I'm So Done With These 5 Shorts Trends and Way Too Excited About These 5

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(Image credit: @shhtephs)

Sorry to the outdated shorts in my closet, but you're about to get the boot. They may be a summertime staple, but that doesn't mean they're not subject to the whims of the fashion cycle just like any other article of clothing. From fabric and finishing to silhouette and cut, shorts trends tend to change with every passing summer. 

As for summer 2021, I did some reflecting to determine the shorts that feel the freshest right now and will continue to dominate into next season and, consequently, which trends I've grown tired of in my own closet. From denim shorts to boxers, continue on to find out the five outdated shorts trends that are on the decline and five that couldn't feel fresher. 

Done With: Short Cutoffs

Excited About: Pleated Shorts

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(Image credit: @anna__laplaca)

Longer and looser shorts just continue to dominate across the board, so I'm officially saying goodbye to any styles that are super short and have a tighter fit. (See ya, barely-there cutoffs.) One style I've been wearing on repeat this summer? Pleated shorts. The tailored style feels polished and easygoing at the same time.

Shop my pleated-shorts picks:

Done With: Knit Hot Pants

Excited About: Ribbed Briefs

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(Image credit: @aniyahmorinia)

We may no longer be confined to our homes, but comfort is still front and center in our wardrobes. While knit hot pants had their moment last year, I'm all about ribbed briefs for lounging and sleeping in right now thanks mostly to a certain Skims pair that seems to always be selling out. They're cool, comfy, and a little bit more wearable.

Shop my ribbed-briefs picks:

Done With: Paperbag Shorts

Excited About: "Fashion" Boxers

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(Image credit: @shhtephs)

I'm setting aside shorts with a paperbag waist in favor of a less bulky silhouette and one that's trending hard this summer: poplin boxer shorts. From cult brands like The Frankie Shop to affordable favorites like Mango, the humble boxer shorts are getting a major fashion-person upgrade, especially when styled as a matching set.

Shop my boxer picks:

Done With: Tight Denim Bermudas

Excited About: Longer and Looser Denim Shorts

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(Image credit: @mon.agar)

As I mentioned above, I'm done with clingy denim shorts regardless of the hemline. That includes tighter denim Bermudas, a trend I recently added to the donation pile during my last closet audit. In their place, I've added a few looser and longer denim shorts that I've been wearing a ton this summer.

Shop my denim-shorts picks:

Done With: Sweatshorts

Excited About: Nylon Athletic Shorts

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(Image credit: @himichelleli)

This one might seem random, but I'm suddenly obsessed with nylon basketball and soccer shorts. Whereas last summer I wore my sweatshorts to death, I'm swapping them out for an equally comfortable style that works for everything from travel to workouts.

Shop my nylon-shorts picks:

Already looking ahead to fall? See the 11 outfits fashion people will be wearing with their classic denim next season.

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Senior Editor

Anna is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who has been a member of the Who What Wear team for over seven years, having begun her career in L.A. at brands like Michael Kors and A.L.C. As an editor, she has earned a reputation for her coverage of breaking trends, emerging brands, luxury shopping curations, fashion features, and more. Anna has penned a number Who What Wear cover interviews, including Megan Fox, Julia Garner, and Lilly Collins. She also leads the site’s emerging travel vertical that highlights all things travel and lifestyle through a fashion-person lens.