Biker shorts are here to stay this summer.
It’s no surprise that the style has gained so much traction among celebrities, influencers and fashion editors. After all, the biker short is summer’s answer to leggings — which have become ever so popular in recent years amid the athleisure boom and have perhaps only blossomed in popularity during the quarantine period. What’s more, the biker short is flattering and multi-faceted.
Depending on your mood, you can take your biker shorts in pretty much any direction, teaming them with high heels for an on-trend night out look or with sneakers and a T-shirt for a day spent outdoors. For a more casual work environment, a pair of biker shorts can even be teamed with a blazer and boots for a fashion-forward look that’s still business-appropriate. Although the silhouette is perhaps best known as coming in its ubiquitous black, it appears too in a slew of fun colorways and prints for those who prefer a personality piece. And the biker short is oh-so comfy that it’s the perfect choice for a quick backyard workout or a socially distanced walk.
But as comfortable — and versatile — as the biker short is, the easy to slip on short can be cumbersome for some to style, at least outside of the gym. There’s no need to worry, though, because we here at FN have you covered.
Below, we’ve rounded up some style tips from a few celebrities who already have made the style their own. Take a few cues from your favorite style influencers, including Hailey Baldwin and Kylie Jenner, on how to style biker shorts, this summer’s must-have short.
How to Style Biker Shorts: Put a Sweater Over It
One of the easiest styling tips for biker shorts is to team a simple black pair with an oversize sweater. For many, this may be a great first step in taking on the form-fitting trend without baring too much skin. Last summer, Hailey Baldwin re-created one of Princess Diana’s favorite style combos for Vogue Paris. Simple yet elegant, this pairing is a great way to ease into the trend if you’re in a cooler climate or before the summer heat sets in.
Pro tip: Style with a classic chunky sneaker like the Fila Disruptor II for a retro athleisure look that fits right in with fashion’s current ’90s nostalgia.
How to Style Biker Shorts: Cue the Tie-Dye
What would a summer ’20 trend be without tie-dye? Kylie Jenner took the biker shorts look up a notch this April by switching out classic black biker shorts for a pair of white ones. Add tie-dye to the mix, and you’ve got yourself an effortless (yet trendy) look for the summer.
Pro tip: White sneakers are always a good idea, especially for summer! (Jenner is wearing a pair of Nike x Sacai LDWaffle sneakers that are available on Farfetch.com.)
How to Style Biker Shorts: Go Black and White
Another easy way to style the biker short is by going with the simple color combo of black-and-white — a pairing that will never go out of style. On May 12, Sofia Richie posted an announcement about a charitable effort on Instagram in the fool-proof color palette. The DSW partner’s biker shorts combo is easy to re-create with new investment pieces or basics you already own.
Pro tip: Pair this look with a gum-soled shoe for a subtle (and still neutral) pop of color.
How to Style Biker Shorts: Color Explosion
Elsa Hosk’s version of the biker shorts look is all about bold colors and simple, sporty silhouettes. In a May 25 Instagram post, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show alum went for a rainbow Takashi Murakami x Pangaia T-shirt (available on StockX for about $150), which she paired with forest green biker shorts and simple Adidas Ultraboost sneakers.
Pro Tip: Wear your biker shorts with crew socks for a ’90s-inspired athletic vibe. Another styling choice to consider: A bucket hat, a current trend that feels very ’90s.
How to Style Biker Shorts: Black on Black
Kendall Jenner put a casual spin on the biker short trend with a sporty black-on-black take. The supermodel took on one of the biggest dance crazes on TikTok in an Aerosmith band T-shirt with black biker shorts in May. Jenner wore her NBA star boyfriend Devin Booker’s Nike Air Force 1 sneaker collaboration, which debuted last summer and sold for a retail price for $100. Although the Nike Air Force 1 LV8 is no longer available, there’s one pair that’s a size 13 on Farfetch.com.
How to Style Biker Shorts: Go Matchy-Matchy
There’s no easier way to style your biker shorts than opting for a top in the same colorway or print. Need proof? Look no further than Jessica Simpson’s May 27 Instagram post, where she teamed a tie-dye top with matching biker shorts, both from her own eponymous label. The look came complete with patterned Asics sneakers.
Pro Tip: Try sneakers in the same shade for all-over coordination. You may also want to go for a trend-forward print such as python or leopard, or to choose a bold neon look.
How to Style Biker Shorts: Try a Skater Shoe
For a laidback West Coast vibe, look no further than a skating shoe. An example: Emily Ratajkowski’s ensemble said “I woke up like this” as she went on a walk with her pup in Los Angeles this May, pairing light gray biker shorts with Keds sneakers. And while EmRata may be a huge star, her shoe look was actually quite affordable: The kicks are marked down to just $35 on the brand’s site.
How to Style Biker Shorts:With Blazer and Boots
It’s safe to say Rihanna cracked the code of making biker shorts work-ready. The designer styled her biker shorts with a blazer and corset boots from her Fenty label during New York Fashion Week in September 2019. While Riri can get away with pretty much anything when it comes to fashion, this is one you can make work, too — just so long as you’re not a lawyer or investment banker.
How to Style Biker Shorts: Bring Out the Heels
Leave it to Winnie Harlow to bring the humble biker short into night-out territory. The “America’s Next Top Model” alum opted for a Laquan Smith x Revolve take on the trend this June that was a bit more elevated than the typical biker short look. All she needed to make the biker short into eveningwear? An off-the-shoulder top and some blingy jewelry. And Harlow took things up another notch with her footwear, teaming her biker shorts with jewelry-like sandals from Balmain (marked down 40% from $950 to $570 on Farfetch.com).
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