We'll admit, summer is usually defined by string bikinis, sheer skirts, baby tees, and strappy sandals. But in 2025, it seems a different kind of beachwear looks set to triumph in our wardrobes, and it's got a looser fit and longer hemline than its predecessors. Enter: the boardshort.

The longstanding uniform of the token, sun-bleached hottie in just about any teen surf movie, boardshorts are taking on a far more feminine, fashionable second life this season. And this time around, they're far cooler than we remember.

It’s a shift several designers saw coming. Boardshorts (and speedos, but that's another story) played a key role at Miu Miu’s Spring Summer 2024 show. Styled with boxy blazers, oversized totes and rope sandals, they evoked the chic elusiveness of someone who has a surf lesson at 12pm, and a meeting at 3pm.

Chanel also nodded to surf culture in its Resort 2020 collection, showing long, white paired with nautical-style knits, and again in 2024, with a baggier style in black and pink (paired with a Chanel-branded skateboard, no less). It was a more subtle approach than Miuccia Prada's, but still a reminder that the humble boardie doesn’t have to stay tethered to the sand.

Street style trends in the Northern Hemisphere have reflected the trend, with It girls moving away from skin-tight summer staples in favour of roomier cuts. Think longline shorts balanced by with ballet flats and tank tops. Or, for the office, cinched with a belt at the waist and paired with a blazer. The cool girls aren't just at the beach — they're in bars, perusing galleries, at events —but they're still wearing boardshorts. So, while the bikini remains a summer mainstay, don’t be surprised if the boardshort becomes your most-worn piece. Whether you're pairing them with a slinky tank, or an oversized shirt and damp hair, these are the boardshorts we're shopping in 2025.

VENROY Printed Boardshorts

RUSTY Onya Sonya Archival Boardshort