What’s Gen Z’s Obsession with Jorts? Stylist Explains
Gen-Z have called it – it’s the end of denim shorts as we know it. Once an eternal summer staple, the denim cut-offs have been relegated into the ‘cheugy’ category, along with blazers, skinny jeans and – our favourite – the nice top and jeans combo.
Instead, there’s a new denim style on the block: jorts.
In line with current ‘dadcore’ trends, jorts are longer, baggier and ultimately more fashionable than their shorter, Daisy Duke-style counterparts.
The trend has been everywhere this summer, and is a favourite of style-casters such as Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid and Maya Jama and has blown up on TikTok, with this user officially hailing this summer as ‘jorts season’.
Expert commentary from SilkFred’s Head Stylist, Megan Watkins, on why jorts have made a comeback:
Megan reveals: “Jorts are not a new phenomenon, in fact you’ve probably seen them, unknowingly, for years. Probably worn by your dad. But in 2023, jorts have now entered the mainstream, with stylish Gen-Zers hailing them as the short style to be seen in this summer.”
“Jorts are not the first example of Gen-Z adopting the ‘dadcore’ aesthetic – chunky trainers and utility trousers have been major trends this year, with the younger generation seeking more versatile and efficient fashion choices. Long gone are the days of squeezing into tight clothes and footwear in the name of fashion – Gen-Z want to be cool, comfortable and current.”
“It is also fair to say that not everyone is a fan of super-short shorts, which can often be unflattering and hard to style without looking like you’re showing too much skin. Jorts offer a nice balance of staying cool in the summer weather, whilst being appropriate for lots of different scenarios and events.”
Expert tips on how to style jorts:
Megan recommends: “As jorts offer you more coverage than normal denim cut-offs you can take a page out of Hailey Bieber’s style handbook and pair them with a simple cropped tee and sandals. If you’re going for this laid back look, you can accessorise with a leather belt to create dimension and add flair to your outfit.”
“As jorts are a more masculine style you can go super-feminine with the rest of your outfit. Think floral prints, baby tees and cute-sy jewellery. If you want to go full-on with the oversized aesthetic you can add an airy shirt or boyfriend blazer for a super-cool dadcore look.”