(via lagarconne.com, my-wardrobe.com)
Yesterday I organized my closet and found a pair of black shorts which I purchased last summer from Zara. Said shorts were supposed to be the ideal pair. Also, they were intended to escort me through all the music festivals this summer. You can see the shorts here and here.
Evidently, the fit was super; the length was perfect but alas, the disposable fashion-quality is utterly off-putting. Now my only pair of shorts have completely lost their shape, and the fabric is stiff and really uncomfortable. They are officially useless as there is not much wear left in these shorts. Nonetheless, I didn’t expect top-notch quality at all, but I certainly did not anticipate that they would merely last one summer and a dozen wears. Hey, I am not rich enough to buy cheap things! Therefore I ought to find a high-quality, durable replacement for this approaching summer, as I refuse to kill myself by covering my legs in a pair of suicidal jeans on boiling hot days. Searching for a perfect substitute is such a bore… In addition, I haven’t been eager about spending a lot of money on something I only wear a couple of times during summer. Still I’m not exactly eager about buying a new replacement every year either. I better spend wisely this time!
PS: I’m not planning to buy any of the shorts pictured here as they’re probably out of my budget, but I’ll be searching for a similar style.
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1. Alexander Wang tuxedo shorts, 2. Cacharel silk shorts, 3. Acne sensational shorts, 4. Rag and Bone tennis shorts
My favorite is the Cacharel one, but I'm not sure how well silk would hold up in the summer when it gets uncomfortably hot and sticky. I think part of planning and making wiser choices also takes into account whether the item works for multiple occasions i.e. warm days and ultra hot days. I would personally stick to cotton ones.
- Amanda: I have no idea, but I hope some of the readers who live in the tropics can help. Otherwise we should ask pret a porter p or lin. Personally, I think silk is the best thing to wear when it's really really hot outside.
I can't help you, I'm afraid. I am at the age where the only people who see my thighs are my husband and my gynecologist!
- LuxeBytes: Hahaha!! I have to embrace my age and wear shorts before it's too late!
Wish I could be of help too, but I'm not familiar with wearing silk or shorts. When I think of music festivals the image of Kate Moss covered in mud comes to mind, so cotton may be the better choice.
Those Cacharel shorts are PERFECTION. Of course, I would like the most expensive of the lot, haha, sigh! I definitely need to find some nice, well cut cotton shorts this year. Cut-offs are great for the beach and the weekends (when I will be living in mine), but I gotta find a way to look sharp AND cool (literally and figuratively!)
- Pret a Porter P: Oh no, no mud here!! I'm going to music festivals in the city + an island festival. – Ringo, have a banana: I know, they are so beautiful!! I don't feel comfortable when wearing cut-offs any longer so I passed on my levis cut-offs to my sister yesterday. I think APC might have some well cut cotton shorts. APC is always classic anyway.
The A-Wang one has a nice shape to it… so I would go for A-Wang not just because it's A-Wang. I don't think you can go wrong with black shorts – you can pair with tights for l'hiver?
have you considered taking a pair of old school Levis and making them into cut-offs? my favorite pair of summer shorts is a DIY from a pair of boyfriend fit Levis. perfect fit, hardy 100% cotton denim quality and rather economical as well. i don't believe one should have to pay a lot for shorts! :P
Oh gosh it's already pilled after one summer? This makes me re-evaluate Zara again. I've never bought anything from there and now I'm going to triple check the material first. I have one pair of shorts too. They are made from organic cotton/acetate and despite being quite thick and lined I think the cotton makes them quite breezy. Plus cotton is a much hardier fabric than silk (something to consider if you're in a pack of jumping/sweating festival go-ers)I'm quite partial to the rag and bone shorts though…I can see pockets =)
A good thing to remember is don't confuse price with quality. Sometimes there is NO correlation. I have been burned more than once (ahem, Rachel Comey, Alex Wang & Marc Jacobs)
I am so glad you have continued posting :)
"I'm not rich enough to buy cheap things."How perfectly said.Good luck in your quest.
i'm in the subtropical, coastal portion of texas and it's going to get hot and sticky really soon. i think you'd be fine where you are to wear silk shorts but i wouldn't dream of it here. silk + heat and humidity, bad combination, haha! i spent far too many years wearing shorts as my caribbean uniform, so i grew tired of them and am not thrilled about shopping for a new pair now. when i find the right ones, they'd better be in black (and preferably bermuda length)!
