10 Pairs of Denim Cutoffs That Aren’t Uncomfortably Short

I’ll be the first to say—maybe even exclaim: I love denim cutoffs. But that doesn’t mean I’m unaware of the common grievances we all have with this staple—namely, how uncomfortably, even mortifyingly short they can get in this weather: Walk enough blocks in the summer heat, and the hems start to roll up…and, soon enough, your bottoms resemble something akin to a denim diaper. (Alternatively: Narrowly avoid flashing somebody during a quaint picnic at the park, just because you shifted your seating position ever so slightly.) Then, you also need to be mindful to not leave your denim shorts too long, of course, as this can make your shorts stifling (especially during a heatwave) and a touch harder to style. That sweet spot in-between is where we want to be.

After extensive research (i.e. measuring the inseams of my own shorts), I’ve concluded that the magical, elusive “just-right” length for denim cutoffs is somewhere in the three- and four-inch inseam range. Anything shorter and risk the aforementioned summer dressing disasters; anything longer, and you cross from laid-back cutoffs to weird, not-quite-Bermuda territory. According to my calculations, you can maybe get away with a 2.5 or 2.75-inch inseam—try on whatever feels best to you.

Curious as to how this translates into the market? Don’t worry, I put together a shortlist of 10 pairs that meet this measurement, so you can check this concern off of your list.