my quest for sporty short shorts
trying on six pairs, including *those* Instagrammy board shorts
August brings the first blush of true Bay Area summer (finally in the 70s this week, thank godddd), which is why I’m currently fixated on short shorts.
Luckily, because of our “late bloomer” summer, I can just follow the lead of the rest of the country that already went through several heat waves and dressed accordingly. You guys (looking at you,
) did the homework for fun shorts this year and it got me excited about board shorts, terry cloth shorts, etc.I am picky about how I like my shorts to fit, and I don’t remember the last time I specifically went shopping for them. Because my legs are on the short side (25-26” inseam), regular inseams often hit at an awkward mid-thigh length. Short shorts, on the other hand, fit more like “regular” length shorts. I don’t like my shorts so tight that they look painted on my butt, but I also don’t like the loose/baggy short look (on myself, that is). Picky.
Most of my summer bottoms are secondhand silk skirts, which I’ve developed sharp online shopping instincts for. But sometimes I am in the mood for something sportier, something that can transition from the rock gym to dance class to the pool to the cafe. That’s a lot to ask of any garment, and I can’t say that I’ve owned a pair of shorts I genuinely LOVE on the same level as my precious skirts.
But the past few weeks, I’ve had an attitude of “just try them all on!” when I had a chance shop for shorts IRL. I also ordered vintage running shorts online and received a gifted pair that both turned out to be keepers.
In total, I tried on six pairs, and will share my full thoughts on each one.
My intention for this piece isn’t so much “you should go buy these shorts” as much as it is “here is my inner thought process, the factors I consider when shopping for shorts.” Much like my piece on tailoring, I share my personal fit preferences, which may differ from yours, even if we are a similar build/size. I list my pros, cons, and secondhand shopping intel if you’re on the hunt for similar styles.
Let’s begin with my visit to Mohawk General Store in LA, where I tried on three pairs.
Right when I walked in, I actually got sidetracked from my shorts quest by this Beaufille dress on the sale rack:
It’s a beautiful dress with with the brand’s signature bralette cutout shape, tempting if you have chest/stomach tattoos to show off! But I kept thinking it would feel more “me” in a color like turquoise or fuchsia. I’ve also found that ever since dyeing my hair back to jet black, all-black outfits feel visually heavy. So this was a pass.
(1) Stretch Microshorts
But back to the task at hand—these purple and gray striped microshorts from Gimaguas were the first pair I tried. I think they’re so cute in a Love Island way lol, but I’m nervous they look too much like underwear in public. Realistically, I’d wear them for dance class under my warmup clothes, or at the beach. They fit like a lower-rise, thicker version of the Oddobody Sleep Shorts, which I ADORE but they are too thin to wear in public as “real” clothes.
To my surprise, they were really comfortable. That said, I wouldn’t wear them enough to justify the purchase of $100.
Pros: stretchy, comfy, more stylish alternative to traditional yoga/dance shorts
Cons: wish these were more compressive, depends on how comfortable you are wearing this in public…I think I’d get the stink eye from some folks at Berkeley Bowl.
Secondhand Shopping Intel: to find a style you want, I recommend searching by a brand/designer rather than a generic term like “microshorts” or “stretchy boyshorts” because it gets flooded with fast fashion underwear stuff real fast.
(2) Board Shorts
OKAY. I’ve been SO curious about these after seeing them on Instagram (specifically on Reese Blutstein) but I couldn’t find a thoughtful review of them anywhere. At $200+ these are a splurge, though they have a cheaper collab version with Lisa Says Gah for $160. I was thrilled to see them at Mohawk (not carried online), and eager to assess for myself whether they were worth the hype.
Like the Jesse Kamm sailor pants, these board shorts are not a groundbreaking new silhouette or anything—they’re an interpretation of a classic style that’s been worn for decades. Other board short brands on my radar include Waysyder’s “gayed-up surfing short,” the 90s dolphin hem shorts from Tomboyx which go up to 6X, and the molehill green boardshorts from OC-based brand Birdwell.
But I can’t stop thinking about the Made Some ones because of its construction details, like the stripe that arcs across the thigh just so, the front velcro + tie closure, the specific combination of saturated colors…
I tried on both the short and long versions, which—as you’ll see—have drastically different cuts/fit.
Here are the short ones in red/white.
My first thought was