In case you haven't noticed, everyone is wearing athletic shorts right now, from tiny Miu Miu inspired briefs to slightly less tiny soccer shorts. Sorry to your jorts collection, but they can't compete with this buzzy summer trend, especially now that both Zoë Kravitz and Hailey Bieber have hopped on board. There's just one thing you need to know before you toss out all your other leg-baring bottoms and stock up on ones designed for gym class: sneakers aren't the shoes to wear with them. I know they sound like the correct choice, but after studying both Kravitz and Bieber's athletic-shorts outfits, I can say with 100% certainty that the right shoes to wear are open-toe mules and open-toe mules only.
Bieber wore the combo a long time ago, actually, but when I saw Kravitz's outfit from mid-July, I instantly recalled seeing the Rhode founder wearing a similar look on her Instagram. She posted the photo of herself wearing a red-and-gold jersey with the number 8 on it, matching red athletic shorts, and a pair of black heeled open-toe mules way back in August of 2023, in a photo dump. Obviously, I saved it immediately.
On Hailey Bieber: Alex Moss necklace
On Zoë Kravitz: Saint Laurent bag; Manolo Blahnik Jada Heeled Sandals ($825); N21 shorts; Jessica McCormack jewelry
Almost two years later, the athletic shorts and mules look is still clearly going strong, with Kravitz donning the combo in the form of a pair of black-and-white bottoms, a vintage Black History Month T-shirt, Manolo Blahnik open-toe mules, and Saint Laurent's Baby Icare Hobo handbag (thus becoming the first person to carry the not-yet-released style). The look, which was coincidentally styled by Bieber's stylist Dani Michelle, was perfection, as are all of Kravitz's street-style ensembles.
To re-create these looks at home this summer, keep scrolling. I've rounded up plenty of athletic shorts and mules for you to shop.
Shop athletic shorts and open-toe mules:
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Navy This, Brown That—Sorry, But 99% of the Time, Fashion People Only Wear Leggings in *This* Classic ColorJust ask the L.A. Pilates crowd.
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Not Skinny Jeans, Not Leggings—Everyone With Good Taste Is Wearing Boots With This Fall Staple InsteadThe chicest outfit formula of the season.
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Chicer Than Jeans and a T-Shirt—Everyone With Rich Taste Will Wear These Denim Outfits This FallYour new uniform to elevate your style.
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Not Slippers, Not Boots—These New Uggs Are Already Replacing Every L.A. It Girl's Favorite SneakersThey're $150 and they're yours.
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7 Elegant Outfits Well-Dressed People Are Wearing With Sneakers Instead of BootsMore comfortable, just as chic.
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Here It Is: The New It-Girl Way to Wear Jeans and a Pair of HeelsSofia Richie gets it.
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The Elegant Basic French Women Wear More Than Tees *and* Button-Down ShirtsThis Parisian staple is redefining fall elegance.
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The Shoe Color Trend That Makes Wearing Jeans With Blazers Look 2025 Instead of DatedAs seen on Jennifer Lopez.
