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Our Guide to Choosing the Best Bike Shorts | Size, Style & Fit | Lorna Jane
20 Dec, 2022 |
BELIEVE
What was once only used for its utility, bike shorts have quickly weaved their way into our wardrobes and our hearts for their versatile, comfortable, and classic sporty style.
Born out of the 80s as part of the women’s aerobics attire, bike shorts were traditionally adorned underneath bright leotards to complete sports uniforms used for taped workout tutorials in the living room. However, the trajectory of this traditional sports garment was forever changed when beloved Princess Diana was captured rocking her bright bike shorts with an oversized sweater, sunnies and sneakers.
Icons such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Madonna followed suit, incorporating bike shorts into their everyday outfits, which quickly became synonymous with 90s style. This instantly elevated bike shorts from sporty to stylish, and what emerged was the bike shorts leisure street style we know and love today.
Now bike shorts are a staple piece within all our wardrobes, and they continue to be worn by celebrities and stars alike. From the Kardashians and Jenners to the Hadid sisters, it seems everyone is jumping on board this style trend.
And why wouldn’t they? Bike shorts strike the perfect balance between comfort and chic, creating endless style options for your workout wardrobe and everyday attire. Their snug silhouette contours your curves for an always flattering fit, while the stretchy fabric allows for unrestricted movement.
So whether you’re a fan of a gym sesh, prefer a hot girl walk or need a cute outfit for running errands, our bike shorts guide has you well and truly covered. Our guide has compiled the best bike shorts for a variety of activities and occasions so you can find the perfect pair to suit you and your signature style. Let’s jump into it:
The Best Black Bike Shorts
Tried and true, nothing is quite as versatile as a pair of black bike shorts within a woman’s wardrobe. The classic colourway provides a great foundation for any activewear or athleisure look that can complement literally anything in your clothing collection.
Our No Chafe Aloe Vera Bike Short in Black will quickly become your new bike short obsession with their flattering high-rise cut and aloe-infused fabric for a smooth and silky finish. Complete with a phone pocket so you can enjoy your walk or run hands-free, this high waisted black bike short will be on high outfit rotation year-round.
Wear as you go about your day-to-day or pop on for a workout – the options are endless!
The Best Lounge Bike Shorts
If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s the value of a comfortable pair of lounge bike shorts to curl up in at home. Soft, snug and simple, a ribbed or seamless fabric make for the best lounge bike shorts that offer some support without too tight of a compression.
A go-to option for work-from-home attire, walking the dog around the block, a low-impact workout or hanging with the girls, our Tempo Ribbed Seamless Bike Shorts are high-waisted bike shorts featuring a ribbed texture, folded waistband, and anti-pilling fabric technology. Available in a classic black colourway along with a stunning green or pink for a pop of colour!
Pair these bike shorts with the matching Tempo Sports Bra for a coordinated loungewear look or mix and match with your crop tops and tees to create a relaxed everyday outfit.
The Best Colourful Bike Shorts
With the rise of dopamine dressing to boost your mood, finding a colourful pair of bike shorts can infuse some much-needed colour into your activewear attire or everyday style. The brighter the better, as feel-good bold colours can motivate and inspire any activity from running those errands you’ve been putting off to hitting that PB in the gym. Plus, with summer around the corner, a colourful pair of bike shorts is just what you need to embrace summer athleisure style.
Our Lotus No Chafe 16cm Bike Short comes in a range of colours from a bright cornflower blue to beautiful babin pink or a gorgeous mojito green. These lightweight colourful high-waisted bike shorts feature internal pockets and no in-seam for comfort.
Pair with a sports bra and sneakers for an instantly chic workout look or throw on an oversized tee or tank and slides for a model-off-duty street style.
The Best Compression Bike Shorts
If you’re after a pair of bike shorts for high-intensity workouts or strength training you’re going to need considerable compression for support and a strong fabric for durability. Whether you love a lifting session, are attending a group fitness class or heading to the gym for a sweat sesh, bike shorts with stretchy fabric and too much give will limit your performance.
While all our bike shorts have been designed with workouts in mind, our Ultra Hold Booty Bike Shorts will become your best friend and workout partner for those high-impact exercises. The bike shorts feature active core stability, booty support, a phone pocket and our innovative Cool Core fabric to keep you comfortable while you work out.
Team together with our Ultra Hold Sports Bra for a matching activewear set look, or pair it with your favourite workout pieces from your clothing collection to create a signature style unique to you.
The Best Phone Pocket Bike Shorts
Nothing is worse than heading out for a walk or run and having to hold your phone and keys together in one hand for the entire time. Not only do your hands cramp up from having to hold onto your belongings with an iron-grip, but it also limits exercise and distracts from your workout.
Phone pocket bike shorts have recently risen to popularity for their utility and functionality. The perfect place to hold your phone, car keys, AirPods case and more, side pockets have revolutionised the bike shorts game. Honestly, at this point, no activewear collection would be complete without a staple pair of phone pocket bike shorts in the mix!
At Lorna Jane, majority of our bike shorts do contain the sought-after phone pocket or at least a little internal pocket to place your keys. But our most popular phone pocket bike short by far would have to be our Amy Phone Pocket Tech Bike Short (so much so that we named it after this iconic feature!). Our classic phone pocket bike shorts feature two side phone pockets, active core stability, high-rise waistband and a gusset for breathability and comfort.
Pair with the ‘Amy Sports Bra and Amy Active Tank for a cohesive matching look or match the Amy bike shorts with pieces from your workout wardrobe to elevate your active style.
How To Style Bike Shorts
So now you’ve chosen the perfect pair of bike shorts for you, it’s time to dive into how to style this versatile piece of activewear for both workouts and the everyday. To truly embrace Princess Di’s iconic street style, pair your bike shorts with an oversized tee or sweater(depending on your climate) along with long white socks and chunky sneakers.
Or for dressier occasions, pair your bike shorts with a plain white tee, a blazer, sneakers and a mini bag for a sleek luxe look. Top it off with some chunky gold hoops and a slick pony to tie the outfit together.
Alternatively, if you’re on the hunt for some exercise outfit inspiration, try teaming your bike shorts with a strappy sports bra for a cute athleisure aesthetic. Contrast with complementing colours for a bolder look or keep it monochromic and matching for a cohesive style.
Bike Short Lengths
Bike shorts also come in a variety of different lengths which will suit different people depending on your desired look and feel. Below is a brief breakdown of the bike short lengths we offer and the fit of each size so you can get a better idea of what bike short length will work for you!
So, what length of bike shorts should you get?
- Cheeky: 7cm and 9cm lengths. These are shorter bike short variations sitting just below the booty for a lifted and sculpting style.
- Mid & Long: 16cm, 19cm & 21cm lengths. These sit mid-thigh offering more coverage and are a great option for high-impact & high-intensity workouts.
And there you have it! We hope this bike shorts guide and breakdown can help you narrow down your search and the hunt for the perfect pair of bike shorts.
Be sure to explore our bike shorts collection online or at a local Lorna Jane store near you.
