As school winds down and the temperature goes up, college women everywhere are pulling out their favorite shorts to cool off. Summer is all about being laid back and carefree, and your style should reflect that. But that doesn’t mean you want to look sloppy when you’re hanging out with your girlfriends or grabbing lunch at your favorite outdoor café. The solution? Take your old school denim cutoffs and make them the classiest fix to your summer outfit woes.
Summer of Love
If you want to channel the trendy festival vibes that are popular this summer, the key is to balance out a flowy peasant top with a longer denim short for a more tailored and mature look. Leather accessories like a statement crossbody bag and strappy sandals will still let your free spirit soar but won’t make you look like you did all of your shopping at a Coachella lost-and-found.
Bright Babe
Ditch your standard blue jeans for some untraditional denim! Colored shorts can serve as the centerpiece of your outfit and will make your outfit appear more thought out than it actually was. Pair these with your favorite white V-neck tee and simple jewelry, while dressing the look up with a pair of wedges.
Related: 5 Cute Ways to Style Denim Shorts
Cool & Classic
A classic set of denim cutoffs will have you on the road to a timeless French-girl look as you pair your shorts with a black and white striped T-shirt and red TOMS. A dash of color in the shoe department will take this neutral outfit from “meh” to “oui, oui.” Hit the town in this outfit by pairing it with a dressy black clutch to stash your cash, phone and other essentials, or use to dodge the pretend paparazzi. Your call!
Street Style Star
Take notes from runway models and fashion moguls with a chic white button-up blouse. Not only will this item withstand the seasons, it is bound to make any outfit almost (almost!) workplace-ready. Since you'll probably take this outfit to brunch and not the cubicle, give this otherwise neutral outfit a pop of color and bling with a statement necklace. Add texture by finishing the outfit off with preforated slip-on sneakers.
An Overall Win
Summer fashion may have some people wearing a rainbow of colors everywhere they go, but for you cool girls who hate to stray away from black, this outfit is for you. Go against the grain and rock denim shorts of the overall variety. Hit this look out of the park with a baseball T-shirt underneath, a cut-out bootie to give you some height and your favorite black leather bag.
Pastel Princess
Rejoice in the fact that your outfit choices are no longer made up of winter's dark color palette by celebrating with a sorbet ensemble! Mint green shorts are sure to get you noticed at the ice-cream shop or on the beach, while a nice pair of cat-eyed sunglasses will have you mistaken for Sandy from Grease. Add a fancy lace tank top to balance out the casual bottoms, and polish off the outfit with a light-colored sneaker to give you complete mobility for bike-riding or bonfire-dwelling.
Red-y for Date Night
Comfort is key when you score a date. Trade in your denim roll-up shorts for a nice scalloped pair to add a different edge to your outfit and still feel like you're wearing your favorite shorts. These shorts can be dressed up or down, but why not go all out? An off-the-shoulder red blouse, wedges and simple gold jewelry will show your fun and flirty side without going overboard. The loose top is dressed up, yet provides a relaxed feel that a crop top can't provide, and the wedges will make sure you strut with confidence.
Just say “no” to standard denim looks this summer. Ditch the flip-flops and dirty T-shirts for more tailored, classic items that give your cutoffs a vintage vibe, and not a sloppy one. No matter what you wear, make sure you keep cool in the summer heat!