Women's Short & Mini Shorts

Inseam is the measurement that settles a short before anything else does. Micro and hot-pant cuts run an inch or two from the crotch seam to the hem, classic short shorts sit a little longer, and cuffed or turned-back hems land just above mid-thigh. Rise is the second dial, and it sets where the waistband lands rather than where the hem does, so a high waist reads long and leggy over a short inseam while a low or mid rise keeps the whole silhouette compact.

Past the tailored short, the shapes diverge: denim cut-offs, pleated fronts, skorts with a skirt panel laid across the front, and drawstring or elasticated cuts each ask something different of the fit. Tailoring wool holds a pressed edge, denim and cotton twill soften with wear, crepe and satin skim the body, leather keeps a firm shape of its own, and knit or terry versions sit loosest of all.