Finding a pair of flattering shorts you feel comfortable and confident in sounds easy but can often be a challenge. I personally love longer cotton denim styles which give you a bit more coverage and are breathable. Add a long sleeve shirt and you've got yourself an unexpectedly chic combination to wear in the heatwave.
This is what woman&home cover star Alex Jones did last summer when she gave her Instagram followers a house update wearing light-wash shorts. These were a lot like the classic Levi's 501 mid-thigh style and had frayed hems.
In general, the darker you go with denim shades, the smarter everything looks, but the longer length and neat cut of Alex's pale shorts balanced out the light colour. Pale blue denim is particularly summery and it complemented the stripes on her H&M blouse.
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Recreate Alex's Outfit
Like Alex's top, this blouse doesn't have a traditional collar, but there is a gorgeous high neckline with a frill detail. The blouson sleeves end in cuffs for a smart edge and the frills continue down the front. Tuck into shorts or jeans for an elevated everyday look.
Modelled after the 501® Original jeans, these mid-thigh shorts are made with the same vintage-inspired fit and have some stretch to them. You can get the style in several different shades and they fall to mid-thigh length.
Featuring resin frames, these sunglasses are super affordable and have a category 3 filter for UV protection. You can also get them in a chocolate brown tortoishell colourway if you prefer and they're super easy to slip into your handbag for when you're on the go.
This classic collared shirt has vertical stripes and a classic patch pocket. It's crafted from cotton-rich Oxford fabric for a breathable feel and has a regular fit, with a button-through fastening. Cuffed long sleeves complete the crisp, tailored look.
These shorts have a high-waisted, A-line silhouette and they're designed for a looser, slightly more relaxed feel. Made from 100% cotton, they have patch pockets on the front which are practical as well as chic. Tuck in a striped top and you've got yourself an Alex Jones-esque outfit.
Zara Tindall loves the Finlay Tavistock sunglasses in brown and the black versions will give you a similar effect as Alex's shades. They're handmade from acetate and the lenses full UVA/UVB protection. They come with a one year warranty too.
This particular piece is out of stock but the beauty of a striped shirt is that they're timeless and never go out of style. That means there are always plenty of designs to choose from and Alex's blouse had a frill stand-up collar and long blouson sleeves.
She undid a few of the buttons at the top to open up the neckline and tucked the hem into her shorts, without worrying too much about making it seamless. Long sleeved blouses and shorts might not be the first combination that comes to mind when you're looking at your summer capsule wardrobe for inspiration but Alex Jones has shown that we shouldn't discount it.
A shirt keeps your shoulders and arms covered in the sun without being too heavy and the tailored style takes denim to another level of elegance.
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It's also a bit less daunting to get your legs out in the summer if you've got a longer top to balance out the amount of skin on show. If this isn't something that particularly bothers you, then a tank remains a good alternative and you can always layer a linen shirt over it on a breezy day.
Even though the two blues in Alex's ensemble didn't match they looked great together and you can't go wrong with a striped blouse when you want to bring some added dimension. Plain white or broderie anglaise designs are pretty for the season too.
When it comes to shoes, I'd recommend white trainers or white or tan sandals with an outfit like this and the broadcaster went for comfy adidas Sambas. The black stripes matched her cat eye sunglasses and tied the whole style together.
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Denim shorts like this look best with more low-key, flat shoes over heels but the elegance of the shirt means you could totally get away with wedges if you wanted. When autumn comes around, you can also put a twist on the pairing and swap the shorts for blue jeans.
Alex Jones brought back her Zara blouse in the colder weather earlier this year and tucked it into mid-blue straight-leg jeans. A pair of cream kitten heels completed the outfit in style.
