I Live in Denim Shorts in the Summer—9 Pretty Trends I'll Be Pairing With Them

If there's one item I wear more than any other once summer rolls around, it's denim shorts. And as a market editor whose DMs are full of shopping requests, I can say with certainty that it's one of the most sought-after summer items for plenty of others as well.

Denim shorts may seem pretty boring in the grand scheme of fashion attire, but they serve as the perfect basic backdrop to all my trendy pieces, as they're easy to dress up with a satin blouse and kitten heels or dress down with Birks and a button-down. Whether I wear them on the city streets, at the beach, or during a market appointment, they're the ideal practical and cool piece when the temps hit above 70°.

Today, I'm sharing all the pretty and chic trends to wear with your denim shorts this summer. From chic ballet flats to beautiful blouses, take a look below to inspire your next denim-shorts summer outfit.

White Embroidered Blouse

There's something so pretty about crisp white embroidery in the summer. It adds a beautiful touch to simple denim shorts. Just add gold earrings and slides and you're outfit is complete.

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Ballet Flats

Ballet flats are having a major moment this summer (and will continue their dominance into fall). The classic shoes undoubtedly add polish to the casual nature of denim shorts, making them the perfect pairing for summer in the city.

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Chic Belt

Whether you go for sleek leather or a trending chain silhouette, a chic belt will pull together a denim-shorts outfit in an instant.

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Oversize Button-Down

Breezy button-downs exude an effortless elegance and are a match made in heaven with denim shorts. Neutral hues are great, but summer is the perfect time to add a bold pop of color too.

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Something Shimmery

Shimmery, glittery pieces are trending this summer, and they'll add allure to your basic denim shorts. Opt for a glittery swimsuit with your shorts at the pool or a sparkly top for early evening drinks.

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Lace-Up Sandals

Add interest to your denim shorts and pair them with lace-up sandals for a fresh summer look.

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Crochet

Nothing says summer quite like crochet—it adds such a romantic, free-spirited touch to your staple denim shorts.

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Tweed Topper

Take your denim-shorts outfit from meetings to margaritas with the addition of an elegant tweed jacket. It's such a chic look.

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Charming Blouse

Exude French-girl charm and pair your cutoffs with a pretty puff-sleeve blouse. You simply can't go wrong with this duo.

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Up next, 10 Uncomplicated Summer Outfits I'd Like to Copy and Paste From Instagram