Brisbane, you have a jorts problem and need serious help

We can’t deny it any longer. Oversized jorts, or jean shorts for the uninitiated, have become the must-have fashion item for Brisbane’s Gen Z. But why has this throwback piece undergone a renaissance?

Jorts, and even jirts, are taking over Brisbane.

Well, it’s official, jorts are trending. Yes, you read that correctly.

We cannot deny it any longer, the combination of denim jeans and shorts has become the must-have item in the wardrobe.

But don’t take my word for it, just look outside and you will see for yourself.

Pretty much every twenty-something in Brisbane seems to own a pair, and they wear them everywhere.

To festivals, to go shopping, to go to uni, to a family function, to visit grandma.

Every. Where.

I am not talking about the jort that resembles the capri pants or the ‘short shorts’, it is the baggy, oversized, three-quarter length kind.

The pair that looks like you accidentally bought it a few sizes too big but are refusing to accept it. You know the ones.

So what about them has attracted Brisbane-goers in droves?

Fashion expert Christie Serhan said the rise to fame was “deeply rooted in nineties nostalgia”.

“People have big feelings about jorts – I kind of like that the trend landed with a rebellious nature,” she said.

“There’s no clear consensus in the comments sections — some love them, some don’t — but in my opinion, it all comes down to finding the right pair.

“Their rise to fame is deeply rooted in nineties nostalgia with a bit of a sixties careless factor, particularly the ‘dad’ aesthetic that people can’t get enough of.

“Brisbane’s fashion scene thrives on worldly street-style influences, and with A-listers pushing this trend, it was only a matter of time before it hit our streets.”

Ms Serhan said the longer jort had taken off for its versatility.

“While short shorts have a specific ‘time and place’ vibe, longer jorts can be dressed up or down, making them a go-to for a variety of occasions,” she said.

“Ultimately the beauty of jorts lies in their versatility and for a sunshine state such as ours – that is key. It was an easy rise to fame.

“My pick for the ladies is a high-rise fit with a straight-leg cut, they offer a sleek, flattering silhouette. And for the men, the verdict is still out there for me as they feel too close to the old-school billabong boardshorts appeal.”

Jorts down to the knees and longer are all the rage.

Meanwhile, fashion influencer Annabel Falco said the trend was “generational” with Gen Z adopting the jort as their own.

“I think the older generations are still a little hesitant because I feel like we have lived through it,” Ms Falco said.

“To me, it is Gig Hadid, Kylie Jenner, and Hailey Bieber that have really pioneered this. And the TikTok generation really loves it.”

There is no doubt people have taken a liking to the baggy denim pant.

Liam Robinson, 21, said he started wearing them before the trend even kicked off in Brisbane.

“I got them years ago from my grandpa because they were too small for him. I just started wearing them but then I was like ‘wait they are kind of good’ They are fashionable,” he said.

“But yeah it is the style now, people just seem to be rocking them all the time.

“It is so random as well because everyone used to hate them and say they were ugly. But now everyone is wearing them, especially the oversized ones that look like they are about to fall down.”

Uni student Amy Tashjian, 20, believed singer Billie Eilish was to blame for the trend.

“My sister is a die-hard fan of Billie Eilish and went to buy some jorts for her concert last month and had to settle for a $100 pair because other stores were completely sold out,” she said.

Originally published as Brisbane, you have a jorts problem and need serious help