12 Black Shorts Outfit Ideas
Summer to me means shorts, and boy do I get a lot of wear out of my shorts between the months of June and August! (I also wear them into September and will start wearing them in the spring when those summer temps hit early.) While I love a good pair of denim shorts, one of the most versatile pairs of shorts you can have in your closet is a pair of black shorts. They can be worn both casually and in dressier settings. Denim, silk, cotton—no matter your fabric preference, I highly recommend picking up a pair to round out your summer wardrobe!
In addition to being a summer closet staple, black shorts also make an excellent summer-to-fall transition piece; wearing dark colors is the perfect way to pull fall into your outfits even when it’s still hot AF outside. Below, I shared a roundup of 12 outfit ideas featuring black shorts and styling tips to help you out next time you’re in a rut!
READ NEXT: 12 White Shorts Outfit Ideas
12 Black Shorts Outfit Ideas
Black shorts WITH a striped tee
This outfit is a classic! Pair your black shorts with a striped top. You can have fun with this one; play around with different colors (anything goes!), styles, and silhouettes of your striped top. In this outfit, I’m wearing a black and white striped cropped tee: the ultimate classic color combination. A cropped tee is the perfect length with high-rise shorts and you don’t have to deal with tucking/re-tucking.
Black shorts with a graphic tee
Since black shorts are so simple and a great base to anything else you want to wear, you can have fun with your top and throw on a graphic tee! In this outfit, I paired my black shorts with my Lover tee (proud Swiftie here 💕) because the black Lover font ties into the black shorts. I’m always looking for these details when I put together outfits because it makes them look so much more intentional. (And my pink sandals tie into the pink in the tee as well!)
Black shorts with a silk shirt and Floppy straw sun hat
I loved pairing my black silk shorts with a silk button up shirt. It’s the perfect dressy-casual outfit combination. This tropical-print sleeveless shirt was my go-to! (I wore this outfit wine tasting, which is dangerous when it comes to trying red wines haha.) Black is the perfect base for a fun printed shirt like this one. Keep the summery vibes going with a straw sun hat and beige wedge sandals.
Black shorts with a matching black top
I’m all about a faux one-piece! Try pairing your black shorts with a matching black top. I recommend a black top in the same fabric so that the look is seamless. Doesn’t it look like I’m wearing a romper? The top and shorts are both black silk but by two different brands, so it’s even more amazing that they looked so similar! Finish the look with ankle boots and you’ve got an easy and comfy summer-to-fall transitional outfit.
Black shorts with a tank top and sandals
Simple black shorts with a tank top is a great base outfit. Fancy it up with a pair of heeled sandals, jewelry, and a coordinating bag. Or, throw on a third piece (like a linen blazer) to make the outfit feel more complete. The vast majority of the time I’m wearing shorts with sandals, though I typically reach for heeled sandals when I want to dress it up a little bit. It might feel weird to wear heels with shorts if you’ve never done it before, but it’s no different than wearing heels with a skirt or dress! Try it, you just might like it!
Black shorts with a cropped linen tank
This is another super simple summer outfit with another tank top and pair of sandals. This particular top has an easy cropped shape (perfect with high-rise shorts as I mentioned earlier). It’s also linen, which is one of the best, most comfortable fabrics you can wear in the summer. Pick natural fibers and avoid anything synthetic (including polyester) as much as possible to stay cool! The bag I’m carrying completes the outfit without adding another layer.
Black shorts with a billowy blouse
I love pairing an oversized linen blouse with a pair of shorts. As I mentioned above, linen is one of the best fabrics you can wear in the summer, so it’s a great fabric to wear with your black shorts, especially because black fabrics get hot in the sun. I love a billowy blouse like this one because it flows away from the body and allows for lots of airflow!
Black shorts with a solid colored top
Seeing double?! So am I! I did not realize I blogged two very similar outfits until I put this post together, haha. I’m wearing different shorts and sandals, but the effect is essentially the same! I thought I’d chat a bit more about pairing black shorts with a solid colored top. It’s fun to wear a solid colored top with black shorts for a cool colorblock outfit.
