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.
