There’s no better time to whip out breezy boxer shorts than during a long-awaited summer heatwave. After all, skirts risk riding up, trousers are a hard no, and although jorts are a reliable summer staple, denim simply won’t do when the temperature gauge hits the mid-20s. Loose-fitting, elasticated-waist shorts in soft materials, on the other hand? That’s more like it.
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A less risqué alternative to the no trouser trend, this “borrowed from the boys” style has done the rounds of the street-style circuit for some time; catalysed by Miu Miu’s spring 2022 collection, which debuted boxers peeping out beneath deconstructed skirts and low-rise tailored trousers. Bottega Veneta and The Row soon followed suit with their respective fall and pre-fall 2023 offerings, which saw fresh takes on the “underwear-as-outerwear” mood. TikTok has also been rife with posts demonstrating how to wear the trend, and creators have praised the minimalist appeal of classic cotton-poplin styles in plain colours, stripes and checks.
The trick to finding a pair that suits you? Focus on the fit. In 2021, With Nothing Underneath founder Pip Durell told Vogue that her then-recent boxer shorts design – now available in five different fabric compositions – centred around “traditionally masculine basics” that were altered to be “more suitable for a woman’s body.” Other brands, including Donni and Homme Girls, have taken a similar approach, incorporating details typical of men’s styles like front buttons or thick elastic waistbands, while adjusting the silhouette – such as removing the gusset or adding fabric around the hips – to better complement the female form.
