Brace Yourselves For A Basketball Shorts Summer

You’d be forgiven if, at the mention of basketball shorts, your mind is cast to images of Adam Sandler strolling around LA, haphazardly pairing his slouchy, longline shorts with a baggy graphic tee and untied trainers. In fact, Sandler’s nonchalant “off to grab coffee before the game” ensemble has become an unlikely look that It-girls have been recreating in recent months.

In 2021, Liana Satenstein called Sandler an “anti-fashion hero” in a Vogue article, which Jennifer Aniston then referenced to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show. “In an industry that is often highly put-together, strategic, and manicured, there’s certainly some beauty in Sandler’s insouciant approach to clothing,” Satenstein wrote. “All of those oversized pieces seem to say “life is life” and “clothes are clothes.” That’s all true, so why not wear what you want?” Four years later, Sandlercore is still gaining momentum.

Thanks to the rise of functional fashion, shorts of many forms are having a moment this summer. More practical than skirts and more summer appropriate than a pair of trousers, designers have taken note of their versatility. Not only are denim offerings more bountiful than ever before – think Bermudas, Daisy Dukes and classic cut-offs – but sporty styles are being styled outside of the gym, with loose-fitting basketball shorts poised to be just as popular as Adidas track shorts this summer. Just last week, Harry Styles caused a flurry of headlines thanks to his short red gym shorts.

For streetwear label Palace, a recent collaboration with skate shop Spitfire featured basketball shorts in fire engine red, dusty grey and jet black. Meanwhile, Grace Wales Bonner offered her own elevated take on the trend – a pair of maroon, long cotton shorts are a key piece in her most recent collaboration with Adidas, which puts a modern spin on retro-inspired sportswear. Another advocate for basketball shorts, contemporary It-brand Miaou made a pass for the trend last summer, adding a sleek monochrome version to its line-up. Pop sensation Billie Eilish has also famously worn her low and loose basketball shorts both on and off stage, championing styles from brands including Bape and Supreme (among others).