35 Denim Shorts That Deserve A Spot In Your Summer Rotation

A true summer staple, denim shorts always have your back for music festivals, farmers market strolls, vacations, and more. They’re a foundational piece, so it’s worth having at least one (or two or three) pairs that can anchor your entire warm-weather wardrobe. And while dresses and skirts in the same iconic fabric are still going strong, think of these as the natural next step in your summer lineup.

All signs point to nostalgia this season, with once-polarizing low-rise waists and Bermuda shorts firmly back in rotation. Dark, tailored options are also trending — great for the office (depending on your dress code) or dressed up with thong kitten heels for dinner. No matter your vibe, we’ve found a range of rises, inseam lengths, and washes to suit your style. Bonus: we even included the comfiest pull-on pairs to keep your summer extra breezy.

Read on for 35 denim shorts that deserve a prime spot in your closet.

Jorts

There’s no denying it: Jorts are back, and Refinery29 editors are fully on board. Once deemed uncool, the longline silhouette is fully in the spotlight, now a favorite among influencers and fashion girlies alike. If you’re ready to join the movement, these just-above-the-knee styles feel effortlessly cool and are surprisingly versatile to style.

Low-Rise Denim Shorts

If you’re channeling early-aughts energy this summer, low-rise shorts are a must. Go ultra-mini with cutoffs made for festival season (hello, Cowboy Carter tour), or lean into the Y2K revival with a low-rise Bermuda for a fresh take on the throwback.

Mid-Rise Denim Shorts

Like a good white tee, mid-rise denim shorts are timeless. Stick with classic blue washes for everyday wear, or try something with a twist — embroidered cherries, silver studs, and other playful details are trending big time.

High-Rise Denim Shorts

For a snatched waist and easy styling, you can’t beat high-rise denim. Whether you gravitate toward A-line shapes, sailor-style pockets, or frayed cutoffs, these styles are made to pair with your favorite summer tops and statement belts.

Denim Pull-On Shorts

When the heat hits hard, pull-on denim shorts are the answer. Elastic waistbands and lightweight fabrics make these feel like loungewear — but they still look put-together enough for casual Fridays, brunch dates, and everything in between.

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Amanda Batula Is Booked, Busy & Not Worried About Summer House Rumors

It’s 8:30 on a Tuesday morning at JFK’s Terminal 4, and Amanda Batula is between coasts — again. The Summer House star, Loverboy creative, and founder of Amanda Batula Swim is about to catch a flight to L.A., her second of three cross-country trips in less than a month. “I’ve been doing an insane amount of traveling,” she says, settling into a couch at the Marshalls Upgrade Lounge, a free pop-up space offering travelers snacks, a beauty bar, and a chic break from airport chaos through Memorial Day weekend. “I’m actually really surprised with how well I’ve handled it. Normally I crash after a trip, but I’ve just been on the move lately.”

That momentum is something Batula doesn’t take for granted. Not long ago, even routine parts of travel — packing a bag, getting out the door, and making it to the airport — felt paralyzing. “I’d back out of things, or just lie in bed telling Kyle [Cooke] I couldn’t even start packing because I was so overwhelmed.” After being diagnosed with depression and anxiety in 2023, Batula began working with a psychiatrist and taking antidepressant medication. Now, tasks that once felt insurmountable have become manageable, which means Amanda is saying yes to events, trips, and work opportunities that she would have previously passed on. “I don’t get overwhelmed, it doesn’t take me a full day to pack. I can throw together a bag. It’s just so much easier,” Batula says.

Between destination weddings, business opportunities, and influencer engagements, Amanda is a certified frequent flier — which makes her partnership with Marshalls feel especially well-timed. “The most stressful thing about traveling is getting to the airport, getting through security, and then rushing to your gate,” she says. “It’s nice to have a place where you can just come and feel zen, especially if you’re like me and don’t have access to other [paid] lounges.” In addition to the Upgrade Lounge pop-up, the retailer offers an online shopping hub that features a collection of travel-friendly fashion and lifestyle finds curated by Batula to make packing and on-the-go style feel a little less stressful. 

