Forget the dad jokes — it’s a hot jorts summer

In theory jorts should be a hard sell. The baggy, knee-grazing jean shorts (also known as Bermuda shorts) are the kind of clothing you’d associate with Adam Sandler or any other dad-joke-dropping figure. It’s the pants equivalent of socks and sandals. A silhouette that screams pitmaster at the family barbecue. Simply put: they’re just incredibly unchic.

Yet something strange has been happening this summer. A quick scroll finds social media awash with cool girls and boys sporting a pair of denim jorts and — rather shockingly — looking quite good. It’s not just Influencers either. From Hailey Bieber who was spotted wearing not one, not two, but three different pairs of jorts last week, to Maya Jama and style pioneer A$AP Rocky, celebrities are also proudly embracing their hot jort summer.

In practice it makes sense. They’re breezy, have deep pockets and are comfortable enough to wear day and night, so really it’s no wonder they’ve got the stats to back them up. Google searches for the word “jorts” have increased tenfold in five years, with the past 12 months seeing the biggest spike. To accommodate the jorts boom, Prada, Acne Studios, Dries Van Noten, Stefan Cooke and Gucci have all produced their own iterations, while high street retailers such as Zara, Jaded LDN and ASOS have flooded the market with loose-fitting, three-quarter-length denim shorts.

Although the jorts infatuation is largely down to an enduring Y2K renaissance — with the garment once a fixture of Noughties music videos and streetstyle — they’ve been given the Gen Z treatment in 2023. According to TikTokers, nailing the trend is all about getting the right proportions in your jorts ensemble. A big no-no is wearing a pair with an oversized T-shirt. Instead dress your long shorts with a more fitted top and a pair of the It-girls’ trainer of choice, the Adidas Samba, or a pair of pointy toe heels for a more evening-appropriate look. If you really want to be on trend this summer, you can also lean into the blokecore craze by teaming your pair with a football shirt.

Our bet is that they’re the new crocs. You might start out wearing them ironically, but before long they’re a wardrobe staple you can’t live without. So don’t forget to sort your jorts this summer with our favourite pairs below...

Urban Outfitters