Leather Shorts Worth Having in Your Wardrobe

Leather shorts have a reputation problem and we think it's entirely undeserved. Done badly they look costume-y, too try-hard, too much. Done well they are one of the most versatile and genuinely cool things you can put on. The difference is almost entirely in the cut and the quality of the leather itself. We have been searching for the ones that sit properly, that have enough structure to hold their shape without feeling stiff, and that work across more occasions than you might expect. They go with a tucked in silk blouse for something evening-ready. They go with an oversized knit and ankle boots for the kind of effortless autumn outfit that looks considered without being overthought. Real leather behaves differently from faux, it softens and moulds over time in a way that synthetic simply does not. We have included both here because some of the faux leather options genuinely earn their place and we would rather be honest about that than precious. These are the leather shorts we would actually buy. The ones that justify the category entirely.