The Long and Short of It
5 pairs of Bermuda shorts, 25+ ways to wear them this summer
This letter is too long for email. Read on the Substack app for a seamless experience. Also, apologies in advance for all the short puns. I couldn’t help myself :)
Hi friends,
I hope you’re staying cool and safe wherever you are this holiday weekend.
Every type of short is having a moment right now. Bermuda shorts, the ubiquitous silk taffeta, nostalgic track shorts, Blue Crush-inspired board shorts, poplin boxer shorts, and never forget the tiny satin lace shorts that took over Fashion Substack last summer. I seriously considered all of them, and the one I decided to go all-in on was the Bermuda.
It’s the only one in the bunch I can actually wear to the store, out to dinner, and to a real day of work without feeling like I’m cosplaying. No beach vacay required, and no occasion to build around it. It just works, which is more than I can say for silk taffeta on a balmy, 90-degree day or a thin pair of track shorts in the middle of a San Francisco summer (thanks, Karl the Fog).
TBH, I avoided Bermudas when they started cropping up again last summer, since I’m not exactly blessed in the height department at a mere five foot three. Long shorts, of course, are the hardest length when you’re petite. But I do love a challenge, so I figured if I could make the trickiest short of the summer work at 5’3”, it’d work for just about anyone.
I found five different pairs and styled them 25-plus ways. You’ll see the different summer styling levers in practice, and I can’t wait to find out which looks resonate most. I’ll be waiting in the comments.
The Tailored Wool Short
Featuring: By Malene Birger Cymbaria Short (alt here and here)
We’re starting off strong: a tailored, high-waisted short with a full front pleat and a hem that hits well below the knee. The pleats and the tailoring give off that I-have-back-to-back-meetings vibe, but it’s still a short, so I leaned into that push and pull.
I’m gonna be technical for a moment — a Bermuda is a straight short (from waistband to hem) that hits just above the knee, whereas a voluminous short that goes past the knee would be considered a culotte by some serious fashion people. But for the purpose of this letter, we’re calling these shorts a Bermuda, k?
I’m so in love with my new Anteros top. It has a chic asymmetrical hem that’s lovely on its own, but I tucked it in to keep the eye from traveling straight down the hem. The high contrast pairing of butterscotch and black visually creates definition at the waist.
A pointy kitten mule or a nude mesh flat that show plenty of skin would also work here, but I love the edgy vibe my Tibi sandals bring to this outfit. The square toe, barely-there straps, and angular heel just scream cool. Adding a bright white to the mix keeps the color combo from feeling flat.
If your legs are on the shorter side, I’d avoid thicker ankle straps as it can visually cut you off. Btw, take my styling notes as suggestions, not rules. I believe in wearing whatever you feel good in! I certainly did with the outfits I styled here.
The knot serves as the waist-defining tuck in this look. To make the Bermudas feel less serious, I mixed my textures (crisp poplin with soft crochet) for something a bit more unexpected.
I went for my most-worn shoe this season, my beloved Khaite Marlow wedge mules to add some height and edge. A slimmer thong kitten heel also works here to elongate the legs. My Elaree beaded bag ties it all together through color and texture.
Another great top option is something slightly shorter (or even cropped) as it can create that definition at the waist sans tuck.
I love a classic black and white combo, but opting for a cool lavender instead of bright white turned unlocked a softer contrast.
And we all need more whimsy in our outfits these days, so I added a pop of red at the bottom (OFELIA shows us even more ways to wear red sandals here). I chose deep brown accessories for texture and to ground the whole look.
If your torso is on the shorter side, try a tailored top with some volume to create the illusion of length up top. The subtle peplum and pleats both carry volume in different places in this look: the top flares at the waist, whereas the short opens at the hip. A nude-ish shoe like my JUDE mules create even more length at the bottom, and a minimal pouch keeps things understated.
A graphic sweatshirt paired back to a tailored short should feel confusing but as Ayo Edibiri (styled by your stylist’s favorite stylist, Danielle Goldberg) showed us in her trousers and graphic tee version, the result is nothing short of cool. There’s enough structure to hold the entire outfit together, so your top can be as casual and offbeat as my old Anine Bing sweatshirt here.
All the contrasting elements in this outfit — relaxed sweatshirt against the tailored short, straw bag against the patent sandals with hardware — don’t feel chaotic since everything is neutral.
