jacket while letting the outfit breathe. We find them particularly useful in that awkward shoulder season when mornings are cool and afternoons are not, and also in summer when air conditioning makes every indoor space feel like a different country. The cut matters here more than people realise. A well tailored short sleeve jacket sits differently from a boxy one. It finishes an outfit rather than sitting on top of it. We have been pulling together the ones that actually do this well, across smart and casual occasions, in fabrics that hold their shape and colours that work with more than one thing in your wardrobe. These are the jackets that earn their place twelve months of the year, not just when the temperature is convenient.

TRILOGY Soeur - Gyoda Jacket in Craie £355.00 TRILOGY

THE_DOUBLE_F Pelican-colored Ugo short quilted down jacket £270.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Navy Short Lightweight Zip Thru Jacket, Size: £32.00 BONMARCHE UK

GHOSTBIKES.COM Spada Tucson V CE WP Jacket Grey £189.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

LOUCHE Salut Tulip Jacquard Short Jacket £95.00 LOUCHE

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Short Lightweight Zip Thru Jacket £32.00 BONMARCHE UK

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Satin Short-Sleeved Jacket White £7.80 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Red Short Lightweight Zip Thru Jacket, Size: £32.00 BONMARCHE UK

INSTOCK UK Salut Jungle Jacquard Jacket - Green £69.30 INSTOCK UK

GHOSTBIKES.COM Spada Tucson V CE WP Jacket Black - £189.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

LOUCHE Salut Jungle Jacquard Jacket £99.00 LOUCHE

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Satin Short-Sleeved Jacket Green £7.80 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

Short Sleeve Shirts That Work Hard All Week

The short sleeve shirt is one of the most quietly useful things you can own, and it never quite gets the credit it deserves. It sits between casual and polished in a way that very few pieces manage without looking like they're trying too hard. You can wear it tucked into tailored trousers on a Tuesday and knotted over a midi skirt at the weekend. That kind of range matters. We've been particularly interested in the ones that keep their shape through a full day, because a shirt that goes limp by lunchtime is not doing its job. Fabric and cut are everything here. A slightly oversized silhouette in a crisp cotton or a relaxed linen reads effortlessly put together without requiring any effort whatsoever. We've also been drawn to interesting collar details and subtle prints that give a plain shirt some personality without making it a statement piece you have to build an outfit around. These are the shirts we reach for first on a warm morning when we need to look organised and feel comfortable from nine until the last thing on the calendar. Dependable, but never boring.

SNEAKIN UK Women's off-the-shoulder shirt Build Your Brand £7.15 SNEAKIN UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Black Short Sleeve V-neck Wave Print Relaxed shirt, Size: £12.00 BONMARCHE UK

LA REDOUTE UK V-Neck Linen Shirt with Short Sleeves £21.44 LA REDOUTE UK

BLACKS Kids’ Mountain Sunset Shirt - Black -YRS £4.97 BLACKS

ALFREDO AFFILIATE PROGRAM Short Sleeve Soft Collar Shirt - Multigingham Check £65.00 ALFREDO AFFILIATE PROGRAM

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Short-Sleeve Scoop Neck Mock Two Piece Shirt Light Gray £23.91 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Green Floral Check Short Sleeve shirt, Size: £14.00 BONMARCHE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Authentic Short Sleeve Shirt £46.40 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Knitted Short Sleeve Shirt £32.29 LA REDOUTE UK

SNEAKIN UK Short sleeve shirt Helly Hansen Fjord QD £47.89 SNEAKIN UK

TOKYO LAUNDRY Shirts Berlio Lightweight Cotton Slub Short Sleeve Cuban Collar Summer Shirt in Snow White - Kensington Eastside £17.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

EGO (UK) Short Sleeve Ced Waist Fitted Shirt In Pink, Women's Size £19.00 EGO (UK)

