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How to Wear High Waisted Shorts

Last Updated on March 15, 2012 by Chelsea - University of Oklahoma
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase through our links. Please read our full disclosure here.

Photo Credits: 1 & 2: Pacific Coast News, 3: ELLE

Thanks in part to retro-styled shows like Mad Men, vintage cut lingerie, swimsuits, dresses, and more have slowly been making their way into mainstream fashion. First it was high waisted skirts, then pants, and now it’s hard to walk into a store without seeing a wide array of high waisted shorts.

I’m guessing that you probably feel the same way about them as I did when I first noticed them — sure they look great on waifs like Nicole Richie, but are they actually wearable for the average girl? The answer is yes — it just takes a little bit of creative styling! I’ve scoured the web for the absolute best tips on how to make high waisted shorts work for you, and compiled them all here for your sartorial pleasure 🙂

Not sure what to wear with high waisted shorts? Read on to learn all the tips!

Tips and Tricks for Wearing High Waist Shorts

  • “High Waisted” is relative. To rock this trend, you don’t need to go out and find a pair of shorts that reaches above your belly button. If you have a shorter torso (or a larger bust), go for styles that are cut comfortably over your hip bones, but not all the way up to the smallest part of your waist. Because low-cut styles have been popular for so long, even a mid-rise cut will give you the look of the trend!
  • Tuck in your shirt. This is a no-brainer, but show off your trendsetting ways but tucking in your top and emphasizing your new shorts.
  • DIY a pair! A good way to test the waters on this trend is to pick up a pair of jeans from a thrift shop and cut them into shorts yourself. Cuff the hems for an extra cute look. Don’t worry if you grab a pair that’s a little big on you — the style will look great with a belt, and the looseness throughout the butt and thighs will look more “street chic” than “Mom Jean!”
  • Show some leg. To balance out the length of high waisted shorts, I love the look of Nicole Richie’s (pictured above) short-shorts! This will elongated your legs and keep you from looking stumpy, if you’re worried about that sort of thing.
  • Embrace the more mature look. Another way to wear the high waisted shorts trend is to go for a dressier look, like Blake Lively and our street style fashionista did, above. Pair your shorts with heels to feel extra elegant.
  • Consider the top. A tank or simple t-shirt will look chic with high waisted shorts, but pair them with a button-down dress shirt for a Katherine Hepburn aesthetic.
  • Wear them with a cropped top! If you’re a little tummy-shy like me, high waisted shorts are perfect for pairing with cropped tops! The only skin people will see is the part between your belly button and ribcage — the tiniest place on most girls’ torsos.
  • Try them with swimsuits. High waisted shorts, especially the nautical variety, will look fabulous paired with your favorite bikini for a fun new cover-up. These will look great and make you feel like you’re straight out of a movie filmed at the French Riviera!
  • Be confident! It takes a bold girl to rock these babies — hold your head up high and let the world know how great you know you look!

Outfit Inspiration

Hat, Belt, Shorts, Tank, Shoes, Purse, Earrings

This look is simple, chic, and perfect for spring or summer! Mid-rise shorts like these will give you the look and feel of high waisted shorts, but won’t cut off your torso too much. Tuck in a striped tank top, and accessorize with a belt, fedora, feather earrings and wedge sandals.

Shorts, Top, Cardigan, Shoes, Lipstick, Necklace

This look is flirty, girly, and oh-so retro fabulous! Have you picked up one of those foxy bralette tops, but are still wondering how to wear it? Pair it with high waist shorts for coverage and a taste of pin-up girl style! Tone down the look with a cardigan, but stay looking chic with some foxy wedges. Finish your outfit with an eye-catching necklace and some glamorous red lips!

Shorts, Belt, Headband, Tee, Sunnies, Shoes, Bracelets

This outfit is casual like the first look, but a little more on the hippie/boho chic side. High waisted hot pants will look balanced paired with a relaxed black v-neck. Style your outfit with a hippie headband, gladiator sandals, a stack of bangles, and printed wayfarers.

