Shorts have evolved beyond their casual summertime roots to become a wardrobe staple that spans style, function, and seasonality. Once reserved for holidays and heatwaves, shorts are now central to designer collections, high-street offerings, and even transitional weather wardrobes. With endless varieties in tailoring, fabric, cut, and fit, knowing which brands consistently deliver quality, style, and sizing accuracy can make all the difference.
This post examines some of the best brands to buy when it comes to shorts—both designer and high-street—across men's and women's fashion. We’ll look at style types, fabric quality, sustainability practices, fit reliability, and price-value balance. Then, we’ll show you how Tellar.co.uk helps eliminate sizing uncertainty when shopping for shorts online.
The Evolution of Shorts in Modern Fashion
Shorts have long oscillated between utilitarian function and fashion statement. Historically worn for sport, military use, and childhood wear, they were considered too informal for adult day-to-day fashion until the mid-20th century. That began to change when luxury fashion houses and streetwear giants reimagined shorts as stylish essentials rather than mere utility items.
Today, shorts come in a range of formats—tailored shorts, Bermuda shorts, linen holiday shorts, denim cut-offs, running shorts, cycling-style fits, and more—catering to different body types and personal preferences. With that versatility comes a huge disparity in sizing and fit, which is where brand selection becomes crucial.
High-End Designer Brands Making Exceptional Shorts
1. Jacquemus
For those seeking elevated design and fabric precision, Jacquemus offers minimalist, sun-soaked Mediterranean-inspired pieces with unexpected tailoring. Their shorts—especially those in cotton twill and wool—are frequently featured in fashion editorials due to their flattering high-rise fit and angular shaping. The brand focuses on proportion play, which means sizing varies widely across styles.
2. The Row
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s label, The Row, delivers impeccably tailored shorts using ultra-premium materials. Their Bermuda-length wool shorts and structured cotton canvas options are ideal for smart-casual dressing. Their sizing skews toward the generous end, and many customers opt to size down. The quality, however, justifies the premium price tag.
3. Off-White
For streetwear enthusiasts, Off-White’s shorts feature signature industrial graphics and oversized silhouettes. Their relaxed unisex styles—often in nylon or heavyweight jersey—are designed to pair with hoodies or statement tees. Sizing tends to follow streetwear norms (oversized fits), so size charts need close attention.
4. Zimmermann
For women’s shorts that blend femininity with resort luxury, Zimmermann remains a leading label. Lace-trimmed linen shorts, broderie-anglaise tailoring, and flared shapes define their aesthetic. While the brand is known for flattering designs, sizing tends to run small, especially around the waist.
5. AMI Paris
Blending classic tailoring with Parisian casualwear, AMI offers clean-lined shorts for both men and women. Known for relaxed shapes and sophisticated minimalism, AMI's cotton and wool-blend shorts offer consistency in sizing and superior quality. The brand leans true-to-size for most cuts.
High-Street Brands That Get Shorts Right
1. COS
COS excels at delivering modern, minimalist silhouettes with a premium feel at a mid-range price. Their tailored shorts for both men and women are usually cut in breathable natural fibres such as organic cotton, TENCEL™, or wool blends. COS’s sizing is generally true to size but can vary depending on the garment's structure.
2. Arket
A sibling brand to COS, Arket offers shorts that are sustainably produced and thoughtfully constructed. From classic denim shorts to tailored chino varieties, Arket’s offerings are particularly strong in the neutral-toned, Scandi-inspired aesthetic. Their size consistency is better than most high-street labels.
3. Uniqlo
Known for its affordability and functionality, Uniqlo continues to set the benchmark in tech-enhanced basics. Their Ultra Stretch shorts and AIRism range are bestsellers for comfort and movement. Sizing can vary between regions (especially US vs EU), and their waists tend to be cut more generously.
4. & Other Stories
This brand excels in offering high-street fashion with a luxury feel. Their high-waisted linen and cotton shorts are consistently well-reviewed for tailoring and comfort. The brand’s sizing, however, can be inconsistent—some styles run small in the hip and thigh, so careful size checking is advised.
5. Marks & Spencer
For classic cuts and a wide size range, Marks & Spencer remains a UK staple. Their shorts are particularly popular for their inclusive sizing, with petite, regular, and tall ranges across cotton, linen, and jersey fabrics. While not fashion-forward, they’re practical and reliably comfortable.
Athleisure and Performance Brands Worth Mentioning
1. Lululemon
Best known for leggings, Lululemon also makes performance shorts for women and men that are tailored for movement and comfort. Their Align™ and Wunder Train ranges are ideal for everyday wear as well as active use. Sizes are inclusive, and the brand offers different lengths for the same waist size.
2. Nike
From running shorts to fleece-lined casuals, Nike’s Dri-FIT and Tech Fleece collections are known for durability and modern design. However, sizing varies significantly between product categories—training shorts can run tight, while lifestyle shorts tend to have a looser cut.
3. Adidas
Adidas is reliable for sporty yet stylish options. Their Terrex outdoor range and Essentials shorts are go-tos for versatility. That said, the brand often uses regional size standards, and EU sizing in particular can confuse UK customers.
Sizing Challenges When Shopping for Shorts
Shorts are one of the most inconsistently sized clothing categories due to their varying rises (high, mid, low), inseam lengths, waistband structures (elastic, zip-fly, drawstring), and fabric flexibility. Two pairs of shorts, both marked UK 12, can fit entirely differently if one is tailored cotton and the other is relaxed jersey.
This problem is further amplified when shopping across brands—especially between designer labels, high-street retailers, and athletic brands that each follow different sizing conventions.
Waist measurements alone are no longer sufficient. Many shoppers forget to consider their hip measurement or thigh proportion, which are crucial for a comfortable fit—particularly in tailored or slim-fitting shorts.
How Tellar.co.uk Solves the Shorts Sizing Puzzle
Tellar.co.uk is the UK's leading free sizing tool, purpose-built to remove the uncertainty from online clothing purchases. With over 1,500 brands in its database—including all the shorts brands mentioned above—Tellar.co.uk helps you find your best-fitting size in seconds.
By entering your body measurements (chest, waist, and hips), Tellar.co.uk calculates your ideal size for each brand based on real brand data—not generic size charts. You can also create a free profile to save your measurements and get recommendations every time you shop.
If you don’t know your exact body measurements, Tellar.co.uk allows you to start with a known size from a favourite store, and it will estimate the correct fit across other brands. This is especially useful when switching from a high-street brand like COS to a luxury brand like Jacquemus, where fit discrepancies are common.
Try it here: https://www.tellar.co.uk/create-profile/
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right pair of shorts shouldn’t be a gamble. Whether you're investing in structured designer tailoring or seeking practical everyday basics, the brand you choose—and how it interprets size—will determine your satisfaction. Brands like Jacquemus and The Row excel in design precision but require careful size checking. Meanwhile, high-street options like COS, Arket, and Uniqlo deliver reliability at a more accessible price point.
To take the guesswork out of the equation, let Tellar.co.uk be your personal sizing assistant. It’s fast, accurate, and completely free. Say goodbye to returns and frustration—and shop for shorts with confidence.
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