The elasticated waistband has a reputation problem and most of it is deserved. Years of shapeless holiday shorts and cheap athleisure have done real damage. But the waistband itself is not the enemy. Bad tailoring is. Bad fabric is. A short that fits well through the seat and thigh, in a cloth that behaves itself, with a waistband that sits properly rather than rolling over, is one of the most comfortable and wearable things you can put on from May through to September. We have been looking specifically at options that work beyond the pool. Shorts you could wear to a casual lunch, a weekend market, a long afternoon that becomes an evening. The details matter more than people expect. Length, fabric weight, how the hem falls. A drawstring that tucks away rather than dangling like an afterthought. These are the ones that have clearly been thought about by people who care. Comfort should not come at the cost of looking like you stopped trying.