What’s Trending for Summer 2024: Dirtbag Shorts

Slob style is having a major moment

As the weather gets warmer, I have been consumed by the desire to wear shorts. Not just any shorts, specifically striped ones with an elastic waistband. Flimsy, baggy, and borderline slobbish, there’s something about how uncomplicated they are I find deeply compelling. Turns out, I am not alone in my desire. In my recent scrolling adventures, I’ve noticed quite a few of my favourite fashion content creator gals, like Jo Rosenthal, Mya Gelber and Lauren Hower, sporting billowing shorts that are, let’s not kid ourselves, a glorified version of boxer shorts. I have taken to calling this style ‘dirtbag shorts’ and get ready, because I predict they’re going be THE breakout trend of summer 2024. 

What are dirtbag shorts, you ask? They’re generally made from extremely flimsy, borderline see-through 100% cotton. They’ve got a baggy, loose silhouette that obscures any suggestion of shape, yet their extremely abbreviated length means they are revealing nonetheless. They involve an elastic waistband and are more often than not patterned with stripes. The last point is negotiable: a few weeks ago I tried on a pair of voluminous black linen shorts at the Eliza Faulkner sample sale that most definitely fulfill the dirtbag agenda. (I left them behind because they were almost $100 and I already own a pair of black Patagonia baggies.)

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The appeal of dirtbag shorts lies in their incongruousness. How can something so sloppy be so sexy? ‘Effortless dressing’ asks us to believe that yes, the person you see with suspiciously coiffed-looking hair and no discernible makeup actually did roll out of bed looking that good, but with dirtbag shorts it’s genuinely the case. Thanks to their preternatural ability to both flatter and conceal, all you need to do in order to be hot is pull up that heaven-sent elastic waistband and mosey out the door.

Naturally, one of the most fun aspects of dirtbag shorts is figuring out how to style them. I received these striped hemp boxer shorts from the lovely people at Good for Sunday, a made-in-Canada loungewear brand, and plan to live in them come summer. These things are perfect. Just look at those tiny buttons! Here, I’ve styled them three ways.

Stripes on stripes: vintage Ralph Lauren shirt, vintage fringed Western jacket, Mephisto Allrounder sneakers

Pajama-core: Faux gas station attendant shirt (shout out to Freak Friend Chris Chang for the gift!), Poppy Barley mary jane flats

Ballet-inspired: Rachel Comey crop top via TheRealReal, Maguire ballet flats

Luckily, most retailers have already succumbed to the siren call of dirtbag shorts and they’re pretty easy to find. If you’re looking to approximate the look this summer, here are some options.

via Reformation

via Etsy

via Gap

via Anthropologie

via A Bronze Age

via Kotn

via Simons

So if you see me walking around this summer wearing the loosest, baggiest pair of shorts you’ve ever seen, be sure to say hello. I’ll teach you the secret handshake.