My #1 summer staple is always a good pair of denim shorts. I wear them almost every single day when it’s hot, so I need a couple of pairs to get me through the season. Recently I’ve been searching for a new go-to pair and have gone through a few rounds of online orders so I thought I’d share my research with you with my denim short guide.

For reference I normally wear a 24/25 or a 0. Here’s the link to the bodysuit I’m wearing.

Agolde Parker (vintage wash // non distressed wash)

I first purchased this pair back in February and have worn them quite a bit since. I am obsessed with the wash, minimal distressing and fit but wish they were a little bit longer. I’ve found this particular style to run large so I sized down one size to a 23. They’re slightly high waisted (hit right about the belly button) and by far my most worn shorts.

Since I love this style so much I wanted to try them out in a non-distressed wash. I ordered this pair and decided to size up to my normal size in hopes they’d be a little longer. The length is about the same as my other pair, but since I went with my normal size (24) they’re not as high waisted and hit a lot lower.

Abercrombie Mom Shorts

I haven’t shopped at Abercrombie in years but stumbled upon this pair while online shopping. They had great reviews so I decided to order a pair in a few different sizes and see how they fit. Since Abercrombie has always been geared towards teens I ordered them in a size 25 and 26. The 25’s fit perfectly and I was actually really surprised with how much I liked them. My only qualm is they’re more heavily distressed than I was wanting. And since the color is so similar to my Agolde’s I don’t think I’ll be keeping them. But since I like them so much I’ll be ordering them in white.

Agolde Dee

I was really curious about this style because they’re a higher rise with a longer inseam. I thought they’d be a good everyday “mom” short. I ordered them in a 24 and they’re a little too tight. I would recommend sizing up. I also didn’t love this length on me. I think they’d be more flattering on someone taller (I’m 5’4).

Levis 501 High Rise

I purchased this pair last summer and sized up to a 26 since I was a couple months postpartum. They run small and have little to no stretch; they were a little too tight last year but fit great this year. For some reason the denim is a lot stiffer than the Agoldes and they’re not as comfortable… but they don’t stretch out between wears and really hold their shape.

I’ve needed a new pair of denim shorts all summer, so I decided it was finally time to bite the bullet and get a pair. But let me just tell you, it wasn’t that simple. I tried on five different pairs in order to find the best fit and I wanted to stay under $100.

I love the Agolde Parker shorts but they’re $$$. I probably wouldn’t mind making the investment if I knew they’d fit for a long time. But my body is still shifting since having Wilder. My hips seem to slowly be shrinking… and who knows how much longer I’ll be this size. Not really worth spending money on a pair of shorts that will only fit me for one season. Plus we are on vacation this week and I knew I’d want a pair of cutoffs to wear.

Breaking down everything I tried on…

Levis – this is the pair I ended up getting. Great high-waisted fit and loved the lighter wash. Also liked that they weren’t distressed. I sized up to a 26 in them and they’re still a little snug in the thighs.

Madewell – another pair I loved and would have purchased if they had the size and wash I wanted. Again great high-waisted fit with no distressing. Comes in several washes. My normal size 25 fit in these.

Treasure & Bond – these aren’t stiff denim, they’re stretchy which is very comfortable. However I wasn’t loving the wash/distressing on this pair. And they ran big, a 25 was loose on me.

Free People – really loved the fit and wash on this pair but wasn’t crazy about the distressing. Since it was on the hem it made the shorts feel a lot shorter in the front.

Topshop – I actually own this pair from last summer. They fit really well and are comfortable… something that’s hard to come by in high-waisted denim shorts.

Hope you’re having a good week – thank you for reading and following!

I’m really obsessed with bougainvillea right now. Like, I want to take a photo of it everywhere I see it. We have this big white fence on our side yard that you can see from our dining room and kitchen and I’ve wanted to grow bougainvillea on it for a while now. About a month ago Crosby and I went to Home Depot to buy some small vines to put in pots in hopes that one day they’d take over the fence.

Summer isn’t really winding down around here… our hottest months are usually September and October. Even though we still have awhile before we’ll be breaking out the boots and jackets, I wanted to end the week by sharing some of my favorite summer finds. These are by no means limited to warm weather, just the little things I’ve been loving this season.

Stop. I know what you’re thinking… another gingham off the shoulder top?! Let me explain, this one takes the cake for all gingham tops this summer. It’s light weight (i.e. wearable in hot weather), comfortable, on-trend AND it stays in place. Plus it has this cute ruffle that not only goes over the cheast but also the sleeves.

Summer has always been my favorite season, there are just so many fun things to celebrate! I also love how my personal style is a bit more low maintenance when it’s hot. I kind of give my hair and skin a breather by spending less time heat styling and putting on much makeup and embrace a more natural look. The same holds true style-wise too and I wanted to share my go-to summer wardrobe staples. Each of these pieces can be mixed and matched and styled in so many different ways. This would also be a great packing outline if you’re heading out of town in the summer months!