Shorts That Earn Their Place

Most shorts let you down the moment you actually move in them. They ride up, they pull across the hips, they look fine on the hanger and wrong on a real body. We've been through enough of that to be properly particular about what we recommend here. The shorts in this collection have been chosen because they work in practice, not just in theory. That means the right length for actually sitting down, fabric that doesn't cling in the heat, and cuts that flatter rather than compromise. We've included tailored options that can carry a blazer into a meeting, casual linen styles for warm weekends, and denim cuts that have something genuinely interesting going on beyond the obvious. There are high waisted styles for those who want them and more relaxed fits for those who don't. What connects all of them is that they look considered. Shorts have a reputation for being an afterthought and we think that's entirely avoidable. The right pair is not a concession to the weather. It's a real outfit choice.

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Shape Grey Tailored Adjustable Waist Shorts £8.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Cream Satin Lace Drawstring Shorts £15.40 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Stone Satin Lace Drawstring Shorts £15.40 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's shorts with gathered waist Superdry Desert £33.79 MADE IN PARADIS UK

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Hooded Zip-Up Jacket Camisole Top Puffy Shorts Shorts - White £15.40 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Plain Lace Trim Camisole Pajama Shorts Pajama Robe Set Set of - Camisole & Pajama Robe - Green £28.32 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Petite Beige Tailored Pleated Shorts £10.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Yumi Ivory Viscose Floral Border Shorts £34.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Pajama Set: Long-Sleeve Plain Button Top + Padded Camisole + Pants + Shorts - Set Of - Top & Padded Camisole & Pants & Shorts - Plain - Almond £51.77 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

Shorts That Just Work

Finding shorts that actually fit properly is harder than it should be. Too short and they feel like a liability. Too long and they kill the proportions entirely. The waistband gaps, the fabric bunches, or the cut just sits wrong in a way that's genuinely difficult to explain but impossible to ignore. We've spent a lot of time on this category because we believe the right pair of shorts is one of the most useful things you can own from late spring right through to early autumn. What we've pulled together here are the ones that solve the fit problem. Tailored linen shorts with a high waist that actually stays put. Denim cuts that work on real thighs. Casual styles that look intentional rather than thrown on. Printed options that hold their own without needing much else around them. The name of this collection is straightforward because the brief was straightforward. Not shorts that are interesting in theory but awkward in practice. Not shorts that only work if you style them for twenty minutes. Shorts that you put on, look good in immediately, and just get on with your day.

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's shorts Craft rush capri £18.19 MADE IN PARADIS UK

SNEAKIN UK Women's swim shorts Protest Prtkilda £27.49 SNEAKIN UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's cycling shorts Urban Classics Shiny Metalic £15.51 MADE IN PARADIS UK

SNEAKIN UK Girl's shorts Fila Tangstedt £19.92 SNEAKIN UK

SNEAKIN UK Girl's shorts Fila Troistedt £18.19 SNEAKIN UK

BLACKS Women’s Willowford Leg Shorts £45.00 BLACKS

Shorts Worth a Closer Look

Shorts get underestimated constantly, and we think that's mostly because the wrong pair is so easy to find. Too short, too stiff, cut for someone entirely different, or so aggressively casual they can't be taken anywhere interesting. The right pair is a completely different story. We've been pulling together shorts that actually work across real life, the kind that look intentional rather than like an afterthought. Linen pairs that are relaxed without being sloppy. Tailored options that sit at exactly the right point on the leg and hold their shape through a full day. Denim cuts that flatter rather than fight you. What connects everything here is that each pair earns genuine attention, the sort where someone asks where they're from rather than simply noticing you're wearing shorts. We've thought carefully about fit, fabric, and the way proportions work with what you'd actually wear on top. Some of these work brilliantly with trainers. Others want a heel or a flat sandal. All of them are worth knowing about. Good shorts are not a compromise. They are a choice.

