Whether you like it or not, there's no denying that the bike shorts trend has reached new heights as of late and will undeniably be one of the coolest looks of the summer. The '80s style is geek-chic at it's normcore best and seeing as it's comfy AF to boot, I will probably get behind it this season. Yes, the Kardashians are partly to thank for its revival (they've nailed high brow sporty style with some help from Yeezy), but Princess Diana rocked bike shorts out and about way before any of the sisters even knew what fashion really was, so I'm going with her as my style inspiration for the trend.
In terms of how to wear bike shorts, pairing them with cropped hoodies and tees will always work if a casual athletic look is what you're going for. They're generally high-waisted so the proportions work well together. You can also pair them with a mini dress and have them peek out from underneath, or if a more polished look is what you're after, wear them with heels and a button-up shirt that's belted at the waist. Really, they are what you make of them, so go wild and make them your own.
From printed to velvet to solid to everything in between, the below round-up of bike shorts has a little bit of everything.
They say orange is the hardest color to pull off but I imagine myself in these and a white crop top and easy comfort is all that comes to mind.
These shorts can only be described as groovy and would be absolutely perfect for literally any music festival ever.
Velvet for summer? Groundbreaking.
Bring a punch of floral to your look with these colorful blooming shorts. They're like vacation in a piece of clothing—more, please.
Because a staple black pair of anything is always a must.
Tie-dye is another huge trend for summer, so why not get your biker shorts cut from a watercolor-like cloth? This pair, which features a liquid-y blue effect, is especially pretty.
For those days when you want to embrace your softer sartorial side, there are these lilac bike shorts.
Just in case you wanted them to be even more '80s.
Pantone's 2019 Color of the Year in bike short form.
These absolutely scream '80s and are an eyeful of glossy pink perfection. Big bike shorts energy—it's a thing.
Cruella de Vil would lose her mind over these bike shorts, which feature a shrunken Dalmatian spot pattern that would be fun and easy to style.
When you're at a loss for words, these shorts will have your back. And booty.
You can never have too many animal prints.
Thanks to its Moschino-esque print and neutral color palette, these bike shorts feel decidedly elevated and more formal than most. Pair them with heeled booties, a black blazer, and a bralette and you've got yourself a rad date night look.
This pair of shorts, which features lace detailing, would be perfect to pair with a flirty mini dress.
These sweet shorts actually come with a matching bra, meaning you've just found your favorite new workout set for a steal! Throw a matching sheer tee on top of the set and transition it to a casual weekend look.
Is metallic makeup kind of your thing? Match your lids to your legs with these playful silver shorts.
Another great pair of festival shorts, these are emblazoned with trippy yin and yang symbols.
Leopard with a dark twist.
Didn't think bike shorts could be sexy? Look at these and then reassess.
And finally, one more pair of snakeskin shorts to end on an especially fierce note.
