Denim is a fixture in any well-edited wardrobe. However, one category that feels sorely underrated in the canon of covetable jeans and miniskirts is a pair of denim shorts. Imbued with the understated effortlessness that comes with summertime dressing, the style is inherently balmy and easy to style.

Indeed, denim shorts act like a blank canvas for you to style in a multitude of ways. Better still, they boast the same qualities that we all adore about jeans—intrinsically hard-working, endlessly versatile and unfussily chic—without having your pins suffocated in stiff cotton during a scorching heatwave.

Whilst a few remain loyal to their jeans all year round, the best denim shorts prove to be an ideal substitute for your favourite pair of baby blues or stiff indigo. This summer, especially, there are countless variations of denim shorts to choose from and covet.

Leading the charge is none other than the elongated and Bermuda-esque styles that fall just above the knee. Commonly referred to as jorts, the baggy shape has quickly become the default denim short style after years of itty-bitty hemlines that fall just below the bum. Still, these upper thigh-grazing styles possess cultural cachet, especially when they’re a preferred silhouette for those seeking something a little more sensual and skin-baring to see them through the season’s endless heatwaves.

But like anyone who lives in denim can attest to, not every pair of shorts is made equally. Factors like length and cut aside, there’s a very big difference between styles that look exceptional on but also feel incredibly comfortable to move around in. And yes, that is a firm prerequisite for a style whose appeal hinges a lot on its durability and ease.

So, how does one determine the best denim shorts without going through the rigmarole of buying several pairs, testing them for a few weeks to see which ones hold up? Thankfully, we’ve already done this hard work for you.

Here, Who What Wear UK shares their comprehensive edit of the best denim shorts for women on the market. From elongated hems that will pair perfectly with a crisp tank top and leather sandals to cropped styles rendered in vintage washes that are demanding to be worn with a pretty blouse, scroll on to see and shop the best denim shorts to invest in.

The 9 Best Denim Shorts for Women, As Tested by a Fashion Editor

• The Best Overall Pair of Denim Shorts for Women: Sézane Le Summer Shorts, £100
• The Best High-Street Pair of Denim Shorts: COS High-Rise Denim Shorts, £55
• The Best Designer Pair of Denim Shorts: Citizens of Humanity Court Denim Straight-Leg Shorts, £260
• The Best High-Waisted Pair of Denim Shorts: Dala Denim Baker Short, £168
• The Best Low-Rise Pair of Denim Shorts: & Other Stories Low-Waist Denim Mini Shorts, £57
• The Best Knee-Length Pair of Denim Shorts: Agolde Nolan Denim Bermuda Shorts, £265

1. Sézane Le Summer Shorts

Style Notes: Shopping at Sézane is like stepping inside a portal that transports you right to the arrondissements of Paris. You’ll always leave feeling slightly more chic, polished and, perhaps, even like the protagonist of some sumptuous French New Wave film. That’s exactly how wearing the brand’s Le Summer shorts made me feel.

Slipping into the raw-hem style, which I picked out in this sumptuous blue shade that rivals the hue of the Mediterranean at midday, I instantly felt like I was an extra in La Piscine, the steamy and aquatic psychological thriller set in a stunning Saint-Tropez villa. With a trip to Marseille on my horizon, this is the exact style I could imagine wearing for a long, blissful lunch at Tuba Club alongside a stunning Dôen peasant blouse and A.Emery flip-flops. Though they were slightly a little tighter around my thigh than pictured online, they made up for it in softness, as the fabric felt incredibly supple to the touch. Jane Birkin, eat your heart out.

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2. Citizens of Humanity Court Denim Straight-leg Shorts

Style Notes: As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time in Los Angeles over the years, those local to the city wear denim in a way that feels exceptionally desirable. Blame it on the fact that it’s a crucial part of the off-duty wardrobes of the endless creative types who live there, but the fabric is the closest thing to a uniform you could get. That’s why brands that hail from this part of the globe pique my interest. They instantly understand the casual-meets-considered edge that denim can bring, and this pair of denim shorts from Citizens of Humanity certainly delivers on all fronts.

Hitting just above the knee, they bring a refined polish to laid-back dressing, reminiscent of something you’d find in Wasteland, a legendary vintage boutique located on Melrose Avenue, or on one of the many stylish frequenters of Community Goods, the West Hollywood haunt regularly visited by Hailey Bieber. To style these shorts like a true native, I’d team them with leather fisherman sandals and a crisp white T-shirt from Leset.

