The J.Crew Shorts That Every It Girl Will Own This Summer

Denim shorts once dominated the fashion zeitgeist, but over the past few years, the style set has pivoted toward more chic and relaxed shorts trends that transition effortlessly between moods, shoes, and wardrobes. One standout style leading this shift is the cotton poplin short. While brands like Leset, Matteau, and Toteme have been perfecting this look for several seasons, J.Crew is now proving its place in the category with its Cruise shorts.

As one of J.Crew’s most exciting new arrivals, these shorts follow the success of its viral Luna pants. The Cruise shorts are a cotton poplin style featuring an adjustable waistband, side pockets, and a slightly curved, mid-length hem. A rope drawstring adds a nautical, sporty vibe, while the crisp poplin provides enough structure to keep them looking and feeling polished. They are available in three neutrals—black, khaki, and white—along with a vibrant red, an easy, wearable option for those looking to experiment with color this summer. Best of all, they come in an inclusive size range from XXXS to 3X.

Like other elegant poplin options, the Cruise shorts offer incredible versatility. They can be worn on the weekend in the city with a lightweight sweater and loafers, poolside on vacation with a bikini and a straw tote, or even styled for the office with a button-down shirt and closed-toe kitten heels, depending on the work environment and attire.

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a model wears a blue sweater, khaki shorts, and white flats.

At Who What Wear, we are J.Crew stans, so naturally, we track every new arrival, and we noticed these shorts the moment they debuted. While some of us have been procrastinating our purchase, senior fashion editor Allyson Payer immediately snapped them up in red.

She is so impressed by them that she’s already planning to buy a second pair. “The fabric quality is great,” she told me. “Usually, poplin shorts are thin and wrinkly, but these are the exception. They run large, but I like that they’re a bit oversized.”

A photo of the cruise j.crew shorts in red.

If you want to get ahead of the curve and secure summer 2026’s It shorts before the season officially begins, keep scrolling. Below, we’ve rounded up all four colorways along with more essential new arrivals from J.Crew.