What to Wear Instead of Shorts

5 Stylish Summer Alternatives

If the thought of wearing shorts sends you into a total what to wear panic, then hopefully this blog post is going to help. I’ve got five alternative things that you can wear instead of shorts in the summertime that will keep you cool but still leave you looking very put together in the heat.

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Skirts

A Breezy, Versatile Alternative to Shorts

The skirt is a good option that many ladies prefer to wear instead of wearing shorts and a dress. The benefits of the skirt versus the dress is that the skirt can be mixed and matched with all different tops, so it does make it a little bit more versatile.

The fuller skirt has been in style for a while, and these are probably the best style to wear in hot weather because your legs get some air.

Now, I like the tiered skirt. It kind of has a boho, relaxed feel to it. They’re very easy to style with just a simple t-shirt or a very feminine blouse, sandals and a basket bag.

SKIRT

This one is from Uniqlo and it’s paired with a very simple white top. It’s super comfortable, easy to wear, and it’s a terrific day-to-night piece. It could be worn over beachwear or dressed up for the evening. This is a great alternative to shorts.

Dresses

The Easiest One-and-Done Summer Outfit

Now, if you don’t like wearing shorts, then having a really good selection of gorgeous dresses that you can just pull out at a moment’s notice is essential.

A midaxi or maxi dress is perfect if you don’t like showing your legs at all, and one that fits at the body and then flares out at the waist or the hips is perfect, as it will keep you cool around the legs.

Strappy dresses, like this one, are fine if you don’t mind showing off your arms, but if you want some arm coverage, a tea dress is a good style to have in your wardrobe.

There are lots of reasons why ladies don’t like wearing shorts, and it’s not always necessarily about not wanting to show off the full leg. So, it doesn’t mean that dresses have to touch the floor for you to feel comfortable in them.

A midi dress shows off a little bit more of the ankle and the lower part of the leg, and maybe that’s a part of the leg that you feel more comfortable showing.

Jumpsuits

Stylish, Comfortable & Perfect for Day-to-Night

We all know the downside of wearing a jumpsuit, but there’s lots of benefits too. Much like a dress, they are a one-and-done outfit. They can be quite comfortable to wear because usually they are cut in looser, more casual styles, and they’re great to take on holiday because they pack really easily and they work from day to night.

This jumpsuit’s got a lot of things going for it. It’s got sleeves for arm coverage, it’s wide-leg so it’s not too clingy, and it has a v-neckline which is flattering on most people but particularly if you have a larger bust.

Jumpsuit

There’s lots to choose from in printed fabrics or monochrome, with cropped legs or wide legs or long legs, casual or dressy. Just be careful when you choose one: the body length from the top of the inside leg to the shoulder varies between brands.

Jeans

Choose Wide-Leg Denim for Cooling Comfort

I know jeans might sound like the last thing you want to wear when the weather is warm, but now the leg line has got wider they’re far easier to wear in the summer.

Denim has got much more versatile in recent years, so now you can get denim with a drawstring waist in a wide-leg style. They’re still jeans technically, but will be easier to wear in the summertime if you can’t ditch them when it gets hot.

Cropped wide-leg jeans are a big favourite among my friends in the summer. They’re cool around the ankle and not too restrictive around the legs, making them more breathable.

If you do want to carry on wearing your jeans in the warmer weather, the rule to follow is: go loose and go wide.

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Trousers

Chic, Airy and Perfect for Summer Styling

If you still don’t know what to wear instead of shorts what about white linen wide leg trousers? I’m a big fan of these in summertime, but it is all about getting the width right.

A nice, easy way to wear these trousers is with a simple vest top. If you don’t want to feel restricted wear a loose (but not baggy) top that will balance out the width of the trousers.

WHITE LINEN TROUSERS

If you feel uncomfortable showing your arms, layer a shirt over the top. It’s a simple outfit formula you can repeat time and again with different prints and textures.

This style of trouser looks great with a slightly longer waistcoat, unbuttoned from the bottom. This is a really nice way to wear them if you want to cover your hips and tummy, and it looks very chic too.

If you’re considering packing for a holiday and you want to maximise your wardrobe, they can be worn day to night as well.