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LONG & SHORT OF IT

Fashion editors’ top tips on how to style the nineties Bermuda shorts trend that’s having a resurgence

We've found a great pair from Primark for under £20 that has pockets and belt loops!
Collage of women modeling different styles of shorts and blazers.

WHETHER you’re looking for something new to add to your summer workwear wardrobe, or want another option for your holiday, the Bermuda style could be for you. 

With their longer length and versatility, the '90s shorts style has been trending for a few years, and they’re not going anywhere this summer.

From smart pleated pairs perfect for the office or events, to relaxed denim versions that make a great swap for your usual jeans, there's something for everyone.

Our Fashion team has rounded up their top picks from the high street, plus how to style them. 

Clemmie Fieldsend, 34, Fashion Editor

Collage of women's fashion items and Clemmie, Fashion Editor.
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Clemmie's found a bargain with this denim pair from a supermarket brandCredit: Tesco.com/zones/clothing, marksandspencer.com,newlook.com, hm.com, abbottlyon.com
  • Blazer, £99, Autograph at Marks & Spencer -
  • Necklace, £79, Abbott Lyon -
  • Shorts, £18, F&F at Tesco -  
  • Shoes, £32.99, New Look -
  • Bag, £21.99, H&M -

This season, I’ve switched up my beloved denim cut-offs for a longer style - enter the Jort. 

read more in shopping

I love F&F jeans, so it only seemed fitting to give their bargain £18 pair a whirl - and I’m so glad I did, as I love them!

They’re just as comfortable as my trusty jeans and look so stylish when dressed up with a crisp white blazer. 

You need to get yourself into Marks & Spencer at the moment, I went into store this week and was blown away by everything from their new high summer drop.

M&S stores are rammed with tons of new-in delights with loads sizes of all its stock, and because of its online struggles, so it's never been a better time to shop in-person. 

It was love at first sight with this blazer, and I know I’ll wear it hundreds of times throughout the summer, to work or on holiday. 

I've paired them with these New Look heels I already have in my wardrobe that are comfortable for the nine-to-five (trust me!), and this designer-inspired bag from H&M makes an effortlessly summery look.

Finally, I’ll add a flash of colour with this stunning Abbott Lyon jade green necklace.

Abby McHale, 30, Deputy Fashion Editor

Collage of Abby, Deputy Fashion Editor's outfit: spaghetti-themed t-shirt, beige shorts, leopard-print bag, sunglasses, and sandals.
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Abby has found her perfect Bermudas in the colour of the season, pale yellowCredit: stories.com, hm.com, tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk, harveynichols.com, quay.com
  • T-shirt, £12.99, H&M -
  • Shorts, £87, & Other Stories -
  • Bag, £55, Damson Madder at Harvey Nichols -
  • Sunglasses, £86, Quay Australia -
  • Sandals, £20, Tu at Sainsbury’s -

Gone are the days when I used to pull out my very short denim shorts for the summer - these days, I’m all about the longer length. 

Which is why the Bermuda style is great for me. 

I love this belted yellow pair from & Other Stories - not only is pale yellow one of the big colours this season, but the belt also gives me some extra shape at the waist.

While these shorts are fairly smart, I’ve made the look a little more casual with a graphic T-shirt (this one is a bargain at just £12.99) and some flat fisherman sandals. 

With an extra pop of print thanks to this Damson Madder leopard bag and a pair of sunnies, this is a look I’ll be wearing on repeat all summer long. 

Tracey Lea Sayer, 53, Fashion Director

Collage of Tracey, Fashion Director, and her outfit choices: pink sleeveless blazer, pink shorts, pale yellow handbag and sandals, and black sunglasses.
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Tracey's Bermuda shorts come as part of a co-ord set with a matching jacketCredit: cos.com, stories.com, next.co.uk, lespecs.com, arket.com
  • Jacket, £135, COS -  
  • Shorts, £85, COS -
  • Necklace, £22, Arket -  
  • Sunglasses, £45, Le Specs -
  • Bag, £175, & Other Stories -
  • Sandals, £28, Next -

I love a tailored short suit for when the temperature soars in the city, because it is the perfect alternative to a trouser suit.

This summer, it's all about Bermuda shorts - a longer, baggier style than I am used to, but I definitely want to give them a go.

While in my head I dream of being that cool COS model who wears their Bermudas low-slung and skater style, the fact is that my mum-tum will pop over the top, which is so not cool!

So, I have gone for a smarter option.

These long-line pleated shorts give great coverage around my waistline, plus they feel office-appropriate because of the longer length.

I've teamed the suit with buttermilk accessories and a pair of Le Specs sunnies.

Summer in the city? Bring it on!

