Since I've been doing most of my exercising outdoors (which is new for me, since I'm typically an indoor workout class devotee), I've been wearing leggings a lot less and shorts a lot more this summer. I kind of thought the whole bike shorts trend had reached its peak last summer, but since comfort is undoubtedly the priority this summer, they're more popular than ever. Which brings me to my issue with them...
At 5'4", I err on the side of petite. And not sure if you've noticed, but most bike shorts that I come across have an 8-inch inseam or even longer. At my height, they hit at a very awkward place that I don't find to be flattering on me. I prefer a mid-thigh bike shorts situation as opposed to a just-above-the-knee one. I pretty much just avoided the trend last summer because of this but it's hard to do this time around, since I've put my leggings on hiatus. That said, all it took was a little more digging to find bike shorts with inseams of 7 inches and shorter, which is the magic length for my height. (In case you were wondering, a 6-inch inseam is the real sweet spot, in my opinion.)
Scroll to shop my favorite bike shorts if you, too, err on the side of petite, or just prefer shorter shorts in general.
I just bought this pair and they definitely live up to the hype—extremely comfortable and the perfect length. (Pro tip: Sizes and colors come in and out of stock often.)
Another pair I just purchased myself. I could list the many reasons why they're great but you'll see for yourself. (Hurry though—they're selling fast.)
More sizes available here.
Outdoor Voices never lets me down. I'd buy these in every color.
Amazon shoppers are obsessed with this holy grail pair (that comes in four different inseam options).
If you've tried Spanx leggings, you know how wildly flattering they are. These are just as much so.
Well these are fun!
The inseam is on the shorter side (4 inches), but aren't they cute?
You can find this cool, very affordable pair on Target.
I found an even more affordable pair for you, and they have that coveted 7-inch inseam.
A very fun pair to add to the mix.
This streamlined 4.25-inch pair is devoid of any frills and logos.
This popular Amazon brand consistently gets excellent reviews.
If you're down for a "trendier" pair, these are for you.
These actually have an 8-inch inseam, but they're so soft and perfect that I couldn't not include them.
If you want a pair that's on the non-athletic side, you can't go wrong with these.
This ribbed knit style is so cozy.
Here's the matching sports bra.
Fun color and on sale equals win-win.
This knit pair will be your go-to lounging shorts.
Next up, 13 pairs of leggings and bike shorts I constantly get compliments on.
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Harry Styles Just Paired Short Shorts With the New It Sneaker Color of the SummerA vibe.
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Not Leggings, Not Bike Shorts: The Very Specific Activewear Trend L.A. Fashion Girls Wear to Pilates and the GymPerfect for a West Coast summer.
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This Summer, Everyone Everywhere Will Be Swapping Skirts for One of These Shorts TrendsPlus, learn how to pull them off with ease.
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Spotted in New York: The Dated Pants Trend Everyone's Wearing Instead of JeansWho's next?
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The Surprisingly Elegant Short Shorts We Just Spotted in CannesNot hot pants nor cutoffs.
