What Are the Best Plus-Size Shorts for Women?

According to model Priscilla Del Castillo, “from the prices to the quality to the size range, you really can’t go wrong with Target.” She especially loves these belted shorts that go up to size 18 and have a Gwyneth Paltrow–in–The Talented Mr. Ripley feel. They also come in four other colors.

Arianne Thigpen, a fashion blogger and co-founder of the Austin-based community Curvy in Austin, has been eyeing this Ava & Viv striped pair at Target because “they can be easily dressed up or down as needed.” They also go up to a 4XL.

Writer Marie Southard Ospina told us she gets most of her shorts from ASOS Curve’s denim range because “they’re particularly sturdy and built to last.” You can also get a lot of styles in a high-waist fit, which she says she “absolutely adores as it pairs so well with crop tops in summer or cropped sweaters and wool tights in colder seasons.” You can often find fun prints, too — like these green gingham shorts she purchased earlier in the summer, which go up to size 22.

Grandberry told us she has tried shorts from expensive brands and her neighborhood Walmart alike. “I would get so annoyed by shorts not fitting in the right places or not having the right amount of style,” she says, until she finally found Fashion to Figure, which carries options up to size 24. Grandberry says she loves everything from the company’s high-rise denim to its non-denim options, like these utility cutoffs.

“Even though I’m not a mom, I love rocking the high-waist mom-jeans look, so a short in that same fit is my go-to for the hotter weather,” says Samantha O’Brochta, a travel blogger and digital strategist. The blue acid wash is a “great shade for summer,” she adds, and the shorts go up to size 28. “The best part? They’re long enough in the inner-thigh area to avoid painful chafing.”

Sarah Chiwaya, a plus-size-brand consultant and the founder of Curvily, calls this pair of denim shorts from Royalty for Me her “cutoffs holy grail.” While she says she has tried plenty of different styles, “nothing holds a candle to these.” She notes that they are a “true short short” but that the slightly high-low hemline offers enough coverage, so you don’t have to worry. “They are so good that they’re the only pair of cutoffs I’ve packed on any trip in the last couple of years.” They work just as well dressed up with strappy sandals and a bodysuit as they do thrown over a swimsuit, she says. The shorts are available in both light-wash denim and white and go up to size 24.

Del Castillo told us that Forever 21 is one of her top “go-to” destinations for denim shorts because “they have so many cute options” that go up to a 3XL.

Photographer and style expert Marielle Elizabeth told us “the return of high-waisted bike shorts has been game-changing for thigh chafing,” especially since walking dates have become the best (socially distanced) way to catch up with friends. Elizabeth recommends this pair of Girlfriend Collective bike shorts in the brand’s recently released lightweight, quick-drying “float” fabric. Like all of its clothes, these are available up to size 6XL. As we’ve noted before, Girlfriend Collective is a slow-fashion company, so its clothing is produced in smaller quantities to avoid overproduction and waste. This super-popular style got snatched up in many sizes after it dropped, so we suggest joining the waiting list for the restock. According to Elizabeth, these shorts are worth the wait. “The high waist means I never need to pull them up, and the length is perfect for under tunics or paired with loose tank tops,” she says, adding that, while they are cute on their own, they “work double duty as thigh-chafing protection under dresses on those hot, sticky summer days.”

“I love the Lane Bryant cargo Bermuda shorts because they are comfortable and easy to dress up or down,” says lifestyle and fashion blogger Ashley Carter, who owns two pairs. The shorts are available from sizes 14 to 28. Carter has worn them with a T-shirt and Doc Martens sandals but notes that you could also pair them with a flowy top and heeled sandals. She says the shorts’ fun details, including the wide belt, “elevate them above the average Bermuda short.”

“In my eight years of working in fashion journalism, I’ve never come across a brand with such an inclusive size range, from XXS to 15XL,” says Ospina. “Designer Mallorie Dunn creates pieces with the perfect amount of retro nods while still feeling completely contemporary — like the Gloria high-waist shorts, which come in a whole selection of adorable patterns,” including gingham, polka dots, and stripes. Plus, Smart Glamour offers the option to customize the rise, inseam, waist-to-hip ratio, and waistband height for a small added fee ranging from $5 to $20.

In our roundup of the best summer shorts, Katie Sturino, founder of Megababe and the 12ish Style, suggested this pair of cutoffs from Good American, Khloé Kardashian’s denim brand. Good American was one of the first brands to give plus-size girls the option to participate in some classic summer cutoff styles, she explains. “They have stretch, but they don’t look like they have stretch, you know?” Though she does recommend sizing up with these, which are available in sizes 00 to 24.

If you want a pair of loungewear shorts that are still nice-looking enough to be styled for a trip to the beach or grocery store, try these sweat shorts from Big Bud Press, which Elizabeth says offer “a colorful blend of tie-dye and athleisure, two of the biggest summer style trends.” Strategist editor Katy Schneider recently bought a similar tie-dyed pair for her sister’s birthday. Like all of the Los Angeles–based company’s apparel, the shorts go up to size 5XL. And if you don’t want to look like a TikTok star, the sweat shorts are also available in a range of solid colors.

If you’d like a decidedly less casual look, this pair of (faux) leather shorts should do the trick. “For on-trend shorts in different fabrications, Eloquii is my go-to,” says Chiwaya, who says she has been eyeing this pair to transition into fall. “I find their styles, which run up to a 28, to generally be true to size,” she notes. These shorts are a newer style, with a waitlist currently open.

“Only Child has just expanded its sizing to include up to a 4X across their collection, and I am so excited to see this ethical-fashion brand finally offering pieces in my size,” says Elizabeth. Of all its styles, she particularly loves these “versatile” Tencel shorts, which, she says, “look professional but feel like silky pajamas” and can be “paired with a silk tank for a more polished look or an oversize tee and sandals for a casual running-errands ensemble.”