It’s been heavy fog and cloudy skies since I got back to SF, which means spring has officially arrived. Prior to my trip it’d been in the mid 60s and sunny, which I discovered translates to hot AF at the store. We’re on the southeast corner of the street and there’s something about the way the light hits post daylight savings that causes it to boil. Good thing I’m part lizard though because I’ll take it. Despite spring maybe not being the season of choice for my family*, and despite only seeing the sun from 1pm-3pm this past week, the temps have been warming which means it’s the official start to my favorite time of year : shorts season. Because I am officially Team Shorts.

So in honor of spring having sprung, and my 120+ hours of new found free time, I thought I’d throw it back with a Stuff I Like post dedicated to running shorts as everyday shorts. Tech but make it Fashion. My go-to warm weather look of choice used to be a pair of Umbro soccer shorts + unexpected top (someday I’ll put pen to paper on my ‘wrong shirt theory’) but lately I’ve been leaning into the authenticity that is a pair of running shorts as I continue my quest to unite both sides of my closet.

1. Everyday Shorts that Just Look Techy

These are non-running, non-sport shorts that are cut in a techy fabric. Think : nylon, poly, mesh. They look overtly techy due to fabrication while silhouette is anything but. Both shorts I’ve been wearing that fit this description are from Japanese mall brands because no one does tech as well as the Japanese.

2. Linerless Run Shorts

Perhaps my favorite short right now, these do the double duty I’m looking for. I packed the ones I’m wearing below on our recent trip to Hawaii and I packed them again for Boston. I can wear them as regular shorts all day, again out to dinner, then downgrade them as beach shorts and wear them for running the rest of the week. I wasn’t sure initially how I’d feel about the lack of liner but truth is I don’t mind it at all. It allows me to choose my own adventure + wear whatever underwear (or swimsuit bottom) is required for the day.

3. *Actual* Running Shorts

The more overt the better if I’m wearing legit run shorts. Give me a split hem, give me a reflective graphic hit, give me a perforated fabric. The fact that these look so well suited to their function doesn’t deter me in the least. Overall these looks do skew more weekend appropriate + I love them as a preppy runnercore alternative to the blokecore trends we’ve been seeing.

I haven’t had the free time to mix and match my closet with reckless abandon in what feels like forever and as a result of a morning spent playing, I’m actually a little excited to get dressed again. It could also have something to do with a desire to get dressed period in literally anything that isn’t sweatpants and an oversized hoodie, my prescribed uniform theses past few days.

*k