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3. Agolde Indra Frayed Denim Shorts

Style Notes: Another brand that calls Los Angeles home, Agolde has swiftly become one of the leading prestige denim brands, courtesy of the way the brand marries vintage shapes with modern fabrics and environmentally considered manufacturing practices. As someone who has penned many essays on how beloved Agolde’s jeans are, it should come as no surprise that its denim shorts are just as sought after. I truly mean this as a compliment when I say that style feels like someone has just taken a pair of scissors to the iconic Harper style, which is a straight-leg cut made from the smoothest and most relaxed fabric.

Long and loose, this style has already become the hardest-working pair of denim shorts in my wardrobe. With a fluid shape and resilient material, I throw these on when I want to look more put together when running errands, whether it be nipping up to the shops or spending several hours trawling through my favourite stores. My only caveat is that spending over £200 on a pair of denim shorts that I’ll mostly wear for my more dressed-down outings is a considerable investment. Still, factoring in that my lifestyle is more laidback anyway, I do find myself gravitating towards these compared to my sleek pencil skirts and towering heels, so the cost per wear is still considerably low.

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4. Dala Baker Shorts

Style Notes: Elsewhere, closer to home, the most refined dressers in London are all wearing Dala denim, a design studio that produces 100% organic cotton styles that are all ethically manufactured in Paraguay. Cool and contemporary, the style I’ve tried here is part of its new collection, which is built around the concept that denim is a core part of a considered uniform. After wearing them on repeat, I couldn’t concur with this sentiment more. The style itself has a ‘90s sensibility, with clean lines, grungy accents and a true vintage wash.

As the brand says, the singular wash is “the perfect lived-in blue, softly faded with time, years of wear and sun-bleached memories”. This style has a tailored finish, which elevates anything it’s paired with. In this case, I’m choosing to wear it with my favourite three-quarter length top from Cou Cou Intimates, which is like catnip for cool girls this summer and jelly flip-flops from Ancient Greek Sandals. Truly, the best thing about this pair is how simple and effective it is. When focusing on the precise fit, this style really shines as any anything-but-boring basic that I honestly love wearing. Who knows, I might even embrace my inner Chloë Sevigny or Courtney Love come autumn and pair these with gathered loafers and a checked shirt.

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5. H&M Denim Shorts

Style Notes: H&M is a high-street giant that balances trend-forward pieces with timeless basics. This pair certainly falls into the latter category, given the fact that it’s a mid-rise shape that doesn’t feel either super short or super long. What’s most striking about this style is the price point.

With an exceptional fabric composition of 99% cotton, 1% elastane, this pair is proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune to invest in something that’s really well-made. If this heatwave is making you desperate for a pair of shorts that can last you through the rest of the season without breaking the bank, this is the pair I’d recommend. Costing you less than an average meal in London, skip dinner out at Padella or drinks at Space Talk for a piece that will make the most of the scorching temperatures we’re currently experiencing.

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6. COS High-Rise Denim Shorts

Style Notes: Summer in the city is all about balancing refined tailoring, classic shirting and trend-forward accessories, be it a pair of suede sandals or adding a chic pendant necklace to your ensemble. This COS pair serves as the perfect starting point for building an outfit around these archetypes. Sitting high on the waist, they add length to your frame with a longline effect and a knee-grazing hemline.

Few styles of denim shorts can make you look like you’re Carolyn Bessette Kennedy exiting the Calvin Klein offices in Manhattan during the early days of her relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr. But with an elegantly undone shape and soft fabric, you’ll instantly feel like the patron saint of minimalism in all her glory. Pair with a fluid button-down from With Nothing Underneath and mesh ballet flats from Dear Frances for the ultimate girl-on-the-go look.

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7. Agolde Nolan Denim Bermuda Shorts

Style Notes: Nothing signals summer’s arrival quite like the appearance of white shorts. This style from Agolde, which is aptly dubbed a ‘milkshake’ colourway, bridges the modern polish and structure of everyone’s go-to Bermuda shorts into a generously cut denim style.

Casually slung on the hips, they slightly protrude out around the hem, creating a somewhat A-line silhouette that will appeal to those seeking a more carefree silhouette. To me, these are the perfect escape shorts, which is a style that refers to those items of clothing that instantly conjure that holiday feeling when wearing them. With a crisp white colourway and unfussy length, I can easily see myself wearing them whilst strolling around Palma or Capri.

