Y2K Jorts & Shorts

The jort is a jean that gave up halfway down the shin, and the 2000s loved it for exactly that. It kept the low waist, the wide leg and the graphic, and lost nothing but the ankle. Jorts gathers nine pairs of Y2K shorts, the summer denim of a decade that wore shorts to the knee and belts below the hip.

Baggy Jorts Y2K-Style — Black Wash, Faded Cargo Shorts and Camo Waists

The Men's Jorts are built on a plain black wash, the black Y2K shorts that get worn most and the Y2K jorts men reach for first. The Cargo Shorts sit on a genuine faded blue wash with cargo detailing, the Y2K cargo shorts of 2003 and the 2000s cargo shorts of every skate park. The Double Waist Jean Shorts fold a camo waistband over soft white denim, the low-rise fold done in shorts. These three are the base, the baggy shorts Y2K built summer on: a graphic tee, a beanie, chunky sneakers, and the jort does the rest.

Graphic Jorts — Rhinestones, Beaded Chains and Splatter

The Rhinestone Jorts cover the denim in a diagonal shimmer, the McBling jort, rhinestone belt optional because the shorts already are one. The Chain Jort drapes layered beadwork across the front, the pants-chain accessory built into the garment. The Multicolor Jorts are splattered like an art project, paint across cargo pockets. Graphic jorts men wore in 2004 were this loud: the maximalist end of the collection, meant to be the only loud thing on the body.

Printed Jorts — Tribal, Leopard and Cherry Blossom

The Tribal Jorts trace radiating linework up from the hem, the motif climbing denim the way it did on every 2002 pair. The Leopard Jorts print leopard wall to wall, fully committed. The Cherry Blossom Shorts trail a branch down the back, the soft print on the summer denim, the aesthetic shorts Y2K girls wore with a baby tee. Three prints, three moods: skate, glam, soft Y2K.

Micro, Mini, Booty Shorts and the Knee-Length Jort — Two Ways to Cut Y2K Shorts

The decade cut shorts two ways. Y2K shorts women wore went short: Y2K micro shorts, Y2K mini shorts, Y2K booty shorts, denim cut off at the pocket and worn with a rhinestone belt and a tank, the jorts women Y2K-style belted on the hip. Y2K shorts mens-style went the other way: baggy jorts Y2K men wore below the knee, 2000s shorts men stacked over high socks, early 2000s shorts men wore with a tall tee. Both are here. The 2000s plaid shorts and plaid 2000s shorts of the skate-punk side are the same length as the jort; the Y2K skorts of the McBling side are the short's answer to the mini skirt.

The Y2K Jorts Outfit — Below the Knee, Belted, Over the Sock

Length was the argument and the 2000s won it: hem at or below the knee, never above. Waistband on the hip with a belt, strap hanging. High socks or no socks, chunky sneakers or skate shoes. On top, a tee a size up or a tank, hoodie tied at the waist in July. Rhinestone and chain jorts wanted a plain top; the black wash and cargo took any graphic tee; leopard and tribal went with a beanie in the same tone. Y2K shorts outfits were summer streetwear exactly: all of the jean's attitude, half of its fabric. Streetwear jorts men wore are the same jorts today.

Why Jorts Came Back — Skate Video Length and the End of the Short Short

Jorts were laughed at for fifteen years because the short got short. Then the baggy jean returned, and the baggy short came with it: the knee-length denim of every skate video and rap clip of 2003, worn with a long tee and a chain. The Y2K jort today is the summer version of the same silhouette revival, loose, long, belted, and no longer a joke. 2000s jorts, jean shorts Y2K-style, the jorts 2000s skaters wore: one garment, three names, back on every street.