The Easy Silk Short
Featuring: Eaves Loretta Silk Short (alt here and here)
On paper, a pull-on silk short that hits just above the knee is the easiest pair to style in this lineup. But in practice, the fabrication is what makes this short particularly tricky. Silk reads dressy no matter what you do with it, so the instinct is to fight that and dress it way down, or lean so far in that it tips into taking itself too seriously.
Every look I styled around the Eaves short either meets the silk where it is or pulls it back just enough with something more casual, without sacrificing refinement. Somehow I ended up with a black, white, and red color story here, which feels very much like me.
This outfit is straight up silk on silk, but I made it more interesting by tucking my cami asymmetrically. The black lace layered over the white silk adds textural interest, which takes this look into going-out territory. In my humble opinion, this is the kind of energy a silk short can handle that a cotton one couldn’t.
I kept everything else neutral so that my cute phone trug / mini basket from Underwater Weaving gets to shine too. A minimal sandal instead of a heel keeps things grounded.
I usually reach for a button-down as a summer layering piece, but my thrifted trench turned out to be the better proportion unlock. To create definition at the waist, I chose a tee that hit just right at the top of the short. And off-white was the right choice for a softer contrast, which also bridges the red and black together.
My favorite leather flip-flops keep the whole thing from taking itself too seriously, and my Le Sundial necklace ties everything together without taking over.
I wanted to style a summer suit moment with my recently acquired vintage Moschino blazer from SPRL, which, not gonna lie, I wanted to gate keep so bad. It’s been my go-to for an impeccable assortment of curated (and affordable!) designer vintage these days, and I’m so impressed with how Alice Watts and acdlt have thoughtfully selected their vintage partners. No need to scour pages and pages to find the good stuff because every piece on SPRL is a gem. (Not sponsored btw, I just love supporting small businesses I believe in.)
Ok, back to the outfit. Pairing a tailored cotton blazer back to the silk short was the right move to add structure up top. Silk on silk would have been too serious. If the occasion calls for it, you can dress it up with a pointy kitten mule, but I do prefer a more relaxed vibe from a strappy sandal. The pop of red, tassel clutch, and my fave Sophie Buhai earrings add just enough personality.
I recently wrote about mixing different textures to make a monochromatic outfit pop, and this is almost the exact look I used as an example. I like to practice what I preach.
Let’s break down the textures at play here: linen asymmetrical top + silk shorts + leather sandals + nylon-satin bag + mother-of-pearl pendant necklace. So chic, simple, and interesting!
This is my most casual take on the silk short, focusing on color and texture. I love the bold contrast of the Suzie Kondi terry sweatshirt against the black silk. The Tibi sandals brighten things up and the basket bag lends a casual touch.
The Pull-On Poplin Short
Featuring: The Anteros Coen
I’d been patiently waiting for the restock of the Coen short from The Anteros, and it was well worth the wait. I can’t get enough of this fern green (Bryn Rhoads is a color genius), the easy drawstring waist, and an inseam that’s genuinely democratic (5.5” to 6.5” depending on size.) Oh, and it has pockets!! My only regret was not getting it in white in my size fast enough.
In my opinion, summer is the best time to experiment with color. I definitely pushed myself out of my comfort zone with this pairing. Both butterscotch and fern lean on the warmer side, which makes this combo feel harmonious. I kept it untucked to show off the hem, and the color blocking still streamlines sans tuck.
My silver Juju Vera earrings keep the whole look from leaning too warm, and the white sandals do the same. Safe to say, this outfit was a hit with Levi — 5 paws all around.
Here’s another example of intentional proportion play: a maxi shirt dress that’s doing so much more than your average button-down. And since the t-shirt hits right at the waistband and the drawstring cinches just enough to create definition, the waist doesn’t disappear from all that length. Creating a focal point with a pendant necklace right at the center of all that cream draws the eye up just before the green takes over on the bottom half.
I also styled the Coen a few different ways for a summer vacay. I wore my old Matteau silk pareo like a scarf top, paired it with barely-there sandals and my Marlies Grace clutch for an evening look. For the beach, I love an open cotton knit thrown over a swimsuit and shorts. If it’s too hot and humid out, ditch the layer and show off that bod. Every body is a summer body!
