I recently tweeted out a poll trying to gauge the general opinion on this year’s summer fashion craze - cycling shorts.
Princess Diana set the standard for cycling shorts high. Photo: PA
From my own observations (purely scrolling through social media), I discovered there are strong mixed reviews on the cycling short trend. I decided to ask the public directly for their views - should cycling shorts be limited to being worn in the gym only, or is it stylish to pair them with an oversized shirt and Gucci belt?
It didn’t pick up as much as I’d quite hoped, but the result from the (very small and therefore unrepresentative of the population) sample did reveal that formalwear just topped it.
Of course, it all comes down to personal preference. Personally, I don’t think I have the necessary edge to pull the look off confidently, but I envy those who do - because there are some pretty cool outfits to be worn if you dare.
Cropped lycra has been modelled in glossy mags for a while now. Last year there were talks that they'd be the next big thing, but perhaps they’ve just taken a little longer to gain momentum in the fashion industry than experts first thought. Or maybe they just needed someone other than Kim Kardashian to sport the lycra to pick up the pace.
So starting with the pioneer, let’s take a look at the celebrities who’ve been rocking the cycling shorts and making them club-appropriate.
Kim Kardashian
Spotted on several occasions over the past 12 months wearing the cycling shorts as high fashion, lycra really compliments Kim’s curves.
Emily Ratajkowski
Supermodel Emily Ratajkowski has been snapped wearing cycling shorts for non-athletic purposes. We recommend wearing a top if you’re going to rock it out and about. STILL - Emily looks unreal here - proving over-the-knee boots and cycling shorts are a look.
Khloe Kardashian
The Kardashians should probably consider trademarking the cycling shorts trend. Khloe is on fire in this animal print two piece.
Romee Strijd
Victoria’s Secret model, Romee, looks like fire in this casual set - like literally. She’s burning orange. We love it.
Kylie Jenner
It’s not a trend until Kylie Jenner has posted a snap on Insta. Here she perfectly captures the sports chic look, pairing cycling shorts with trainers and a blazer.
Jordyn Woods
Another celebrity who has managed to match lycra with formal wear and ooze class. Jordyn Woods pairs lycra cycling shorts and a bandeau top with a sparkling blazer jacket.
Martha Hunt
This is how you make cycling shorts trendy casually. Martha could be about to work out, or just running some errands looking leisurely and super cool. Who knows? We've established there are no limits with this look.
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