The reality star, now in her eighth season of Summer House (Batula joined the cast full time in Season 2), is well-accustomed to splitting her summers between NYC and the Hamptons, and is starting to embrace being a bit more strategic about what she puts in her suitcase. “Kyle and I are notorious for bringing our whole closet, especially back when I was working corporate,” she says. “Now I try to stick to a few staples and plan according to the weekend. We’ll get a heads up about what the events are and then do a little shopping.” 

As for sharing clothes with her castmates while filming? “I’m always willing to share. Paige [DeSorbo] will only pack for the weekend, so she doesn’t really have any other options to share, and Ciara [Miller] will always order clothes to the house and if you need an option she’ll give it to you.”

Batula and I are meeting the day before the Summer House Season 9 finale aired, and naturally I ask about what’s next for the series, which typically films from July through August. Bravo fans and cast members alike have been speculating about the show’s future, including potential cast shakeups, but Batula doesn’t have much to offer in terms of clues.

“There’s no news yet… but no news is usually good news,” she says. “We typically hear from production the week before filming starts, and half the time we get the address to the house the day of. You don’t even know what house we’re driving out to.”

If past seasons are any indication, fans will have to wait until after the reunion episodes, which begin airing next week, for any concrete answers about Season 10. For those in-the-know, the reunion seating chart — and who sits next to host Andy Cohen — can be a subtle signal of who played a central role that season. Batula didn’t think much of it going into this year’s reunion, which filmed on April 24, until she showed up on set and saw where she’d been placed.

“I was told by one of the crew members, ‘Oh, Amanda, you’re going to like your seat,’ thinking that like I was on the end, because that would be somewhere that I’d like to be sat,” Batula laughs. “And when I walked out, like being right next to [Cohen], I was like, I’m either in big trouble and I did something really wrong or I’m being rewarded. I think I was more shocked than everyone else that saw the leak of the seating arrangement. It was crazy. I was not expecting to sit there… but it was great for me. I had a great time.”

The Upgrade Lounge by Marshalls is open May 21 through May 28 in JFK’s Terminal 4. Exclusive amenity kits will be available for visitors while supplies last.

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Thong Kitten Heels Just Hit Their Peak — 22 Choice Pairs To Shop Now

Thong kitten heels may not be new, but this season, they’re everywhere. The ‘90s-inspired style has been circulating for a while now, riding the wave of minimal nostalgia — but 2025 is teetering into full-on mania thanks to elevated takes on the flat flip-flop (thank you, The Row). Think ultra-slick leather in black, brown, and beige; playful pops of yellow, ice blue, or red; and even bold patterns (hello, zebra print).

The appeal is obvious: It’s the perfect heel when you don’t want to wear heels. A subtle lift that elongates the leg and feels a touch more dressed-up, without veering into try-hard territory. Whether paired with jeans or styled with your favorite breezy sundress, thong kitten heels are the cool-girl alternative to the expected block heel. Easy. Comfortable. Fancy-free.

Ahead, the 22 topping our list right now.

All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. 

COS Crossover-Strap Kitten-Heel Sandals, $, available at COS

Aldo Jump Heeled Flip Flop, $, available at Aldo

All Summer Away Sophie Thong Heels, $, available at Free People

Zara Leather Kitten Heeled Sandals, $, available at Zara

Madewell The Chiara Kitten Heel Thong Sandal, $, available at Madewell

Steve Madden Tracie Jelly, $, available at Steve Madden

ASOS Hawaii Toe Thong Kitten Heeled Sandals, $, available at ASOS

Anthropologie Thong Kitten Heels, $, available at Anthropologie

Loeffler Randall Odessa Dune Leather Heeled Sandal, $, available at Loeffler Randall

Urban Outffiters Katie Block Heel Sandal, $, available at Urban Outfitters

Schutz Carolyn 50MM Slip-On Sandals, $, available at Saks Fifth Avenue

Larroudé Gaia Sandal, $, available at Larroudé

Sam Edelman Dollie Sandal, $, available at Nordstrom

Dolce Vita Brevel Wide Heels, $, available at Dolce Vita

Massimo Dutti Nappa High-heel Sandals, $, available at Massimo Dutti

Abercrombie & Fitch Thong Kitten Heel Sandals, $, available at Abercrombie & Fitch

