I have to admit, when biker shorts first made an appearance on the runways at Off-White [1], I instantly fell in love with the idea but had no idea how to style them [2]. Even when I saw some of my favourite bloggers and celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner style them [3], the look still seemed unrealistic.
Yes, I could tell that they are super flattering [4] (because they're stretchy and suck everything in), but how exactly was I supposed to wear them without (a) looking like a total fool and (b) looking like I was about to go for a 50-mile triathlon? Because let's be real — anyone who knows me knows I couldn't even possibly survive two miles.
After getting some inspiration off of Instagram, I decided to put this trend to the test and try three different outfits to see if biker shorts were actually easy to style. I got myself a pair of Good American Biker Shorts [5] ($65) from Six:02 [6] and embarked on my mission of becoming a Kardashian (I kid, I kid.) Read on to see three surprisingly easy ways I styled them.
Look 1: Hypey
The inspiration: I was going for a hypey street style outfit — I've seen tons of bloggers wear a simple long-sleeved tee with biker shorts, even when they're not going to the gym, so I thought that was an easy place to start.
The outfit: I wore my Nike x Off-White tee with the Good American biker shorts, my retro Fila sneakers, a Chanel bucket bag, and Quay sunglasses.
How I felt: This first look was actually really easy to get behind. I am a sucker for sneakers and sporty ensembles, so I didn't feel any different while wearing this outfit. Styling my outfit with tiny sunglasses and adding a pop of colour with my bucket bag made the look feel more trendy.
Look 2: Princess Diana-Inspired
The inspiration: Princess Diana was no doubt one of the most stylish royals in the world. She was spotted wearing biker shorts [7] plenty of times. Virgil Abloh actually devoted his timely Spring 2018 Off-White collection [8] to the British royal following the 20th anniversary of her death.
The outfit: I wore an Everlane tee underneath my Sandro double-breasted blazer. I styled it with my Good American biker shorts, Dior kitten heels, a Chanel wallet, and Quay sunglasses.
How I felt: I honestly thought this was going to be the hardest outfit to wear, but now I get why Kim Kardashian [9] gave her biker shorts a formal twist by styling them with a tuxedo jacket [10]. My blazer and kitten heels made the biker shorts feel more polished, and I sort of felt like a modern-day princess. I'm not saying I would wear this look every day, but if I'm feeling adventurous, I would wear it out for a dinner in New York.
"They see me rollin' . . . "
Look 3: Sporty Spice
The inspiration: I was going for the "I'm not really going to the gym, but I'm wearing gym clothes 'cause they're comfy" look. This was my take on incorporating biker shorts into an athleisure outfit.
The outfit: I styled the biker shorts with a Sweaty Betty sports bra and my vintage Prada jacket. I accessorised with my Susan Alexandra bag and baby-blue APL sneakers.
How I felt: I'm not a fan of wearing sports bras or crop tops by themselves in public, so adding a cropped jacket on top helped balance out my look. This outfit was really comfortable to wear, and I can totally see myself wearing this from the gym to brunch, thanks to the addition of my beaded Susan Alexandra bag.
