Hollywood Convinced Me That Leather Hot Pants Are Spring’s Most Unexpected ‘It’ Item

Kaelin Dodge

Wed, March 6, 2024 at 3:00 AM UTC

4 min read

Generate Key Takeaways

Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Jennifer Lopez, Sydney Sweeney, and Kate Moss all wore them with sheer tights.

The no-pants trend is one of the more impractical fashion movements sweeping the internet right now. As the name implies, it’s all about stepping out in just your skivvies, with celebrities including Hailey Bieber, Chrissy Teigen, and Bella Hadid rocking underwear as pants, the latter of whom styled tighty-whities with a leather moto jacket. Not to yuck anyone’s yum, but this trend just doesn’t work for my day-to-day life. Though, I recently discovered that there’s a more wearable take on this look that, to my own surprise, I might actually have to try this spring.

Since mid-February, stars have been anticipating the upcoming season by trading out their thick trousers and jeans for hot pants and semi-sheer black tights. Jennifer Lopez was one of the first to rock the seriously sexy pairing, styling her short-shorts with platform heels, a nude hoodie, and dramatic coat. And just last week, Sydney Sweeney and Kate Moss followed suit.

Moss and Sweeney layered lustrous leather shorts over semi-opaque black tights, both warming up their looks with classic winter sweaters in what might be the hottest way to do transitional dressing I’ve ever seen. While black booty shorts definitely weren’t on my bingo card for spring, by pairing them with Hollywood’s go-to cold-weather top layer, they’ve quickly become the only thing I want to wear on my next night out. Shop shorts inspired by the celebrity-loved trend, below.

8 Black Shorts for Spring

Everbellus High-Waisted Faux Leather Shorts, $29; amazon.com
Wdirara High-Waisted Faux Leather Shorts, $35; amazon.com
Steve Madden Faux the Record Faux Leather Shorts, $59; nordstrom.com and bloomingdales.com
CeCe Pleated High-Waisted Shorts, $69; nordstrom.com
Theory Relaxed-Fit Faux Leather Shorts, $80 (Originally $195); saksoff5th.com
We the Free Free Reign Vegan Leather Shorts, $88; freepeople.com
Paige Bistro Faux Leather Shorts, $189; nordstrom.com
Alice and Olivia Conry Pleated Cuff-Hem Faux Leather Shorts, $285; nordstrom.com

Wdirara High-Waisted Faux Leather Shorts

Look, I get it, this isn’t the most conventional spring pairing we’ve ever seen. So if you’re a little on the fence, consider trying the trend with a pair of faux leather shorts that won’t break the bank. Wdirara’s style is just $35 at Amazon and features a high waist and short, but not too short, hem. And according to shoppers, the style is “very comfortable and super flattering.” “Honestly, they’re the most comfortable,” raved one fan of the style, explaining that despite the faux leather material, these don’t stick to the skin and aren’t restricting. “The inside is lined with a thin, soft material [and they’re] very easy to move in,” they wrote.

Steve Madden Faux the Record Faux Leather Shorts

Steve Madden’s pull-on shorts offer a more relaxed feel but with that same elevated, modern look. This style has an elastic waistband, high-waisted fit, deep pockets, and a feel Bloomingdale customers describe as “so soft.” One person even wrote that they bought them to wear in this very celebrity-approved way, pairing with fleece-lined tights for added warmth. They added that they’re so “obsessed,” they plan to “wear them every day.”

CeCe Pleated High-Waisted Shorts

Admittedly, leather isn’t for everyone. Fortunately, this look is achievable with just about any material. If you prefer something a bit more timeless, consider grabbing these CeCe shorts from Nordstrom. This polyester-blend style is a bit more lightweight and offers a sophisticated look thanks to the front pleats, which makes it remarkably easy to dress up; pair these with your favorite tights, pointed-toe heels, and a matching black blazer for a snazzy but sexy date night look.

I may never be ready to try the no-pants trend, but I am prepared to give its slightly more wearable (but still pretty risqué) alternative a chance ahead of spring. Shop more shorts and sheer-tights inspired by the celebrity-loved pairing, below.