Tony Bianco Krista Silver Nappa, $, available at Tony Bianco

Toteme Croc-effect Leather Sandals, $, available at Net-A-Porter

Mango Kitten-Heel Sandals With Strap, $, available at Mango

Open Edit Tori Kitten Heel Sandal, $, available at Nordstrom

Charles & Keith Wynn Sculptural-Heel Thong Sandals, $, available at Charles & Keith

Staud Freja Kitten Heel, $, available at Staud

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These Summer Dress Trends Are A Nostalgic Dream

Whether you’re planning summer vacation outfits or looking to revive your everyday style, a standout summer dress deserves a spot on your shopping list. And if you need help narrowing down the options, we’ve rounded up this season’s top dress trends… and they’re as cute, effortless, and refreshing as a chilled Aperol Spritz.

This summer welcomes a return to nostalgic silhouettes, prints, and palettes. Think ‘60s-style shift dresses, Old-Hollywood drop-waists, retro polka dots, and idyllic gingham. Pastels are also having a major moment, with pistachio green making a strong case as the new butter yellow. 

Read on for the biggest dress trends to shop now, how to wear them, and where to find styles that’ll make you feel like the main character in your own summer blockbuster.

Drop-Waist Dresses

Right now, the drop-waist maxi is our favorite way to do hot-weather dressing. With softly smocked or gathered waists that skim rather than squeeze, it delivers feminine charm with summer-perfect ease. It’s the prettiest update to your cotton or linen throw-ons — breezy, breathable, and polished enough for everything from errands to summer weddings. Just add a trendy sandal and you’re set.

Polka Dot Dresses

Polka dots have been popping up everywhere, and we can’t help but smile at the playful print. Much like stripes and leopard, they’ve become a styling neutral — especially in classic black-and-white combos. For a fresher spin, try a colorful version, like Free People’s antique-blue hue. As for styling, team yours with this season’s slim runner sneakers in lieu of ‘50s-era oxfords for a sleek take on an iconic pairing.

Shift Dresses

Step back into the ‘60s with a retro shift dress. Defined by a high neckline and mini hem, the sleeveless silhouette is the effortlessly chic solution to summer dressing. Whether you go for a solid or a mod-inspired print, it’s easy to style for work with a blazer or for a seaside occasion with boat shoes.

Gingham Dresses

Gingham prints tend to come around every summer, but this season’s crop leans into vintage charm in the sweetest ways. Think halter necklines, corset-inspired bodices, and delicate bow-ties — feminine details that nod to classic mid-century style without feeling costume-y. We’re also seeing adjacent  “summer plaids” à la Emma Watson at Cannes, bringing a slightly more refined, South-of-France-summer feel to the trend.

Crochet Dresses

If this season is all about lounging seaside, a crochet dress deserves a spot in your rotation. Relaxed, breezy, and a little skin-baring, these open-weave knit styles are perfect for staying cool and channeling the European Summer aesthetic. Keep it casual with an oversized tote and raffia sun hat (or maybe a coordinated crochet bucket), or dress it up with strappy heels and a statement clutch for dinner and drinks.

Pistachio Green Dresses

We’re calling it: Pistachio green is primed to snatch the crown from butter yellow this summer. While there’s room for both in our warm-weather wardrobes, there’s something so delectable about this minty-meets-seafoam shade that’s gotten the runway seal of approval from fashion houses like Prada, Miu Miu, and Chanel, making it one of the season’s most wearable (and photogenic) trends.

Under-The-Sea Print Dresses

On-the-nose fish and seashell prints may seem kitsch… and that’s exactly why we love them. These playful, under-the-sea-inspired designs are a whimsical addition to your summer assortment, especially if you’re leaning hard into the fisherman aesthetic. Whether printed or embroidered, a seashell here and a coy fish there feels like the ultimate vacation moment, even if you’re local.

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