This shade of green is more versatile than it looks. Brown and cream are a given since they’re in the same warm, earthy family. But the purple surprised me too. It just works, and it comes down to the fact that green and purple both have blue in them, so they neutralize each other.
The Low-Waist Denim Short
Featuring: Still Here Cool Short (alt here and here)
The cool short from Still Here has a low-waist, a drawstring instead of an actual waistband, and it’s PINK. What was I thinking?! I did say I love a challenge.
The low waist and drawstring mean tucking is off the table. Tops that are long enough to hit just above the hip are your best friend here if you don’t want to show skin.
Don’t forget, a swimsuit is also a top in the summer! A one-piece elongates the torso, which is exactly what you want with a low-waist short. And the trick with this soft shade of pink is to treat it exactly like white. So when you pair it back to black, it reads more like a classic contrast. Hot pink would be an entirely different conversation, though.
Left: Swimsuit layered under a sheer, lightweight shirt for a daytime look. The dark shirt against the pink short keeps everything grounded, and the flip-flops make it feel exactly as casual as it should. My Laoli citrine necklace adds a warm note against all that black up top.
Right: Shirt becomes a shawl, flip-flops swapped with a sleek sandal for an evening look. I added my Juju Vera turquoise collar and Cordera beaded bag for a touch of personality.
Red and pink is a bold combo but adding ivory is key here. It gives the eye somewhere softer to land and bridges the two bolder colors. Sleek black sandals for some edge and to ground the whole thing.
Left: Suzie Kondi terry sweatshirt tied around the waist to create some definition. This is the move if you’re not fully committed to a red and pink combo. Plus, the sweatshirt covers any exposed skin.
Right: Sweatshirt goes on and the ivory cami becomes the buffer between the red and the pink. It also creates the illusion of length up top. The lace hem peeking under the sweatshirt adds texture and a little unexpectedness without any extra effort.
Surprise — pink and yellow work together too!
We’re using the same logic as before: treat the pink like white so the butterscotch reads more like a warm combo rather than a bold statement. The white sandal cools everything down just enough. And the Anteros top worn untucked is perfect since we’re working with a low waist.
The Novelty Knit Short
Featuring: Pepa Pombo printed knit shorts (alt)
I’m really glad I got these knit board short-esque pair last summer, and I can’t wait to rewear it this season. Pepa Pombo is a Colombian luxury knitwear label that’s been doing this since 1978. Every piece is made in-house with three-dimensional texture as their signature. They’re not exactly everywhere yet, which is part of the appeal.
This pair comes with its own set of challenges: the bold print, the knit fabrication, and the board short silhouette. The trick is to let the short anchor the outfit and build everything else around it.
Instead of adding more white, I opted for a softer butter yellow tee to tone down the print. A sleek suede sandal dresses it up by adding texture. The beaded bag also creates textural interest and echoes the print without competing with it.
A sheer, oversized ivory shirt is the best thing you can throw on over this short to soften the contrast without covering up the print.
Left: A pop of purple and green feels a bit risky here, but they actually work because the eye has somewhere else to land.
Right: Swimsuit as a top again for dinner post-beach day. The square neckline instantly adds refinement to the outfit. A pop of red at the bottom gives the eye somewhere to go besides the print.
Left: Adding more black actually tones down the print rather than competing with it. I went with my Flore Flore halter to keep it simple and a neutral basket bag for texture.
Right: The lavender cardi over the halter top softens the contrast just like the butter yellow tee and ivory shirt looks earlier. I took another risky move by adding some red here. But lavender and red work together because they lean cool just like the black and white print.
If you’ve made it all the way here, phew, thanks for sticking all the way through!
I’d love to know which pair of shorts surprised you most. Drop it in the comments. I also scoured the sites for more Bermuda options here.
And if you’re looking at these outfits thinking “I could never pull that off” — that’s exactly what I can help with. A Styling Session is one hour and we can work through whatever’s feeling stuck.
Chat soon,
Angela
I’m the same height as you and I just bought a pair of Bermuda shorts from Toteme and I love them! I definitely think us shorties can wear bermudas and you proved it with all these great outfits.
The shorts suit, your pink shorts with the collar necklace, your lavender cardigan outfit - this is everything I want to wear. Also, even more intrigued by SPRL now that I know you highly recommend.