I'm also on the hunt for the perfect black shorts. I bought a "perfect" pair several years ago from H&M and they surprisingly lasted me through several summers and winters but now I just pulled them out of the drawer and the charm they once had is totally gone.
HAHAHA, omg, LuxeBytes comment was soooooo hilarious, and I totally relate to her on that one! I love the way you did your collage, btw, it's really cute! I would think that linen would be really comfortable, I have no idea about silk.
I second the suggestion for denim if you're only going to wear the shorts to music festivals and on particularly hot days. I find that denim usually lasts pretty well even if the price is low (it's just the nature of those good ol' cowboy jeans, I guess) and it's machine washable and low maintenance. My 20 dollar Charlotte Russe shorts have lasted me a few summers now (as have my jeans that were 30 dollars each). I personally think breton shirts + denim shorts + ballet flats make a pretty nautical look that would be right up your alley! You can also buy black denim shorts!I personally wouldn't wear silk as shorts in the summertime. Silk + sweat + sitting down anywhere is probably a bad combination even if you're in a city. It might be a much better option for spring or with some tights. Nonetheless, the silk pair are my favorite design-wise. A-wang is my least favorite because those types of pockets on shorts/pants can be a big no-no depending on the fit–usually the pockets are positioned so that the inside pocket fabric sits right above your lower stomach, creating an aggravating bulge. Then the tabs flair out and it's pretty unflattering! Some people can make them work but I tend to stay away from them!
I really recommend silk cotton! You get the smoothness of silk without the awkwardness of its sensitivity to water (ie sweat!) I have a pair of black shorts from Rittenhouse and black tapered pants from Carly Hunter (both Australian designers) and they are the best things to wear in summer.
thats disappointing about your zara shorts, how about APC? I never wear shorts cause they look really silly on me, last summer I got some ksubi jeans turned into a skirt which saved me..
I like the look of the Rag and Bone ones, but personally, I could not spend so much on shorts. Pity about your Zara shorts – I've been luckier with my Zara items I think. Personally I never wear black cotton shorts because they wrinkle so much, and the material attracts too much lint. I much prefer a good denim pair – much more durable anyway, and it will age well. Just make sure the denim is real denim, and not the stretchy kind, those are hideous. Denim looks good with simple t-shirts and tanks, but also nice and preppy with a shirt tucked in and some driving shoes or even sneakers.
I have made some really bad choices with zara clothes myself. I was thinking about linen shorts.They are good breathable material but wrinkle a lot. As for bad quality ,It's so tiring to buy something and have to replace it soon.This leaves you with nothing you can depend on wearing.
Pick the Acne ones. Can't go wrong with Acne–and they are the most simplistic. I'm not into bells and whistles either.
I know exactly what you mean; I always feel less comfortable spending a lot on summer items because we can rarely wear them with the weather here.
Shortsene er nydelige! Skjønner godt at du er skeptisk til å kjøpe ein billig erstatning. Eg har gjort tre fantastiske (dog dyre) kjøp denne våren, og skal ikkje handle noko som helst meir før sommerferien vår i Toscana. Men det er vanskeligt, særlig når ein plutselig trenger å bytte ut plagg (i mitt tilfelle treningsklær) og ønsker skikkelig kvalitet… Lister er tingen. Ønskelister og innkjøpslister. Sjølv om det hadde vært fantastisk å kunne handle inn alt eg treng og har lyst på på ein gong, så må eg være tolmodig.. Litt av ein prøvelse ;-)
Skikkelig irriterende når et plagg man virkelig liker, viser seg å være av så dårlig kvalitet! Men som Julie sier, så er det ikke alltid at pris og kvalitet stemmer overens, heller. Jeg har hatt rimelige plagg som har holdt seg pene i årevis tross hyppig bruk, og relativt dyre plagg som har mistet fasongen etter første vask. Jeg bruker ikke shorts selv annet enn på stranden, så jeg kan dessverre ikke komme med noen tips, men lykke til i jakten på en ny en!
