A well-tailored pair of shorts or culottes provides plenty of mileage for those languorous summer days and, after months of subdued layering and fitted pants and jeans, the chance to let those pins breathe is a welcome relief.
While just-above-the-knee shorts are still a popular choice for men this season, bermuda shorts and board shorts are making a comeback for women. That play on length offers some interesting alternatives, with shorts that can be worn for any occasion.
Culottes have made a quiet return in previous seasons, overshadowing more popular short shorts and the ubiquitous denim cut-off styles. However, a well-tailored mid-length short that skims above the knee is a popular option from several designers this season. It's a length suitable for both office and weekend-wear and, if they come complete with flattering pleats, even better.
Newcomer Wynn Hamlyn's velvet textured shorts (#1) are a great option for more formal occasions, worn with a polished flat or loafer and a languid silk blouse or the myriad short-sleeved shirts available in crisp cotton. You can't look past the beautiful linen separates on offer either, such as the linen culottes from Twenty-seven Names (#5), the perfect balance of relaxed tailoring offering a no-brainer option from now until the very height of summer.
1. Wynn Hamlyn shorts, $355. Wallace Rose shirt, $369. Sol Sana sandals, $160.
2. Taylor shorts, $297. Stella McCartney Lingerie pyjama top, $350 a set. Mi Piaci shoes, $250.
3. C&M, $169. Commoners top, $119 and sandals, $199. Oliver Goldsmith handmade sunglasses, $525, from Michael Holmes Premium Eyewear.
4. Cybele shorts, $345. Twenty-seven Names top, $290. Citta Design sun hat, $239. Sol Sana sandals, $160.
5. Twenty-seven Names shorts, $250. Lonely Hearts T-shirt, $99. Lola & Grace earrings, $89. Mimco ring, $49. Mi Piaci shoes, $280.
Stockists
• C&M
• Citta Design
• Commoners (09) 378 4259
• Cybele (09) 376 5009
• Lola & Grace
• Lonely Hearts (09) 376 1566
• Michael Holmes Premium Eyewear (09) 523 0343
• Mimco (09) 523 2412
• Mi Piaci
• Sol Sana
• Stella McCartney Lingerie
• Taylor (09) 376 6544
• Twenty-seven Names (09) 360 6127
• Wallace Rose (09) 376 0572
• Wynn Hamlyn