The Jort Evolution
Jean shorts. They’ve been around forever and seen countless iterations. They’ve served both as fringed fashion faux-pas and high-end fashion staple. Most recently, they’ve been the pantaloon of choice for all sorts of celebs, and the rise of denim shorts has most certainly taken to the streets of Charleston.
How do Lowcountry locals transform the quintessential fabric of America into a fashion worthy of our summer heat? We asked designer Jamie Lin Snider (one of our 50 Most Progressive) and women’s buyer for House of Sage, Erin Abagnale, to share their takes on jorts mayhem.
Jamie Lin can’t keep her reinvented jean shorts on her shelves (we discussed a couple of versions to shoot but when photo shoot day came, they had all sold out). She adds her own touch to previously created denim shorts: adding elements of the American flag to the pockets, touches of celestial patterns strewn across the legs, even grommets and spikes to high-waisted shorts. Jamie Lin manages to transform plain ol’ blue jeans to fashion-forward pieces for the more eclectic.
Erin loves the versatility of the denim look. She’s been selling the same styles to “hipsters and the more preppy girls,” both of whom “make the look their own by styling it differently.” She also loves how these knickerbockers have evolved from basic jean cut-offs with poor fit to a shapely fashion staple. Erin believes the surge in premium denim helped revive the jorts trend by making “well-fitting shorts that create a great outfit staple.”
Over the summer, House of Sage stocked a plethora of jort options—from printed to neon, blue to black denim, high-waisted and slashed to more traditional looks. Erin styles a variety of outfits for a variety of outings. Have a bike ride coming up? Rock some flannel with your denim. Brunch with the girls? The neon look with a chambray top will do the trick. Excited for a night out? Obviously, turn to your jorts and jazz them up with great accessories, like chunky jewels and a blazer.
And the perfect end to a summer of jorts? A fall of jorts, of course. Start mixing your shorts with sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, and boots. Also feel free to slap on some tights with your jorts to bring the trend into winter as well.
Because a jean short this special shouldn’t have to hibernate.
JLINSNIDER
529 King Street
House of Sage
51 George Street
Story by: Melissa Tunstall
Photos by: Karson Photography
