Denim Shorts Review – Finding the perfect pair of denim shorts (11 Pairs)

 Hi friends and happy Thursday! Today’s post has been a long time coming. About a month and a half ago, I asked on IG what y’all wanted to see as far as content goes. I had a request for great pairs of denim shorts. I really liked this idea because finding a good pair has been a struggle for me! I feel like I’ll see a pair that looks great online. On the model they appear to be a perfect fit. I’ll get them and they’ll be super tight on my legs, not fitting properly, and after trying to find great fitting pair, I’ll just give up. 

After receiving this request, sharing it and a lot of y’all said the same thing about wanting to find the perfect pair, I started a hunt, researching the best brands, the fits, the reviews and more. I ended up ordering eleven (well, really twelve since I ordered one in two washes), to see what I liked. I ordered them from a handful of retailers with a range of price points: Abercrombie & Fitch, Madewell, American Eagle, Target, Walmart and Express. I tried a handful of styles, mom shorts, boyfriend shorts, curve collections and more. I’ll list each style I’m reviewing along with the price, fit details and overall thoughts. 

My Fit/What I look For

I am normally a size 26(2) waist, and my rule of thumb is to size up one size in denim shorts. I have found that most of them tend to run small. So for all of these shorts (but two) I ordered a 27(4). The usual problem I will have with denim shorts is them being too tight on the legs. I’m 5’2, and doing ballet for years and yeas + working out, I have more muscular legs. I want a pair of shorts that won’t be sticking to my legs. With that being said, let’s get started!

Abercrombie & Fitch

A&F Curve Love 90s High Rise Cutoff Shorts // Price: $59 Wash: Light Ripped Wash Size: 27 Overall Thoughts: I absolutely love these! They again give that loose in the legs fit, are a high rise and are very flattering! I honestly like these more than the high rise mom shorts. They offer a looser leg fit and and just more overall relaxed and comfortable. I do like the fit going up one size from my usual. Recommend? Yes

A&F Curve Love Mid Rise Boyfriend Shorts // Price: $59 Wash: Ripped White Size: 27 Overall Thoughts: I absolutely love these! They are everything I want in a pair of denim shorts. Loose in the legs, a mid rise (hit right at my belly button) and are just SO flattering! They’re probably my favorite pair I’ve ever put on. I do like the fit going up one size from my usual (remember, I like mine loose fitting) but I also think you would be fine going with your regular size). I wanted a white pair and had originally ordered the Curve Love Mom High Rise in white, but after falling in love with the Mid Rise Boyfriends, I exchanged the white Moms pair for these. Recommend? Yes

AE Curvy Denim Mom Shorts // Price: $49 Wash: Classic Vintage Destroy Size: 4 Overall Thoughts: I was really excited to see that AE also has a curvy collection, giving you that extra room in the legs. This pair does have quite a bit of distressing to them, but they also come in black and another wash with not as much distressing. I again recommend going up one size. There are quite a few curvy pairs to choose from. See them here. Recommend? Yes

Express

Express Super High Waisted Frayed Hem Mom Jean Shorts // Price: $60 Wash: Medium Wash 19 Size: 4 Overall Thoughts: I had high hopes for these! They looked like such a great pair and fit on the website. The stretch and comfort level on these are are amazing. For not being a curvy pair, they actually do give a little more room in the legs. I love the fraying and the inseam length. I do think these are a great pair! Recommend? Yes

Express High Waist Raw Hem Jean Shorts // Price: $54 Wash: Medium Wash 19 Size: 4 Overall Thoughts: These are just a no pair for me. I loved the look of them online but goodness they are exactly what I don’t like in a pair of denim shorts. Very tight in the legs and just meh. Definitely not something I want to spend $54 on. If you like the tighter on your legs fit, you may want to give them a try. That’s just not how I personally like mine to fit. Recommend? No

