Shorts guide
How to choose and wear women’s shorts: The Hello Moon guide
Denim, flowy, high-waisted, loose-fitting, or more polished: shorts aren’t limited to vacation outfits. Their cut, length, and fabric allow you to create very different silhouettes, from casual looks to dressier outfits.
To choose the right women’s shorts, focus mainly on their cut, rise, length, and fabric. Denim shorts add more structure, while a flowy or loose-fitting style generally offers more movement.
In this guide, Hello Moon helps you understand the main shorts cuts and easily pair them with other pieces in your wardrobe.
Looking for a specific style? Explore our selection of women’s shorts.
How do you choose the right women’s shorts?
When choosing shorts, start by deciding on the desired style and comfort. Denim shorts offer a casual, structured look, while a flowy pair provides more flexibility. High-waisted shorts make the waist more visible, while a loose fit focuses more on volume.
Also consider the length, fabric, and shoes you want to wear them with.
The right pair of shorts is above all one that you feel comfortable in and can easily pair with the tops, jackets, and shoes in your wardrobe.
What are the different types of women’s shorts?
Shorts mainly differ in their fabric, volume, length, and rise.
How should you wear denim shorts?
Denim shorts are an easy-to-style casual piece. With a T-shirt and sneakers, they create a relaxed outfit. With a blouse or shirt, they let you play with the contrast between the denim and a more polished top.
They can also be worn with a blazer or jacket to give the outfit more structure.
The color and wash of the denim also influence its style: light denim creates a different look from raw, black, or colored denim.
How should you wear high-waisted shorts?
High-waisted shorts sit higher on the torso and make the waist more visible.
You can pair them with a fitted or cropped top, or tuck a T-shirt, blouse, or shirt into the waistband. With a looser top, tucking in only the front keeps the volume while highlighting the waist.
How should you wear flowy shorts?
A flowy pair of shorts is primarily defined by its soft drape and movement.
It can be paired with a simple top for a casual outfit or with a blouse or shirt for a dressier look.
Depending on its fabric and cut, it can also be worn with a blazer to give the outfit more structure.
How to wear loose shorts?
Loose shorts offer more volume around the legs. They can be paired with a fitted top to create a contrast in proportions or with a more fluid top to maintain a deliberately loose silhouette.
The length and fabric are particularly important: two pairs of loose shorts can look very different depending on how they are constructed.
How to wear dressy shorts?
Shorts can be an alternative to trousers in some dressier outfits.
Choose a relatively structured style and pair it with a blouse, shirt, or blazer. Shoes and accessories can then be used to adapt the outfit’s level of sophistication.
The Hello Moon perspective
We like shorts that are not only associated with vacations. When selecting a style, we look at its cut, comfort, and especially the different ways it can be worn again.
Shorts paired with a T-shirt and sneakers can take on a completely different style with a blouse, blazer, or another pair of shoes.
What length of shorts should you choose?
The length of a pair of shorts influences its style, comfort, and proportions. However, there is no ideal length for every woman.
- Short shorts show more of the leg and generally create a more summery look.
- Mid-thigh shorts are an in-between length that can be worn with many different outfits.
- Long shorts or bermuda shorts extend farther down the thigh and create a different silhouette, especially when they have a straight or loose cut.
- The best choice depends above all on your comfort and the style you are looking for.
What is the difference between shorts and bermuda shorts?
The difference mainly comes down to the length.
Shorts generally stop higher on the thigh, while bermuda shorts extend farther toward the knee. Depending on the style, bermuda shorts may have a straight, loose, or more structured cut.
Both can be worn casually or in a dressier way, depending on their fabric and the pieces they are paired with.
High-rise, regular-rise, or low-rise: which shorts should you choose?
The rise refers to where the shorts sit on the torso.
- High-rise shorts come up higher above the hips and make the waist more visible.
- Mid-rise shorts generally sit lower.
- Low-rise shorts sit lower on the hips.
The choice mainly depends on your comfort and how you want to wear your tops.
How do you choose the right size of shorts?