The Cacharels are lovely, but I never wear too delicate fabrics on my but, since I want to be able to sit on sidewalks, grass and so on during the summer :)
The Rag and Bone pair are really nice, but I think I agree with a few of the other commenters – denim, even black denim, is far more durable and summery.
I have to agree — LuxeBytes — you're too funny and, as you know, I'm right there with you. With that said, yes, DF, embrace your age and wear those cute shorts!
I like the Cacharel and Rag & Bone ones the best. However, I also agree with some of the comments about wearing silk in the summer. Perhaps summers in Oslo are milder, but where I live, it gets very hot and sticky. My city is also unbelievably dirty. I find that silk doesn't breathe very well and is too delicate for everyday city wear (although black silk is much easier than lighter colors). For these reasons, I usually stick to denim, cotton, or linen. If you really wanted silk, perhaps a silk linen blend would hold up better?
Dead Fleurette, I totally agree with your point of being too poor to buy cheap things, or in fact of a poor quality. I have also a pair of shorts from Zara, from I think their fall (?) collection and given their synthetic material they are only suitable to wear in colder weather with tights…yes, Zara has lots of great designs, but quality is far far behind. The only place I can shop 'safely' knowing that the quality is superb is beloved COS ( i.e. withing my budget, IM still far beyond my reach, giving that I work in arts;). I love your blog, so please do continue! Dominika
I love how you have styled your shorts with ankle boots, do you find your feet get too hot and uncomfortable though? I would like to give this look a go but I don't want hot feet all day…!
the alexander wang tuxedo shorts look like they have a nice fit! let me know once you've tried them on!http://histoiresdunboudoir.blogspot.comX
Dear Fleurette,My question has nothing to do with your following post but, if you have to save money for a bag, wich one would you buy ? (you can name 3 bags!)I carry a cool Sessun satchel bag (http://fr.modefix.com/323061-1666.jpg?20100319) for 3 years now and I was thinking about investing in a quality bag for (almost) everyday.I did really like the Balenciaga First, but I'm not sure it would fit my style now.It's a silly question but I wanted to reffer to you. Thank you!Louise
I'm also looking for a black shorts… Don't think I'm going to spend as much on it as you probably are going to, but I guess I should take the time and not buy anything before I find an almost perfect one. I'm curious about what shorts you're going to end up with, though ;)
Dear Fleurette… this isn't exactly related to your post, but you seem to have such a strong sense of your own style which is really great, I was just wondering how you got there? Was it a lot of trial and error?I have been going through a lot of old clothes and some of the things from several years ago, I wonder what I was thinking! I ask because I feel I can't really settle on a style, I sort of float between something more tailored and a bit more 'rock'
Jeg kan jo ikke en gang ta meg råd til å i det hele tatt -tenke- på hva jeg har lyst til å spare til når det kommer til en basisgarderobe (type, hvordan skal jeg få råd til en genser fra APC når jeg ikke har penger til strøm, lol, stygge privatskole…), så jeg gruver meg til å pakke til Hove. Haha.
Based on the photos, I vote for Cacharel, they look the most elegant of the four, but are still suitable for a casual summer day.
