Women's Shorts

Two measurements set a pair of shorts: where the waistband sits and where the leg stops. The shortest cuts lead, usually paired with a high rise above the natural waist and an inseam of two or three inches, worked as flat-front tailored pairs, denim cut-offs with a raw edge, and pleated or paperbag styles gathered at top. Mid-thigh lengths add a couple of inches and read easier, drafted straight through the leg or slightly A-line.

Knee-length pairs take the proportion of a trouser cut short, held by a fitted waistband and often creased down the front or worn with a belt. Cloth decides how the leg hangs from there: wool suiting and cotton twill keep a sharp edge, denim stiffens and softens with wear, linen falls open and creases, and silk, satin and fine knits drape close. Closures run from a hidden side zip to a button fly or a drawcord.