Everyone is still wearing cotton boxer shorts this summer. Here are ways to style and wear this trend.
Cool and crisp, the boxer shorts trend seems to get a reboot every few seasons. One might say it peaked last summer, when cotton poplin styles were ubiquitous in TikTok outfit diaries thanks to their inherent gender-neutral appeal that allows for diverse styling that could pass as both high-fashion and street-friendly.
Vogue has been tracking the menswear-inspired look since 2022, when Miu Miu sent shorts and miniskirts down the runway with revealing bodysuits poking out from ultra-low waistbands reminiscent of dad fashion. Both Bottega Veneta and The Row brought their own take on how to wear the trend during their fall and pre-fall 2023 collections, respectively: with a matching shirt only half-buttoned to show a flash of skin (and an elastic waistband) with a structured structure. A leather jacket and flip-flops for an Olsen-approved business casual look. Bella Hadid, Alexa Chung, and Kendall Jenner were early adopters of the label, followed recently by Zendaya, who gave it a playful twist by pairing her blue-striped underwear with cozy button-ups and pointy pumps during her promotional tour for Challengers.
The boxer short trend remains relevant right now—GQ recently declared “men’s boxers as one of biggest menswear trends in women’s fashion,” though one could argue there’s no better time to give the underwear-as-outerwear look a try than right now. Peak warm weather calls for the least amount of clothing possible, and cotton poplin shorts are a functional wardrobe staple that offers just enough coverage to stay cool with a hint of cheeky style.
Below, we’ve mapped out seven ways to help you bring the look to life this summer: you can make it feel romantic, fashion-forward, sporty, beachy, preppy, or just downright easy—the beauty of the boxer short trend is its fluidity, after all.
The Pinstripe Boxer With a Mesh Flat and Prairie Girl Top
Zara’s dainty blouse adds feminine charm to blue pinstripe boxer shorts. Style Sébline’s perfectly tailored pair with Ulla Johnson’s raffia bag and red mesh flats that play off the basket’s colorful woven pattern. Marie Lichtenberg’s wrap-around rope necklace brings an element of island time to wherever you are.
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| ULLA JOHNSON ( Marta small basket tote ) |
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| MARIE LICHTENBERG ( Eye Will necklace ) |
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| SÉBLINE ( Striped Cotton Shorts ) |
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| LE MONDE BERYL ( Luna mesh ballet flats ) |
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| ZARA ( Embroidered tied top ) |
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| OLIVER PEOPLES ( 1984C cat-eye sunglasses ) |
The Logo Waistband Style With a Crochet Shirt and Kitten-Heeled Sandals
Dress up Hommegirls’s tiny boxer short with a Calle del Mar crochet cover-up and kitten-heeled sandals—Khaite’s will have near-endless mileage in your wardrobe. Metal-rimmed shades from Celine and a raffia bucket hat from Jacquemus are practical yet fashion-forward accessories, while Staud’s laser-cut flower bag gives summer blooms a whole new meaning.
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| STAUD ( Flora leather bucket bag ) |
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| CALLE DEL MAR ( checked crocheted cardigan ) |
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| CELINE EYEWEAR ( Triomphe oval sunglasses ) |
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| HOMMEGIRLS ( ticking stripe boxer shorts ) |
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| KHAITE ( Marion leather mules ) |
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| JACQUEMUS ( Le Bob Spiaggia raffia bucket hat ) |
