The Fashion Crowd Is Having an Adam Sandler Summer—Here's the One Staple It Requires

Buh-bye, bike shorts. There's a newer shorts trend I'm after right now, and it's Adam Sandler approved. I'll just warn you now: This one might seem random and a bit ugly, but it's arrived, and it's here to stay. Lately, I've been seeing long nylon athletic shorts, and they're all I want to wear and shop for while we're still in the thick of summer.

Every time they come up on my social media feed, my mind immediately goes to Adam Sandler and his noteworthy "dad" style. Graphic T-shirts, unnecessarily open-toed sandals, and, of course, basketball shorts are what I see when I scroll through his paparazzi moments. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I want to re-create that vibe. Longer shorts for the win.

The styles that have my attention? They're inspired by traditional soccer and basketball shorts with drawstrings and nylon finishing. While OG sportswear brands like Umbro have been doing this forever, designer pairs from Prada, Staud, and Coperni have emerged, and accordingly, fashion people have been styling the athletic staple in their casual warm-weather 'fits.

Below, shop the coolest athletic shorts that have a fashion-person spin to them, and get inspired by how the style set is wearing them right now.

Woman wearing a basketball shorts outfit.

(Image credit: @himichelleli)

The styling here is impeccable. A rose pinned to the hip, a sheer trench coat, and colorful sneakers—I'm obsessed.

Woman wearing a basketball shorts outfit.

(Image credit: @rubylyn_)

Something about this trend makes me think of galavanting around a foreign destination dressed casually in the daytime with a night look awaiting me in the hotel room. It's a vibe.

Woman wearing a basketball shorts outfit.

(Image credit: @camillecharriere)

I prefer to see these shorts in longer silhouettes, but if you're a minishorts kind of person, there's a style out there that's made for you. This is it.

More pieces that give Adam Sandler vibes:

Adam Sandler on stage at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

This is the vision, but we're going to put a fashion-person spin on it.

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Sierra Mayhew
Fashion Editor

Sierra Mayhew is a fashion editor at Who What Wear, bringing a decade of experience in the fashion industry to the editorial team. Since joining Who What Wear in 2021, Sierra has made her mark by expertly blending luxury and accessible fashion content. Whether she's decoding the latest runway presentations or crafting a perfectly curated shopping list, Sierra's keen eye and relatable approach have solidified her as a trusted voice in the fashion space. She's also reported on major industry events like Paris Fashion Week and lent her expertise to red carpet coverage, ensuring her audience gets an insider's view of the most glamorous moments in style. Before joining Who What Wear, Sierra sharpened her skills at Harper's Bazaar and Elle, with bylines in Bazaar.com and collaborated with iconic brands such as Gucci and Ferragamo. Her ability to translate editorial expertise into viral social media content sets her apart, seamlessly bringing her articles and personality to life for a new generation of readers and followers. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Sierra brings a unique perspective to the fashion industry that is informed by her love for travel, music, and discovering the hidden gems that make New York City a constant source of inspiration.