- Joy: No, you can't go wrong with them, especially if the fabric is amazing. I prefer a tailored style though!- miss sophie: I used to make cut-offs but not even the smallest men's jeans fit me and the back gets so saggy.. :-( But I'm going to look for black denim shorts to see how they look on my figure. I guess they can be very chic!- L.L.: A cotton-blend might be the solution, then. My favorite amongst the shorts is the Rag and Bone ones as well. Haha, I'll be one of the non-sweaty, clean festivalgoers who's going to be backstage and sleeping in a house instead of a tent, haha. I feel so lucky! Otherwise I would never go to a tent-festival, haha.- Julie: I know, that's why I have to do a lot of research before I settle for a pair of shorts. Marc Jacobs has the worst quality ever.- Patricia Flores: Thank you :-D I don't want to feed the trolls so I'm ignoring them. – Blace: Thanks! I love that phrase, it's so true.- style odyssey: Norway is never going to be as hot and humid as Texas, fortunately. I've been there twice and I could barely walk outside.- pink horrorshow: Oh, it sounds tempting to buy one from H&M just to hope that it will last for a couple of summers.- S: Linen would be so great but I fear the saggy ass effect, haha! – 0000: Thanks for the comment. I'm more partial towards a pair of tailored shorts as I find them more elegant and chic, but I might give a pair of black denim shorts a try. My favorite is the one from Rag & Bone.- KIM: Thanks for the recommendation. Norwegian summers as very very comfortable but wearing black skinny jeans during summer, regardless, equals a dead wish. Silk-blend sounds good!- Alex: APC doesn't make any black shorts this season, but if I find one on ebay, I might get it.- lin: I prefer the Rag & Bone pair design-wise as well. Thanks for the tip, black denim shorts would look, in lack of a better word, awesome paired with loafers and semi-tucked in breton shirt.- angie: You're right! I'm not so sure if I'd go for a linen pair of shorts as the fabric might give you saggy back.- Jehane: Unfortunately, the quality of Acne has gone down. – this chick's got style: I know, it's worse in Norway though! Haha!- Susanna: Ikke sant! Jeg tenkte at jeg ikke trengte å tenke på å skaffe meg nye shorts i år siden jeg gjorde det i fjor. Jeg har mer lyst til å kjøpe det jeg har på ønskelisten min enn på innkjøpslisten. Kjedelig å måtte lete etter sommerhatt for eksempel.. (jeg vil ikke bli brun, hehe!)- MyFavouriteThings: Du har helt rett. Det er kjedelig det her med kvalitet..- Sabrina: Me too!- Kate: Haha, black denim shorts seem more and more convincing!- Kristi: Haha! :D
- jennifer: I think silk might be too delicate for my taste as well, considering I'm a tad clumsy. The summers in Oslo are a lot milder, however wearing skinny jeans makes the summer in Oslo seem very humid and sticky – something I'd like to avoid this year. I think I'm going to search for a cotton or silk blend. Thanks for the advice!- Dominika: Yesyes! That phrase refers to poor quality. Oh yes, COS has incredible quality if you're lucky, especially if you go for garments that are made from natural fabrics. Unfortunately, we don't have COS in Norway and the sizes are usually too big for me :-( – Anonymous: As a matter of fact, no, but I think that has something to do with my feet's lack of sweat glands. You should give that look a try however :) Personally, I want to find a pair of sandals so as not to wear out my boots.- Helena: I don't think they're available any longer!- Louise: I really like the bags from Balenciaga, I think they are classic and I really like my Balenciaga city but I find shoulder bags a lot more practical. I would love a medium billy bag from Jerome Dreyfuss, Celine box bag or Isabel Marant pykes bag.- Emilie: Oh no, I don't think I'm going to spend a lot on a pair of shorts.. Here's hoping that brands such as Filippa K and Hope make tailored shorts. – Anonymous: Why thank you for the kindness. I guess it was a lot of trial and error. That said, I used to have a similar approach to style when I was 14-15, but I was constantly "finding myself" at that time so I ended up looking like a fashion experiment every day for two years or so.. Why don't you combine those styles together? Tailored + rock sounds very very Emmanuelle Alt to me! – Ane Sunde: Huff, jeg hadde aldri hatt råd til noen ting hvis jeg hadde bodd alene. Gleder meg til Hove, får håpe at G fikser noen fine band snart.. og får håpe vi får møte Julian Casablancas og co!!- Anonymous: Agreed! But I don't think that style is flattering to my body type, so I am looking for a similar style to the ones from Rag & Bone.
A new blog post from you always makes me so happy!I like an elegant tailored pair of silk shorts. They are delicate, but versatile. You can dress them up for a nice dinner out or wear them in a more laid back way. A silk blend would have the same look, but would be a bit cooler. I tend not to worry to much about overheating because I'm always cold and air conditioning gives me a permanent chill. The pair from Rag and Bone are perfect, however I think you can find a more affordable pair that doesn't sacrifice quality. I know cotton, linen and denim are more practical for summer, but if I'm going to wear shorts, then I need to step it up a notch. I'm also extremely sensitive to materials that wrinkle and lint. Haha, so many pet peeves. I saw so many chic girls in Hong Kong wearing these little shorts. I'm debating whether to add them to my own list for Spring.
