Reality Check: Are We Signing Off On Long Denim Shorts?

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The knee-tickling length is actually a strong move for the warmer months: it’s appropriate for wearing away from the beach (well, no one has kicked me out of the office… yet), and will be cooler and more comfortable than a restrictive pair of jeans once the temperatures tip into tropical British territory.

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Normally, I’d reassure you of the high-fashion points in store by listing a line-up of Big Fashion houses that have approved of the piece in question – but the baggy denim knee-length short is a trend born on the streets, not the runways. At Copenhagen Fashion Week, show attendees styled theirs with trainers and long socks, moto jackets and corporate shirts, and even cowboy boots – two statement silhouettes that, surprisingly, work perfectly together.

That’s the key to bringing the blue Bermuda into SS24: it’s all about contrast, not coordination. The idea isn’t that you shoe-horn your cut-offs into a sophisticated and sleek look, but rather embrace your inner toddler and go all-in with the clashing accoutrements. Here, a crop top and voluminous jacket are as acceptable as a nerdy point-collar shirt, and Converse (they’re also back) work as well as a wedge heel (yep, those too).

I personally enjoy the contrast of a loose denim short – mine are DL1961’s super-flattering Lucila style – with a sock and high heel, which balances out the leg-shortening effects a knee-skimming hemline usually has on a 5 ft 2 person. An oversized blazer looks surprisingly great, while a bomber jacket is a fail-safe partner. You could go full mum-on-holiday with a high waist and deep indigo wash, but a faded blue and baggier cut admittedly carries a cooler kind of nonchalance.

As it turns out, it’s fairly easy to bring the vibe as far from skateboard-wielding teenager as a woman in their thirties probably should be, and so I will be embracing the long denim short all summer long: and encourage you to do so too.

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