Black shorts with a cropped bra top and baseball cap
These cropped bra tops are having a moment, and I’m here for it. I just purchased five of these Uniqlo cropped bra tops and could not be more thrilled! Wear a bra top like this with your black shorts for a sporty look. Finish it off with a baseball cap and comfy sandals (or sneakers) for a mid-afternoon walk break while working from home. I just got a pair of white Birkenstocks and have been loving them way more than I thought I would!
Black shorts with a white blouse and gold accessories
You can make lots of fun casual outfits with black denim shorts, but you can also dress ‘em up a bit! Throw on a lightweight white blouse (tucked in fully!) and finish the look with gold heeled sandals and gold hoop earrings. You could complete the outfit even more with a simple black belt and/or a black clutch! It’s such a fun and unexpected date night outfit idea.
Black shorts with an oversized blazer
I love how shorts look with an oversized blazer. It’s an unexpected outfit combination that works—if you have the right kind of blazer. I recommend one that is linen (shocker!) or another natural fabric that will keep you cooler than something synthetic. In this black shorts outfit, I would wear a black bodysuit with the shorts to keep the focus on the blazer. Dress it up even more with a pair of heeled sandals!
Black shorts with a lightweight sweater and sneakers
Another favorite outfit combination of mine is a lightweight sweater and shorts. It’s the long sleeve/short shorts juxtaposition for me! It’s a great early morning/summer evening outfit idea when it’s cool outside. Headed to the market in the morning? Throw on an easy sweater, white sneakers, and a big straw tote for fresh produce! Bonus points for a hat (and definitely don’t forget the sunscreen).
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How To Style Black Shorts
Black shorts are so easy to wear—they literally go with anything and everything! Try not to overthink your outfits. Here are some tips for styling black shorts:
Keep it simple and classic
Black shorts are the perfect simple summer garment (besides denim shorts). They’re a classic, and because of that, you can make simple, classic outfits with them and still feel pulled together! Opt for a white tee (or dress them up with a white button down shirt or blouse) and a comfy pair of sandals. If your outfit doesn’t feel finished, add a coordinating bag and fun pair of earrings! Or a lightweight layer if it’s not too hot.
Wear a cropped top or fully tuck your top
We’re all still wearing high-rise shorts, right? Wear your high-rise black shorts with a cropped top that doesn’t require tucking OR wear it with a top long enough to tuck and tuck the entire thing. Somehow, half tucking feels dated now that it’s 2023, which is kinda rude if you ask me because it used to be a go-to style for me, haha.
Try an unexpected shoe
If you feel boring in your black shorts outfits, try mixing up your shoe! Try a heeled sandal if you usually reach for flat sandals. Try a pair of sneakers if you usually reach for flats. Try a new color. Match your shoes to your hat or to an element in your top. Wear ankle boots as we head into fall!
Pick fabrics that correspond with the season
Summer black shorts outfits call for all the natural fibers (LINEN!) to help you stay cool. If you’re wearing your black shorts near the end of summer and early fall, pair them with some other fabrics, like leather, suede, and/or velvet! Black shorts make the perfect warm weather transitional piece.
Go monochrome with a faux romper
When in doubt, try a monochrome look with your black shorts. Select a black top that is either exactly the same fabric or different enough that it doesn’t look like you were trying to match them (mixing textures is fun when it’s intentional) and wear it with your shorts! I love this styling trick because it’s so easy and yet looks like you put a lot of effort into your outfit. Plus, it’s the perfect base outfit for a fun shoe, accessory, and/or bag!
Be intentional with how you finish your outfits
Black shorts outfits can feel boring, but they don’t have to be! Try. some of these styling tricks next time you’re struggling to style your black shorts. As long as you’re intentional with the pieces you select and how you complete your outfits, you’ll feel a lot more confident and eager to try even more new outfit combinations!