Thank you for your answer ! I like the Billy too although it's very very common in Paris…Your blog is great ! I love the way you talk about clothes ! It kinda makes me more conscious about consuming.Have a nice day ! Louise
A word of warning with Acne crepe shorts. They pill after the first wash and the seam also came down on mine. Alas, as you know, sometimes price doesn't even get you quality!
I love the look of the rag&bone ones, I've not seen any of these in person though.I had to laugh at you organizing your closet, I find it hard to believe your closet could be at all untidy!
why don't you look for a good quality piece of black fabric? you can find a high quality cotton/silk blend for under 50 euo's per metre and ask a tailor to copy your beloved shorts?
Those shorts are no longer useless!!!if they truly are your perfect fit, length, cut you can save them and use them as a pattern for making as many perfect pair of shorts as you desire.if you don't sew, aren't inclined to learn, and have no seamstresses in your acquaintance, any respectable tailor could do the job. if you want someone else to copy them, let them take the shorts apart if they need to but make sure you keep the shorts to use as a pattern in future. (many people can make a copy without taking the garment apart, but it's easier that way.)as dedicated as you are to creating your perfect wardrobe, and seeing as you are willing and able to pay a decent amount of cash, having certain pieces made to order could be a very practical option. ask around in department stores and fabric stores for names of reputable seamstresses/tailors. it's no more exorbitant than buying higher-end off the rack items,and you have so much more control over the outcome. if you have certain classic (for you) items that you'd like multiples of, it can be the easiest way to go and takes no more time than shopping for that perfect piece. and in this case, why re-invent the wheel?good luck!! steph
I have the Acne sensational pants, both in cotton and silk, and as for pants, these are some of the best, most wearable pants I've ever had. I treid the shorts last summer, but decided to go with the pants instead. – and I wore them through all summer, but then again, the danish summer isn't that hot. You should really give them a try!
- Lindsay K: I absolutely agree with you. I incline towards a pair of tailored shorts as well. Are there any brands in particular that you recommend? I wonder if Joseph or Theory make black tailored shorts this season.- Louise: Thank you! I know, it's very popular in Paris but there is a reason why it's so popular: it's such a good-looking bag!- R.A: Acne is known for their not top-notch quality.. oh well!- Alannarama: Haha, after 6 months my closet gets very very cluttered.. I mix bedlinen, towels, underwear, etc with clothes in my closet at times because I'm too lazy to put them in their respective cupboards, haha… – Ivania: Having something bespoke is too expensive in Norway :-( I can't even afford to dry-clean my clothes here.- tinyjunco: Thanks for the advice, Steph! I really appreciate your comment! Having that said, it's really really expensive to have something bespoke in Norway, but I'd like to do that when I travel.- O: Seriously? You must have been lucky with the quality!!
I have made the mistake of wearing jeans on hot days too, it feels like you are suffocating. The perfect pair of shorts are impossible to find, they are either way too short, or trashy looking like those frayed denim cut offs eg. Erin Wasson x RVCA denim shorts. I like the Rag and Bone shorts with the small pleats, they look versatile. Hope you find a pair before summer rolls around. On a side note, the first Zara shop opened in Australia a couple of days ago, I might go have a look. ;) Oh and another pet hate is when jackets or pants have fake pockets. Why?!
I was thinking that Theory was a good place to start too. They usually make a few pairs of silk shorts and they make 0 and 00 (smile). Carven had a pair of crepe de Chine shorts that appeared on the runway. I'm hoping they went into production. I'll keep you in the loop- now I'm on a mission!
Ha ha – too poor to buy cheap things? I agree completely, buying bad quality stuff is terrible economy. Try APC – I bought a pair of shorts a while back and they are still going strong. Good black cotton.
T b Alexander Wang makes a very cute pair of black silk shorts that are very similar to #3 but are a bit more affordable… I am contemplating getting those myself (saw them after reading your post, which inspired me).
I just bought a similar pair of shorts from Filippa K. The fit is perfect and the material is not too delicate. The lenght also I find perfect although I am quite tall. I hope I will get lots of wear out of theese shorts both during the summer and come fall.