Emily Regan, 25, Fashion Assistant

Collage of Emily's summer outfit: shirt, tank top, shorts, belt, earrings, bag, and sandals.
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Emily proves that Bermudas can work for your holiday wardrobeCredit: primark.com, hm.com, parfois.com, newlook.com, riverisland.com, mango.com, zara.com
  • Shirt, £64.99, H&M - 
  • Vest, £8.99, Zara -
  • Earrings, £16, River Island -
  • Belt, £22.99, Mango -
  • Shorts, £18, Primark -
  • Bag, £45.99, Parfois -
  • Sandals, £16.99, New Look -

I’ve enjoyed wearing Bermuda shorts in my workwear wardrobe for a couple of years now, and recently I switched them in for my denim pair while on holiday

If you’re yet to try the trend and don't want to spend a fortune, this cream pair from Primark’s Edit range is under £20. 

The shorts are super-versatile and come complete with pockets and belt loops. 

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I’ve styled them with this gorgeous printed shirt from H&M, matching beaded earrings and a raffia bag, plus some sandals that you could easily swap for gold heels in the evening.

See you at the airport!

Why the high street still rules!

Fabulous' Fashion Director, Tracey Lea Sayer shares her thoughts.

I WAS 10 when I first discovered the utter joy of high-street shopping for clothes with my mum and nan.

Going into town on Saturday became a family tradition – a girls’ day out we would look forward to all week.

My mum’s favourite shop was M&S, where she would gaze at jackets with big shoulder pads and floral sundresses, while my nan would make a beeline for John Lewis and their classic coats and elegant court shoes.

I was all over Tammy Girl – Etam’s little sister – and Chelsea Girl, which was later rebranded to high-street fave River Island.

I would spend hours in the changing rooms, watched keenly by my two cheerleaders, who gave the thumbs up – or thumbs down – on what I was trying on.

Frilly ra-ra skirts, duster coats, polka dot leggings, puff balls, boob tubes… I tried them all, often making my nan howl with laughter.

Fashion wasn’t so fast back in the 1980s and every item was cherished and worn until it fell apart – literally – at the seams.

At 18, I went to art college and my tastes became more refined.

Extra cash from a part-time job in a bar meant I could move on to slightly more expensive stores, like Warehouse, Miss Selfridge and the mecca that was Topshop.

I knew at this point I wanted to work in fashion because the high street had totally seduced me.

One day, I wrote an article for a competition in a glossy mag about my love of retail therapy and my favourite LBD – and I won!

That led me to where I am today – Fashion Director of Fabulous.

It’s not just me that loves the high street – big-name designers are fans, too. When Cool Britannia hit in the '90s, they all turned up in one big store.

Designers at Debenhams was a stroke of genius by Debenhams CEO Belinda Earl, designer Ben de Lisi and fashion director Spencer Hawken, who introduced diffusion ranges from John Rocha, Matthew Williamson and Betty Jackson, to name a few.

This meant we could all afford a bit of luxury and wear a well-known designer’s signature style.

Years later, I hosted a night with Debenhams and Fabulous for 250 readers, who were in awe meeting all the designers. It was a real career highlight for me.

In 2004, H&M started rolling out their international designer collabs.

Karl Lagerfeld was first, followed by Roberto Cavalli, Marni, Stella McCartney, Maison Martin Margiela, Sonia Rykiel, Comme des Garçons, Balmain, Versace and many, many more. I could barely contain myself!

Then in 2007, Kate Moss launched her first collection with Topshop, with thousands queuing along London’s Oxford Street.

I remember sitting behind Ms Moss and Topshop boss Philip Green at a London Fashion Week Topshop Unique catwalk show.

I had my three-year-old daughter, Frankie, in tow and we both made the news the next day after we were papped behind Kate, my supermodel girl crush.

At the time, the high street was on fire. Who needed designer buys when Mango stocked tin foil trousers just like the designer Isabel Marant ones and you could buy a bit of Barbara Hulanicki’s legendary brand Biba from Topshop?

High street stores even started to storm London Fashion week.

Although Topshop Unique had shown collections since 2001, in 2013 River Island showed its first collection in collaboration with global superstar Rihanna, who was flown in by a friend of mine on a private jet. KER-CHING!

A whole new generation of high profile high street collabs followed.

Beyoncé created Ivy Park with Topshop’s Philip Green and I even flew to LA for Fabulous to shoot the Kardashian sisters in their bodycon “Kollection” for Dorothy Perkins.

I am pleased to say they were the absolute dream cover stars.

Fast forward to 2024 and while the high street doesn’t look exactly like it did pre-Covid, it has made a gallant comeback.

Stores like M&S, Reserved and Zara, and designer collabs like Victoria Beckham X Mango and Rochelle Humes for Next are giving me all the feels.

The supermarkets have really come into their own, too, smashing it with gorgeous collections that look expensive, but at prices that still allow us to afford the weekly shop.

The last 30 years of high street fashion have been one big adventure for me. Bring on the next 30!

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