The shorts of summer are a cross between pedal pushers and bermudas

Here are 7 ways to wear them

It started with kneecap leggings — Chanel showed a pair at a show in Paris in late 2016 that was timed pretty poetically with the explosion of athleisure that was in progress stateside bc of brands like Outdoor Voices, which really did expand our respective understandings of when leggings were a good alt to pants.

Chanel pre-fall 2016 at left, an Outdoor Voices website photo from the same year

Danish brand, H2O Fagerholt, and Turkish brand, Cult Form really turned this one into a feast for the eyes.

Emili Sindlev in H2O Fagerholt at left, a photo from Cult Form’s Instagram at right

Ooooh, for the eyes and the thighs.

I also consider versions of the pedal pushers that Khaite has been making — dating back to like, 2016 — and that Toteme followed on soon thereafter as relative derivatives of that incipient influence.

Toteme pedal pushers at left, Khaite’s version at right in

Then it became cut-off jeans — too long to be considered shorts necessarily, but too short to call themselves pants either, the length of denim ripped at the hem just above or below the knee. This evolution coincided with the beginning of the pandemic. Shapes were still relatively straight.

Around the time of Spring 2020 runway season is when Bermuda shorts on the other hand were coming up everywhere.

Saint Laurent (spring), Maryam Nassir Zadeh (spring), Miu Miu (resort)

This had been in vague progress for years prior but is less of a trend than it is a shape etched into the style lexicon of many (see: Americans in Dockers, Italians in Etro) that expands and contracts given the time, so the way I see it, Bermuda shorts and pedal pushers are now generating spawn in the form of this cross between the two (an example, not necessarily a rec) that will either lead you towards one or the other in a future season — or not. Maybe you’ll stay right here. In the event that you do,

Here are 7 ways to wear them

LVIR shorts, $237.

With a dress over

Babaa sweater, Doen dress, LIVR shorts, Jimmy Choo sandals at left (from The Real Real — Jimmy Choo is a good saved search (this is not a perfect product page, but enough good stuff to get you going) if you’re looking for heeled slingbacks under like $100) and Roger Vivier sandals at right. Here’s another good pink pair — the outfit needed something ELECTRIC

Ilta Studio dress

To the beach/somewhere hot

La Veste jacket and Chanel tank, with Tibi flip flops at left (can’t say enough good things about these from Ancient Greek Sandals and these from Tkees); Ralph Lauren shirt — a good comp from APC here, Missoni bathing suit top and Ilio Sandalo sandals at right

To live your life/go to work/

Chava Studio blue button-down (here’s a more casual one), Entireworld tank top (Re/done’s a good comp) with Charlotte Olympia bag (see this and this from Etsy) and The Row mary-janes at left (these are vibrant too); Toteme tank top and riding boots at right

Rub up against boundaries while living your life and/or going to work

This tank top is an H&M sample from 2016 (Opening Ceremony for $40 here, Gryphon for $35 here, Stella McCartney for $80 here, and, curveball, vintage Saint Laurent for $545 here), the fisherman shoes are K. Jacques, but I also really like these from Tory Burch. The bag is Khaite and the sunglasses are Rosie Assoulin

IN CONCLUSION, HERE’S YOUR STYLING TIPSHEET*

*A list of practical styling tips for subscribers of The Cereal Aisle