The Tomboy Athletic Shorts Formula
I have a complicated relationship with athletic shorts. Either they’re too short and I’m giving PE class, or they’re so long they’re just jorts without the denim. Finding the middle, something that sits above the knee without making you look like you’re about to run a 5K, is harder than it should be.
And forget finding them in a cut that works if you have hips. Most athletic shorts are designed for a very specific body and it’s not mine.
These are the ones I’ve actually found that work.
The fit
The shorts: Lululemon Shake It Out High-Rise Running Shorts
Full transparency, these run short. They come in 2.5″ and 4″. If you run hot or hate fabric on your thighs, go 2.5″. If you want a little more coverage without losing the athletic feel, go 4″. High rise on both so they’re not going anywhere.
The shorts (longer): New Balance Seamless Running Shorts
These are your morning shorts. The ones you throw on before noon, maybe after, but only if it’s Saturday. Not because they’re sloppy, but because they have a specific energy and it’s chill.
The 5″ inseam sits at the right spot on the leg. If you have tattoos on your thighs or calves, this is the cut that actually shows them. Not buried under extra fabric, not riding up. Just right.
They’re also not completely straight cut which I appreciate. There’s a little flare to them, which sounds like a small thing until you’ve worn enough athletic shorts that hang like a tube and you realize the shape actually matters.
Breathable too. Like actually breathable, not “moisture wicking” breathable. Summer morning, no AC, you’ll be fine.
They look best with something baggier on top. Oversized tee, a boxy zip-up, anything with some volume. The flare at the bottom balances it out.
They’re on sale at Nordstrom Rack right now. Grab them here.
The shoes: ASICS Gel-1130 in black and white
These are doing a lot of work right now. Chunky enough to anchor a shorts fit, but not so loud that they’re the whole outfit. The black and white colorway goes with basically everything in this category. Dark shorts, light shorts, doesn’t matter.
I’d wear these with both shorts options above. With the New Balance shorts and an oversized black tee, it’s a full look with zero effort.
Why it works
Athletic shorts usually go wrong one of two ways. Too tight and it looks like I’m headed to a workout. Too big and the whole thing starts to feel messy.
What works better is keeping the shorts a little cleaner and letting everything else do the heavy lifting. Big tee. Chunky shoe. White crew sock pulled up.
That’s really the formula:
above the knee short, oversized tee, heavy sneaker, white sock.
You can swap the ASICS for Jordans or a New Balance 550. You can swap the tee for a zip up. The outfit still works.
Everything’s linked above. More fits coming.