TOKYO LAUNDRY Jogger Shorts Siding Multi-Pocket Brushback Fleece Jogger Shorts in Jet Black £12.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

SNEAKIN UK Swim shorts Gorilla Wear Otis £30.09 SNEAKIN UK

KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Sport Side Stripe Mini Shorts Black & White £20.00 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

TOKYO LAUNDRY Jogger Shorts Siding Multi-Pocket Brushback Fleece Jogger Shorts in Deep Lichen Green £12.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

TOKYO LAUNDRY Jogger Shorts Siding Multi-Pocket Brushback Fleece Jogger Shorts in Jet Blue £12.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Black Seamless Shorts £9.80 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Navy High Waist Sculpt Gym Shorts £10.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Petite Black High Waist Sculpt Gym Shorts £10.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Sport Stripe Mini Shorts Chestnut Brown & Dusty Blue £20.00 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

OXYGEN_CLOTHING Lightweight Shorts £56.00 OXYGEN_CLOTHING

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Minoti Denim-Look Cargo Shorts With Elastic Waist In Blue £19.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Navy Ultimate Sculpt High Waist Gym Shorts £10.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Shorts Worth Adding to the Rotation

Most women own at least one pair of shorts they never quite reach for. Too short, too casual, cut in a way that looked fine in the shop and then just sat there. The problem is rarely shorts as a category. It is bad shorts specifically. Get the fit and the fabric right and they become one of the most useful things you own, genuinely bridging that gap between dressed and relaxed that so many warm weather outfits fail to land. We have been pulling together the pairs that actually work. Tailored options with a proper rise that flatter rather than just cover. Linen cuts that breathe and look intentional. Denim shorts that are not trying to be something from fifteen years ago. The length, the waistband, the way they sit across the hip, all of it matters more than most people give it credit for. This collection is not about trends. It is about the shorts you will genuinely wear, repeatedly, without second guessing yourself on the way out of the door. The right pair makes the decision for you.

SOCK SHOP SOCKSHOP Music Collection Pack Red Hot Chili Peppers Boxer Shorts Black Extra Large £14.99 SOCK SHOP

MASDINGS Smashing Shorts £20.25 MASDINGS

JUICY COUTURE UK PALE PINK TRACK SHORTS - X Pink £55.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

SPARTOO.CO.UK ARIZONA LOVE YOGA SHORT LEO women's Shorts in Brown £67.00 SPARTOO.CO.UK

JUICY COUTURE UK MID WASH JC CREST BOOTY DENIM SHORTS - XXX Blue £70.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

SOCK SHOP SOCKSHOP Music Collection Pack KISS Boxer Shorts Black Large £14.99 SOCK SHOP

THE_DOUBLE_F Ami de Coeur short swim shorts in polyamide, ink £210.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

TOKYO LAUNDRY Shorts Crater Cotton Twill Chino Shorts with Woven Belt In Paprika £13.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

SPARTOO.CO.UK Levis RIBCAGE BERMUDA SHORT women's Shorts in Blue £75.00 SPARTOO.CO.UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Active Lifestyle Cycle Shorts Redwhite Varsity Red - Size: £13.49 SUPERDRY_UK

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Classic -Stripes Swim Shorts - Power Pink Team Victory Red £14.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Solid CLX Swim Shorts Sl £19.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

Shorts You'll Be Glad You Found

Finding shorts that actually fit well is harder than it should be. The proportions are either off, the length is wrong, or they look fine on a hanger and somehow nothing on. We know. Which is why this edit took some effort to pull together. These are the shorts we genuinely wanted for ourselves, across different lengths and fabrics and occasions, because shorts season covers a lot of ground and one pair rarely does all of it. There are relaxed linen options for warm weekends when you want to look intentional without trying too hard. There are tailored styles that work for the office when the temperature makes trousers feel unreasonable. There are denim cuts that actually sit properly at the waist. We have been specific about fit throughout because that is the whole point. Shorts have a reputation for being casual to the point of throwaway, but the right pair does serious work in a summer wardrobe. They can anchor an outfit just as well as a great trouser if the cut is good enough. These are the ones where the cut is good enough.

SNEAKIN UK Women's denim shorts Moss Copenhagen Elide Ada £51.50 SNEAKIN UK