Whether you like it or not, cycling shorts look set to be bigger than ever next spring. The divisive piece of clothing – which has slowly been making a comeback over the past few years (mostly thanks to Kim Kardashian West) – appeared on the Fendi, Chanel and Stella McCartney catwalks this month, suggesting that it might be time to finally embrace the trend, if you haven’t already.
At Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld turned the Grand Palais into a sandy beach where models walked through the waves with beachy hair, bare feet and some ever-so-casual bike shorts and leggings. The man once famous for labelling sweatpants as “a sign of defeat” is clearly coming round to the idea of athleisure.
In the collection, the shorts and leggings were all shown in black and teamed with elegant fitted jackets or ladylike button-up cardigans, giving a very grown-up and Chanel-worthy spin on the trend.
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It was a similar story at Fendi, who also chose to glam up the bike short, showing them in a workwear-appropriate capacity on Bella Hadid with a structured button-up shirt, glossy court shoes and some statement specs. The Italian label also styled them in slightly more athletic ways too, with a matching sports bra and a clear jacket, as well as with a cropped fur coat and a topknot.
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Stella McCartney then gave cycling shorts a ladylike makeover with a stretchy, floral all-in-one that finished just above the knee. The designer teamed the girly look simply with white woven flats.
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Shop cycling shorts
Jersey shorts, £230, Burberry at Net-a-Porter
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Jersey shorts, £65, Marieyat at Net-a-Porter
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Elastane shorts, £45, Adidas by Stella McCartney at Matches Fashion
CourtesyOf course, the return of the cycling short is nothing new – it has been a prominent trend for a few seasons now. In spring/summer 2017, both Alexander Wang and MSGM showed them. Shortly after, a pair appeared in Chanel's Cruise 2017 collection.
Then, for SS18, Virgil Abloh paid tribute to the ultimate '90s icon, Princess Diana with his collection, and had Naomi Campbell sport a pair of royal-approved cycling shorts on the catwalk. Dolce & Gabbana showed a pair in its autumn/winter 2018 collection, as did Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent.
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While this was happening, and before, Kim Kardashian West was channelling the retro trend, rebranding them from how they were worn decades ago (in bright neon hues and teamed with trainers and oversized T-shirts) by wearing them in more revealing ways and with sky-high heels. Fellow celebrities, from Kendall Jenner to Gigi Hadid, have since followed suit.
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And it isn't just the catwalks and the A-listers who have now fully embraced the bike short. Although many stylish fashion-week attendees had been seen wearing them in recent seasons (including Pernille Teisbeak and Leandra Medine), the trend seemed to be more prominent than ever this September as the street-style crowd in their masses teamed them with fitted blazers, embellished mules, sporty jackets and sock boots.
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They look set to be bigger than ever for the new season, and, whether you are channelling Princess Diana or Kim Kardashian, the Chanel catwalk or the street-style set, there is no end to inspiration on how to wear cycling shorts, so it might be time to embrace the divisive trend now.
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