High Heels and Shorts: Fashion Do or Don’t?
Heels with shorts are one of those fashion pairings that inspire quite mixed reactions. We’ve seen outfits featuring the combination that we adore, and outfits including the contested duo that feel less than stylish. Clearly shorts length and heel height comes into play, but to clear up the ambiguity around the topic, we enlisted three top stylists to set the record straight.
Scroll down to find out if shorts with high heels can ever look truly stylish, and if so, what the best ways are to pull off the tricky look!
“Heels and shorts are a definite do, when done right! When dressing this look up, pair a short and blazer with a simple pump for a chic summer look.” Rachel Wirkus
“However, this look is risky and can go wrong very fast, so try not to go very short with the shorts and very high with the heel at the same time. If you can avoid these pitfalls, you have a great summer staple outfit in your hands!” Rachel Wirkus
“We are fans of heels with shorts. The key is proportion. A great tailored bermuda short with a sleek, thin ankle strap sandal (our favorite being the Stuart Weitzman Nudist) makes for a crisp and linear summer look.” Wayman + Micah
“This look doesn’t work when paired with super tight cut-off ripped shorts and a formal patent leather evening pump. Consider denim cut-off shorts and evening pumps a great way to guarantee awkward attention.” Wayman + Micah
“When pairing shorts and heels, it's all about balance.” Zoe Costello
"If you want to wear your short shorts with a little extra height, pair it with a short (2" or below) block heel sandal. The shorter the shorts the lower the heel. Conversely the longer your shorts, the higher the heel you can get away with. Bermuda shorts can look incredible dressed up with a 4" heel." - Zoe Costello
Our Shorts Heels Picks:
H&M Linen-blend Shorts ($40) Loeffler Randall Nora Wedge Sandals ($375)
Victoria Beckham Stretch-denim Shorts ($280) and Dune Joro Two Part Block Heel Sandals ($109) in Black and White
Rachel Comey Black Linen Fringe Bell Shorts ($174) and Thakoon Exclusive Wooden/Raffia/Leather Sandals ($595)
What do you think of wearing shorts with high heels? Let us know in the comments below!
Kat Collings has over 15 years of experience in the editorial fashion space, largely in digital publishing. She currently leads the vision for editorial content atReplica Shopping as the site's editor in chief, having risen through the editorial ranks after joining the company in 2012. Collings is a Digiday Future Leader Awards nominee, was named Buzzfeed's best fashion Instagram accounts of the year, and is a member of the CFDA Awards Fashion Guild. Prior toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , Collings worked on styling projects for brands such as Vogue, Teen Vogue, Lucky, and Oliver Peoples. She graduated from UCLA with a BA in communications and calls Los Angeles home.
-
I'm 29, and My Mom's 62—If We Both Walked Into H&M Right Now, Here's What We'd Walk *Out* With
Expensive-looking finds for fall lie ahead.
-
I Tested TikTok's Favorite Jean Shorts—Here Are the Pairs Actually Worth Buying
Summer’s not over yet.
-
Black Sandals Are Nice and All, But in NYC, Everyone Knows This Shoe Color Looks Chicer With White Pants
The unexpected choice is always a winner in this particular city.
-
This Is the "Dated" Heel Trend to Buy Instead of Basic Pumps If You Want Cooler Outfits This Fall
Sophie Turner is making the switch.
-
Hailey Bieber Just Said This Classic Print Looks So 2025 When Paired With This Unconventional Shoe Color
Unexpected, yet so chic.
-
Forget Mules—*These* Are the Classic Anti-Flats L.A. It Girls Wear for Dinner at Giorgio Baldi
Good food, great footwear.
-
FYI: Every Fashion Person Is Buying This Pretty Shoe Color Instead of Black Right Now
Count us in.
-
Forget Sandals—This Is the Heel Style That Makes Halter Dresses Look Elegant
It's a tried-and-true.