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8. & Other Stories Low-Waist Denim Mini Shorts

Style Notes: For a slightly cheekier look, I can’t go past this pair from & Other Stories. Sure, leading menswear figures like Paul Mescal and Harry Styles have pioneered the rise of minuscule inseams, but it’s not a design element that has translated into womenswear just yet. (Instead, bubble shorts and bloomers reign supreme.) But for those who want their denim shorts to take a more Daisy Duke quality, these low-rise and ultra-cropped minis will do the trick.

The whiskered wash has a slight indie sleaze quality, making it the perfect thing to pair with boots and strappy white tank tops on all your nights out. These certainly aren’t the style of shorts you want to wear into the office. (No, you’ll certainly risk a dress code violation with that move.) But with summer on the horizon, isn’t there something so fun and flirty about strolling about in a pair of denim shorts exclusively reserved for weekend frolicing?

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What to Look Out for When Buying the Best Denim Shorts

Speaking to Rosie Ingleby, the London-based creative director and co-founder of DALA, she explains there are several things to look out for when it comes to shopping for the best pair of denim shorts. She mentions that factors like length, fabric and wash is important, but in a world so fixated with vintage jeans and nostalgia, one of the primary concerns should be in making sure your denim shorts feel authentic to you. "This is such an important thing for me, Ingleby explains. Otherwise, read our cheat sheet to finding the perfect pair of shorts below:

• Size: Denim uses its own measurement scale. As a quick guide, the number listed, which is usually from size 23 - 32, refers to the width of the jeans in inches, as measured around the hips. As a result, there's no real true equivalent for translating between these sizes and the small, mediums and larges we're used to. That's why, especially when shopping online, it's best to take careful consideration of the size guide listed on the website. Your typical size might go across a few options, so be sure to read the fine print closely and see if they tend to size up or down. Remember, denim rarely offers any stretch, so it's always best to opt for a bigger size if you're unsure. Denim is much easier to shrink than it is to stretch.
• Length: When shorts can fall anywhere from the upper thigh to just above the knee, you'll want to make sure you look for the inseam details to guarantee the item you're buying hits exactly where you intend it to. For the uninitiated, the inseam refers to the measurement from the crotch to the hem, so you should be able to know for certain where on your leg they'll stop before you buy. If you're looking to invest in a pair for this summer, Ingleby tells me that "longer silhouettes" are rising in popularity, particularly "longer line Bermuda lengths with a slightly higher rise."
• Wash: Wash is another factor. The most polished shades are the most vibrant, whether it be a deeper, indigo blue or a crisp white. However, I make this caveat to note that the dye of some denim shorts can transfer in the wash. If you want to preserve the quality and colour of your denim shorts, and avoid them staining your other items of clothes, wash inside out in cold water on a gentle cycle and preferably with a colour catcher sheet

How We Tested

Who What Wear UK's editorial team, led by fashion writer Ava Gilchrist, began the process of testing the best denim shorts by looking at sales data and shopping insights for the best-selling and most talked-about styles on the market. Looking at leading denim brands like Agolde and Citizens of Humanity, the team then proceeded to try on the styles that had the most buzz to inspect them for quality, durability, comfort and cost-effectiveness. Then, after weeks of reviewing the styles, we tightened the edit to include the top eight styles we loved and genuinely recommend, landing on these styles showcased here.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear UK, fashion is our speciality. Our editors have years of industry experience, from reporting on seasonal fashion trends seen at international fashion weeks to working with some of the most recognisable names in fashion. Every item we recommend is carefully selected based on current trends, quality and real-world wearability.

We regularly try on pieces ourselves—everything from best-selling jeans to designer shoes—and speak to external experts and fashion insiders, staying closely connected to what our readers are searching for. Our advice is grounded in expertise, and each and every buy we feature has to meet our exceptional taste standards—so you can feel confident in every recommendation.

Meet the Experts

Rosie Ingleby is the London-based Creative Director and co-founder of DALA. With a background rooted in denim expertise, she established the brand, alongside Holly Abdale, to create premium, rigid denim pieces that prioritise longevity, craftsmanship, and inclusive design. DALA’s work focuses on thoughtful cuts, high-quality materials, and sustainable production methods championed by their B-Corp factory partner in Paraguay.