13 Warm-Weather Style Pieces To Try If You Absolutely Will Not Wear Shorts
by The Candidly Team
If you know us at all, you know we have a complicated relationship with shorts. And that’s not to say that we don’t have an okay relationship with our not non-lanky legs, our ample butts, or even our stretch-mark-and-cellulite-streaked thighs.
We like our bodies. Or at least we try…and mostly succeed.
Nevertheless, take a survey of our team, and you’re gonna see a huge percentage of us just not liking shorts. And we imagine, since you’re here, you’re one of us.
The problem, of course, is that we also get hot. And we very much like to look cute and carefree and summery, and have something to wear our nice little tops with in the sweltering months that stretch before autumn.
For a long time now, we’ve been accumulating this highly selective (so far, internal) list of amazing things we wear instead of shorts.
And today we’re sharing the best of the best with you. Each one is airier and breezier and more flattering than the last. And one of them, we assure you, you’ll buy in 3 colors and wear on repeat all summer long.
1. A Lightweight Linen Pant
Free People Day's End Linen Pull-On Pants
We start with the sort of obvious answer - a flattering pant you can wear comfortably in the heat that has the laid-back air of shorts. The relaxed cut of this pair looks excellent on legs while the high (elastic!) waist nips your middle. They come in 7 colors, all that you can easily match with your favorite tank and any of THESE sandals, and poof, you have your go-to spring/ summer uniform!
Price: $78
2. A Chic Gaucho Jean (Yes, We Said Chic)
This has all the things we kind of like about shorts, the summeriness (should be a word), the nipping waist, the A-line shape that’s great on curves but all at a length that’s somehow “classy.” We can actually “style” these pants. Like this:
They’re uniquely easy, chic, and don’t feel like shorts. So wins all around.
They definitely are the biggest investment piece on this list, but we do have a code for you to help. Use CANDIDLY15 to get 15% off.
Price: $249
3. A Gloriously Comfy Midi Skirt
An flowy, A-line midi skirt is probably the chicest way to deal with a hatred of shorts. It just looks great on everyone. And this skirt, with its dreamily, smooth, stretchy waistband, is the finest of them all. It comes in a sea of colors, but naturally, we had to start with black and white.
Price: $60
4. A Cropped Wide-Leg Pant
The Colette Cropped Wide-Leg Pants by Maeve
These pants are made of this sculpting, slightly stretchy, “magic” fabric that feels better than possibly any other pant we own but then manages to look even better. The clean lines do a good job of balancing the wider fit, so it’s all very tailored and Coastal Grandma-esque. They come in tall, petite, and plus and a ton of really pretty colors.
Price: $120
5. A Light And Linen Maxi Skirt
J. Crew New Gwyneth Slip Skirt In Linen
This skirt feels and fits exactly how you wish it would. Smooth and skimming on every level, starting with the near-invisible elastic waist. It sizes up to 3X and also comes in solid colors (French blue is our favorite). But this exact striped version with a heeled sandal and a button-down has become one of our favorite looks in our own personal spring wardrobe.
Price: $95
6. A Very Cute Culotte
Free People Lucca Culotte Shorts
Long shorts look schlumpy and dumb. But this is something completely different - an extremely well-cut, wide-leg culotte that fits like a dream. Pair it with your softest fitted tee and a sleek, leather flip flop, and you’ll be ready to stroll miles through any sunny city you happen to be in.
Price: $128
7. A Smart Jersey Pant That Doesn’t Look Like Pajamas
These pants are soft enough to sleep in, but the real star is the shape. They feel like pajamas but look to the world like a chic, cropped pant. They’re high-waisted and elongating on legs. They come in lots of colors in jersey, which you’ll never want to take off, but they also come in a knit denim, textured slub, and linen - all in this same cut that looks great on everyone.
Price: $69
8. A Cuffed Pant That Will Get You Lots Of Compliments
Light and airy enough to be an excellent substitute for shorts on even the hottest of days but with actual butt and leg coverage. They come in lots of colors, but the little red stitching on the white makes us weak. With any tank, tee, or cropped sweater, these pants create the idyllic seaside uniform.
Price: $78
9. An Easy, Breezy Sarong
For many of us, shorts are a “beach-or-vacation-only” item. And 87% of the time we’re just using them as a thing to throw on over a swimsuit so we don’t have to feel naked walking to lunch. Well here is our most sophisticated, $15 solution. This sarong is light and gauzy but cut for easy tying and an excellent silhouette.
Price: $15
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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