Needles Shorts

Quick Answer

Key Takeaways

• One short, two colours: the String Cowboy Short is the Needles short we carry right now, in black and beige.
• It is a western piece, not a gym piece: snap button pockets and the cowboy name tie it to the label's cowboy shirts rather than the track line.
• Size up for ease: Japanese sizing runs about one size small against US sizing.
• The sateen has a sheen: slub texture plus a satin finish catches light, so it dresses up more than a cotton short.
• It pairs with its own shirt: the Cowboy One-Up shirt uses the same poly slub sateen.

Quick Links

• A summer in the Needles String Cowboy Short
• Needles shorts compared with the track pants
• How to size Needles shorts
• Where to buy
• Frequently asked questions

A Summer in the Needles String Cowboy Short

However much I like the Needles H.D. track pants, a Los Angeles July calls for Needles shorts. I wore the black String Cowboy Short two or three times a week all summer.

The fabric is the first thing you notice. Poly slub sateen has an uneven, slightly nubby texture from the slub yarn, then a satin finish on top, so it looks matte from one angle and faintly glossy from another. It is light on the leg and does not cling in a hot car.

The waist is an elastic drawcord, so there is no fly to fuss with. The snap button side pockets hold a phone and keys, and the snaps are firm enough that nothing falls out on a bench. The papillon embroidery is small and sits where you would expect on a Needles piece; it is a signature, not a logo shout.

I wash it cold, inside out, and hang it; the sateen dries quickly and has never needed an iron. After a summer the black has held its depth and the embroidery has stayed flat.

What does it go with? A white Needles Mock Neck T-shirt ($128) is my default. For dinner, the matching Needles Cowboy One-Up Poly Slub Sateen S/S Shirt in Black ($260) turns the short into a set, which looks deliberate in a way a tee and shorts never quite does. The beige short works the same way with the Beige Cowboy One-Up shirt ($260).

Needles Shorts Compared With the Track Pants

People searching for Needles track shorts usually want the track pant feeling in summer. The String Cowboy Short is not a cut-down track pant; there is no side tape. It shares the drawcord waist and the easy attitude, though. Here is how it sits next to the pants we stock.

If what you really want is a lighter pant for summer, the smooth polyester H.D. Trackpants in Sax ($220) has a lightweight drape and is the one I would suggest. The Needles poly smooth track pants are the other warm-weather option.

How to Size Needles Shorts

1. Start from your US waist size and go up one Needles size for a relaxed hang; Japanese sizes run about one size smaller.
2. Stay true to your usual Needles size if you already own a Needles track pant that fits the way you like. The drawcord waist behaves the same.
3. Consider your thighs, not only your waist. The drawcord adjusts the waist but not the leg opening, so a broad build should size up.
4. Check the sizes stocked on each product page: both colours run S to XL. Our track pants size guide covers the same waist logic.
5. Read the full chart in our Needles size chart guide if you are between sizes.

Where to Buy

Both colours of the String Cowboy Short Poly Slub Sateen in Black ($199) and the String Cowboy Short in Beige ($247) are in the grid above. For tops to go with Needles shorts, see Needles shirts; for the rest of the label, Needles clothing and the full catalogue. If the weather turns, a Needles track jacket layers over the one-up shirt.

Standard shipping is free worldwide on every order. You get a tracking number by email once it ships, and estimated delivery is 6 to 27 business days depending on location and customs. Orders are processed straight away and cannot be changed or cancelled once placed. Unused, unwashed items with tags can be exchanged or swapped for store credit if requested within 7 days of delivery, and wrong or defective items reported with photos within 48 hours of delivery get a replacement or store credit. See the shipping policy and refund policy, or email [email protected] through the contact page; replies usually come within 48 hours. These notes are by Ren Aoki. For outfit ideas, read how to style Needles track pants, and for the label's background, the Needles brand guide. Common questions are also answered in our store FAQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Needles make track shorts?

The Needles shorts we stock right now are the String Cowboy Short in poly slub sateen, in black and beige. It has no side tape, so it is not a track short in the strict sense, but it shares the drawcord waist and relaxed attitude of the track pant, which is what most people searching for one want.

How do Needles cowboy shorts fit?

The String Cowboy Short is a relaxed short with an elastic drawcord waistband. The sizing is Japanese, roughly one size smaller than US, so most people go up one size for an easy hang. If you already own a Needles track pant that fits well, taking the same size in the short is the safest choice, since the waist construction is similar.

Why is the beige String Cowboy Short priced differently from the black?

The two colours are listed separately, with the Black at $199 and the Beige at $247, and the prices shown on each product page are the ones you pay. Both share the same description: poly slub sateen, satin finish, elastic drawcord waistband, snap button side pockets and papillon embroidery, in sizes S to XL.