Alright y’all, let’s talk denim shorts. They’re even harder to shop for than jeans! Why is a great pair of denim shorts SO HARD TO FIND?!?! And if you have non- pencil skinny legs you’re just out of luck! So I’ve been on the hunt for good (and flattering) denim shorts for thick thighs. Be sure to scroll down for all my favorites!
Finding a good pair of denim shorts for thick thighs has been such a struggle, I’ve been wearing the same pair of Free People denim shorts for like 9 years. (Seriously, I wore them in some of my very first posts in 2011!! lol at that post) I don’t even remember how or where or why I got them, but they’ve turned into my summer staple for almost a decade. That’s a long time in the life of an article of clothing. They’ve been with me through weight gain and weight loss and they still fit and still looked good. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of them!
Finding denim shorts that very minimally touch your body is my ultimate goal. Especially in the legs. And it sounds like this is ya’lls biggest concern too. That’s the #1 thing I love the most about my free people ones. The leg holes are huge, in turn making my legs look much smaller! Win! Dear denim companies, this is all us thicker legged girls want, is our legs to look smaller! It shouldn’t be this hard to find a pair of denim shorts with big leg holes, yet, it actually is REALLY HARD! So if you’re here looking to the answer to this dilemma, unfortunately I don’t have it, but I am still working on it! So, I thought I would share my whole denim shorts saga with you and share a whole post on my journey to find the perfect pair…
What I’m Looking For in the Perfect Pair of Denim Shorts for Thick Thighs…
- High Waist – All of my denim shorts are low rise, but since I don’t like them tight, that’s ok.Except when I want to wear a cropped or shorter top with them. Homegirl doesn’t want any belly showing, k?
- Large Leg Holes – I don’t want any of the shorts touching me except at the waist. Especially not in the leg holes, because it makes your legs look much larger then they are. (Well, maybe not larger then they are, but larger than necessary. We’ve been through this, larger holes = smaller legs.)
- Distressed/Cutoff Look – The distressed look is in and they’re called cutoffs for a reason. Sometimes a cuff is ok, but I’m more into the full on cutoff look. So frayed hem with some distressing.
I probably tried on 20 pairs of shorts! I’m highlighting my favorites below and I literally had favorites that I would purchase and wear myself all at various price points which is awesome! Dressing room photos are shorts I didn’t take home with me, and real photos are mine! (Just want to be transparent here!)
The Best Denim Shorts for Thick Legs
$: Target’s Wild Fable brand High Rise Denim Shorts – $15
These are high waisted, distressed, and have a loser fit through the legs and are only $15! I sized up to a 8. These are an amazing bang for your buck, they’re so comfortable and come in multiple colors and washes! They have sold out in previous years, so scoop them up while you can!
$$: Topshop Super Ripped Mom Shorts
I bought a version of these a couple years ago and LOVED them! I was basically at my leanest and sized down in these (pictured above with the white ruffle top.) Now they’re a little too snug for comfort so I was excited when I found this super similar, darker wash pair! I went with the size 8 (fits like 6-8) and my other pair was the size 6 (fits like a 4-6). These also come in black and I’m thinking about trying those too!
$$: Topshop Roll Hem Mom Denim Shorts
These I wasn’t crazy over on the model but decided to give them a try and now they’re actually my favorites!! I love they totally give the mom shorts vibe! And typically I don’t like a roll in shorts because I feel like it accentuates my thighs but the leg holes in these are pretty large which makes the roll cute! These are also great because they’re a little more conservative, they’re longer, and super comfortable to wear around all day (standing, sitting, etc!) One of my biggest pet peeves is when shorts get SUPER short when you sit down, and these don’t do that!
$$: Abercrombie High Rise Mom Shorts
I ran into Abercrombie to test out a few pairs of denim because I keep seeing denim shorts and jeans and they’re all so cute! So I had to stop and try them out! I loved these high rise, longer length denim shorts and was pleasantly surprised that these were my usual size 28!
$$$: AGOLDE Parker Distressed Denim Shorts – $128 – (also available at Revolve & Nordstrom)
If you’re looking for a great quality pair of cut off shorts, these are the shorts for you. I ordered these last year and had buyers remorse and sent them back. After still wanting them a year later I snagged them on a local boutique’s Memorial Day sale and I am so glad I did. These are so good. They’re a great length, they’re comfy, great distressing, go with everything and they never lose their shape. Perfect denim shorts if you’re ready to pony up $128 – they’re worth it.
If ya’ll have denim shorts you love, let me know! I’d love to try them out! And if you decide to snag a pair of these please let me know which ones and if you love them! I can’t wait to hear!