Madewell

Madewell Perfect Jean Short // Price: $72 Wash: Balsam Size: 27 Overall Thoughts: If I had to pick any pair from this review that’s not a curvy collection style, these would be them! I have found a few Madewell pairs I love in the past, so I wanted to try some out for this roundup. These are a signature Madewell style. Comfort level is amazing, and the fit is great too!! They’re not as tight on my legs as some, and they have a nice amount of fraying. Recommend? Yes

Curvy Relaxed Denim Shorts // Price: $72 Wash: Homecrest Wash Size: 25 Overall Thoughts: I was so excited to see Madewell also has a curvy collection. Looking at the reviews, most gave these a great review and has mentioned my same problem with wanting a pair that isn’t tight at the legs. BUT These run HUGE!!! As I mentioned, I’m normally a size 26 but like to size up in denim shorts. After seeing the reviews, I decided to order my normal size 26, well I could have fit me and Madeline in that one pair haha! I then re-ordered the 25 (one size down from my regular) and they’re still HUGE! I would need definitely a 24, maybe even a 23. So with that being said, you really need to size down one or two sizes from your regular. I love the comfort level, was and how these truly do give you that amazing loose leg fit. However for $72, they need to fit amazingly. If you’re down to trying a few sizes to find that perfect fit, then I’d say they really are a great pair.  Recommend? Yes

Target

Wild Fable High Rise Mom Jean Shorts // Price: $15 Wash: Light Wash Size: 4 Overall Thoughts: Again I had high hopes for these when looking at them online. I especially love the price. However the fit is again meh. Tight in the legs, just not what I’m looking for. I definitely recommend sizing up one. Recommend? No

Wild Fable High Rise Frayed Hem Jean Shorts // Price: $15 Wash: Medium Blue Size: 4 Overall Thoughts: These are kind of a joke IMO. If you like to feel like your behind is hanging out, then maybe you’ll like these. The cut and style of the frayed/destroyed hem is just so not flattering. They also have a button up fly, which took my forever to fasten. The Madewell Curvy Relaxed Denim Shorts also have that button up fly, but they were nothing compared to these. If you try them, you’ll need to size up at least one size. Recommend? No

Wild Fable High Rise Mom Jean Shorts // Price: $15 Wash: Medium Wash Size: 6 Overall Thoughts: Ok y’all I just realized this pair is the same as the first pair but in a different wash. I felt like the sizing was a little better and realized it was because I went up another size in these hoping to have them a little looser in the legs. I this going up one more size helped my overall opinion of these, but I still don’t love them. Recommend? No

Walmart

Scoop Retro Boy Shorts // Price: $24 Wash: Countdown & Shell Pink Tie Dye Size: 4 Overall Thoughts: These would most definitely be my favorite, more affordable pair. They’re a boy short style and do give a little more looseness in the legs. They have a great stretch and are very comfortable. I did my regular up one size and love the fit. They come in several washes. If you’re looking for a great pair under $30, I highly recommend these!  Recommend? Yes

Favorite pairs in order:

My most favorite pair out of all these would be the A&F Curve Love Mid Rise Boyfriend Shorts. Next (even though I need to get a better idea on the sizing), the Madewell Curvy Relaxed Denim Shorts. Third would be the A&F Curve Love 90s High Rise Cutoff Shorts, fourth A&F Curve Love Mom Shorts. fifth, AE Curvy Denim Mom Shorts. Sixth, Scoop Retro Boy Shorts. Seventh, Madewell Perfect Jean Short . Eighth, Express Super High Waisted Frayed Hem Mom Jean Shorts. Ninth, Wild Fable High Rise Mom Jean Shorts, Tenth, Express High Waist Raw Hem Jean Shorts. And Eleventh, Wild Fable High Rise Frayed Hem Jean Shorts. 

I hope y’all found this helpful! Let me know if you have any questions by sending my a DM on IG 🙂

Thanks for stopping by, y’all!

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