Shorts, Ring, Blouse, Shoes, Clutch

This look is romantic and a bit dressy, perfect for a date or another snappy-casual type situation. This green blouse will look stunning paired with structured, peach-colored shorts. Add a fancy cocktail ring and your go-to pair of simple heels. A soft look like this would look great with those loose, soft curls I’ve been seeing all over Pinterest! Finish with a clutch — I’ve been obsessing over the box clutches from House of Harlow, but there are plenty of cheaper look-alikes out there!

Thoughts?

Would you wear high waist shorts? How would you wear them? What do you think about other vintage-inspired fashions? Are there any other trends you’re having trouble figuring out how to style? Leave a comment and tell us what you think!!

Tags : High-Waisted Shorts, Shorts, Spring

11 Comments
Originally published on March 15, 2012
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Next DIY Chic: 3 Easy Ways to Recreate Old or Thrifted Items

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Comments

  1. Vanessa says

    April 15, 2019 at 11:19 am

    I love myhighwasited shorts. It definitely feminize my look if I wear a fitting blouse and they always look girly and in style. Pair them with some wedges and I’m hot to trot!

    Reply
  2. Rose says

    April 15, 2019 at 11:19 am

    Love!!!!! The second and fourth looks are FABulous! omg!!!

    Reply
  3. Rachel says

    April 15, 2019 at 11:19 am

    Really loving that clutch!

    Reply
  4. Jenny says

    April 15, 2019 at 11:18 am

    I adore my high waisted shorts and wear them most of the time – more often with tights then not. They show off my legs nicely but still hide my not-stick-thin stomach 😀 x

    Reply
  5. Elle says

    April 15, 2019 at 11:18 am

    Love High waisted shorts!
    Still confuses me with the difference between British and American fashion….. I was late on the high waisted bandwagon in Britain and I got my first pair last two summers ago lol!
    xxxx

    Reply
  6. Alyssa Nicole says

    April 15, 2019 at 11:18 am

    All these ensembles arre so inspiring..

    Reply
  7. Martine says

    May 29, 2019 at 5:36 pm

    I love high waisted EVERYTHING. The truth is its NOT highwaisted. Its just natural and not low waisted. Its also not a trend. “high” waisted jeans have been the regular style in the 1950’s, the 1940’s, the 1930’s, the 1970’s, the 1980’s, the 1990’s, and then in the mid 2000 the ugly low rise began to be popular. YES..its true there were “hip huggers ” in the 1970’s. But they were not that common. Look at reruns of any 70’s tv show like Charlies Angels and you will see how rare it was. Also the 70’s hip huggers were not a true low rise. They came at most 1 to 2 inches below the bely button. A high to mid rise by todays standards. So actually its the low rise that is the trend. The trend that has been around waaay too long. And its not even that a low rise is somehow sexy because its shows off the stomach. Women almost always wear long shirts with low rises, so you just see a longer shirt. I see absolutely no reason to keep on wearing pants that you have to yank up, that make legs look short, and that make the butt look short and wise.

    Reply
  8. Ava says

    May 29, 2019 at 5:40 pm

    I just got a pair of white high waisted shorts and I was really wondering how to pull them of, and this really helped.??????

    Reply
  9. deepti says

    April 15, 2019 at 11:33 am

    I think the high waisted shorts are one of the hottest and sexiest outfit anyone could have…loved the first picture of the whole look .

    Reply
  10. Kitty South says

    May 29, 2019 at 6:07 pm

    I love high waist shorts myself! I wear them all year long and in fall and winter just add leggings. This really looks cool and keeps me outfit really rad!

    https://www.dirtysouthvintage.com

    Reply
  11. Dee says

    April 15, 2019 at 11:16 am

    Love high waisted shorts! Great outfit ideas, but what do you suggest for rocking high waist shorts for a night on the town? I want to look sexy but NOT hoochie. lol

    Reply

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