To choose the right size of shorts, consider their cut, fabric, and the details specific to the style.
In particular, check the comfort around the waist and hips, as well as your freedom of movement when walking or sitting down.
Loose shorts and fitted shorts are not designed to offer the same amount of ease.
When measurements are available on the product page, compare them with your measurements or those of a pair of shorts you already own and whose cut suits you.
You can also consult our Hello Moon size guide.
Which shorts should you choose for your body type?
Your body type can provide guidance for understanding the effect created by different cuts, lengths, and rises. However, it does not determine which shorts you can wear.
Which shorts suit an A-shaped body type?
An A-shaped body type generally features hips that are wider than the shoulders.
Straight-cut shorts create a relatively even line, while loose or fluid shorts add more movement. High-waisted shorts, meanwhile, make the waist more visible.
The choice therefore depends above all on the effect you want to create.
Discover our guide to A-shaped body types.
Which shorts suit a V-shaped body type?
A V-shaped body type generally features shoulders that are wider than the hips.
If you want to visually add more volume to the lower part of your silhouette, loose or fluid shorts can create this effect.
A straighter cut, on the other hand, will create a different silhouette.
Discover our guide to V-shaped body types.
Which shorts suit an H-shaped body type?
An H-shaped body type generally features shoulders and hips that are relatively aligned, with a less defined waist.
Straight-cut shorts can complement this silhouette. If you want to make the waist more visible, a high-waisted style paired with a top tucked into the waistband creates a different effect.
Discover our guide to H-shaped body types.
Which shorts suit an X-shaped or 8-shaped body type?
X-shaped and 8-shaped body types generally feature a defined waist and a balance between the shoulders and hips.
High-waisted shorts can emphasize the waist more, especially when worn with a top tucked into the waistband.
The volume and length of the shorts then depend on the look you want to achieve.
Discover our guides dedicated to X-shaped body types and 8-shaped body types.
Which shorts suit an O-shaped body type?
With an O-shaped body type, straight-cut shorts create a relatively even line, while a fluid or loose fit adds more movement.
The rise should primarily be chosen based on your comfort.
Discover our guide to the O-shaped body type.
Key takeaway
Body shape helps you understand the effect of volume and proportions, but it is not a list of rules. The right shorts are the ones you feel comfortable in.
How should women wear shorts?
Shorts can easily change style depending on the top, jacket, and shoes you choose.
- With a T-shirt, they allow you to create a simple, casual outfit.
- With a blouse, they create a contrast between a casual bottom and a more polished top.
- With a shirt, they can create a more structured outfit.
- With a blazer, they allow you to play with the contrast between casual and structured styles.
- With a sweater or cardigan, some shorts can continue to be worn as temperatures start to drop.
What top should you wear with shorts?
The choice of top depends mainly on the volume of the shorts and the desired style.
With loose-fitting shorts, a fitted top creates a contrast in volume. A T-shirt or shirt tucked into the waistband also makes the waist more visible.
With more fitted shorts, a fluid blouse or oversized shirt can instead add more volume to the upper part of the silhouette.
There is therefore no single right combination: it all depends on the proportions you want to create.
How should you wear shorts with a shirt?
A shirt can be tucked into the shorts to give the outfit more structure or left open over a top for a more casual result.
With an oversized shirt, tucking in only part of the garment preserves volume while making the waist visible.
A lightweight shirt can also be used as an extra layer on warmer days.
How should you wear shorts with a blazer?
Pairing shorts with a blazer allows you to mix a casual piece with a more structured one.
With a T-shirt and sneakers, the outfit retains a casual look. With a blouse, shirt, and dressier shoes, it can take on a more sophisticated direction.
When the shorts and blazer have a similar fabric or color, they can also create the impression of a matching set.
What shoes should you wear with shorts?
Shorts can be paired with many types of shoes depending on the season and the desired style.
What shoes should you wear with shorts in summer?
Flat sandals, heeled sandals, sneakers, and other lightweight shoes can easily be worn with shorts in summer.
The choice mainly depends on the style of the outfit and the occasion.
