RANT/RAVE BIKE SHORTS
RANT
BY CHLOE RUFFENACH
In 2018, biker shorts were a staple of many celebrities’ street style and with influencers like Kim Kardashian still sporting them, these shorts are likely to make a reappearance once the weather warms. It’s celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Hailey Baldwin that plagued 2018 with biker shorts. But while many adopted the look, some people were hesitant to blindly embrace them. Despite the celebrity endorsement, biker shorts seem to miss the mark when it comes to high fashion. Even when paired with other athleisure pieces, biker shorts still come off as odd, awkward, and to be frank, dull. Similar to leggings, they come in a variety of neutral, safe colors. They tend to be available in an array of blacks, grays, dark blues, and beiges. Also like leggings, this leaves a plethora of uninspiring colors to choose from. And due to their more casual appearance, there are few pieces of clothing left to reasonably pair them with. This even further limits the ways that the shorts can look presentable. Perhaps the most aggravating aspect about biker shorts is their inability to flatter everyone 206 | THREAD
who wears them. Some styles are more slimming than others, yet all seem to exaggerate curves, for better or for worse. Celebrities who wear these shorts often have a slim physique, making the added attention to their hips and thighs less exaggerated. So, their inability to be worn on all body types is an added negative attribute. Biker shorts are unappealing, lackluster, and only provide few styling options. They are not universally flattering, and often do nothing more for the wearer than provide comfort and ease. It is the perfect example of celebrities attempting to make something unattractive fashionable.
RAVE
BY EMILY CAMPBELL
Athleisure is arguably the best thing that has ever happened to fashion. You can’t beat being comfortable and effortless at the same time. Biker shorts are one of the latest additions to this clothing style, and I am living for it! Spoiler alert: biker shorts are ILLUSTRATIONS BY ASHLEY MOREMAN