Can you wear shorts with ankle boots?
Yes. Ankle boots can help transition shorts into a mid-season outfit.
Pairing them with a shirt, knitwear, jacket, or blazer then allows you to adapt the rest of the outfit to the temperatures.
Can you wear shorts with sneakers?
Yes. Sneakers work particularly well with denim, fluid, or casual shorts.
Their volume and style nevertheless affect the final result: a discreet sneaker will not create the same effect as a more substantial style.
For more information, see our guide dedicated to shoes.
What fabric should you choose for a pair of shorts?
The fabric affects the drape, comfort, and style of the shorts. Always check the exact composition of the style you are interested in.
- Denim generally provides more structure.
- Cotton can produce very different results depending on its weave and thickness.
- Linen and linen blends are particularly appreciated during warm weather.
- Viscose is often used to create a softer, more fluid drape.
Other fibers may be blended with these fabrics to alter the garment's stretch, durability, or behavior.
To better understand the fabric compositions, see our guide to fabrics and care.
How do you wear shorts according to the season?
Which shorts should you wear in summer?
In summer, above all, choose a cut and fabric that you feel comfortable in when it is hot.
Denim, cotton, or more fluid shorts can be paired with tops, T-shirts, tank tops, lightweight shirts, and sandals.
How do you wear shorts in spring?
In spring, add a shirt, cardigan, jacket, or blazer depending on the temperatures.
Sneakers, ballet flats, or ankle boots also make it easy to adapt the outfit.
Can you wear shorts in autumn?
Yes, depending on the style and the temperatures.
Shorts can be paired with knitwear, a blazer or jacket, as well as ankle boots. Depending on the style you want, tights can also make certain styles suitable for cooler days.
How do you choose the color of a pair of shorts?
To choose the color of a pair of shorts, think about the tops, jackets, and shoes you already own.
Black, beige, ecru, brown or denim Shorts generally provide an easy-to-style foundation. A colourful or printed style attracts more attention and can become the main piece of the outfit.
If you’d like to explore colour combinations further, also consult our colour analysis guide.
Frequently asked questions about women’s Shorts
Can you wear Shorts if you’re petite?
Yes. Your height does not determine which clothes you can wear. The length of the Shorts, their rise and your footwear simply help to visually alter your proportions.
Which Shorts should you choose if you want more room around the thighs?
If you’re looking for more room, look for Shorts with a loose-fitting or fluid cut through the legs. Also check the garment’s measurements and fabric, as two visually similar pairs of Shorts may offer different levels of ease.
How can you make Shorts look dressier?
Pair them with a blouse or shirt, a blazer and dressier shoes. The fabric and construction of the Shorts also play a role: a structured style will generally create a different result from a pair of faded denim shorts.
How can you wear Shorts without looking too summery?
Pair them with mid-season pieces such as a shirt, blazer, cardigan or knitwear, and adapt your footwear. Ankle boots, sneakers or ballet flats can help move beyond a strictly summery look.
What is the difference between fluid and loose-fitting Shorts?
Loose-fitting mainly describes the garment’s volume, while fluid refers more to its drape and the way its fabric behaves.
Shorts can therefore be both loose-fitting and fluid.
Shorts or skorts: what’s the difference?
Shorts have two separate legs. Skorts retain this construction but incorporate a panel or cut that visually creates the appearance of a skirt.
Skorts therefore offer the look of a skirt while retaining the construction of Shorts.
Find your next pair of Hello Moon shorts
Denim, fluid, loose-fitting, high-waisted or more formal: each pair of shorts creates different proportions and a different style.
The right style is above all the one you feel comfortable in and can easily pair with the tops, shirts, jackets and shoes already in your wardrobe.
To find out more
Also discover our guides dedicated to skirts, trousers, jeans, shirts and blouses, tops and T-shirts, dresses, co-ords and jumpsuits, blazers, sweaters and cardigans, jackets and coats, shoes and accessories.
Also discover our body-shape guides, as well as our size guide, colour analysis guide, and guide to fabrics and care.
