The Popular Fashion Trend Inspired By Hit '80s Series Dukes Of Hazzard

Before "Gossip Girl" popularized preppy headbands, before "Sex and the City" made Manolo Blahnik a household name, and even before "Friends" gave us The Rachel, there was "The Dukes of Hazzard." The 1979 TV show about cousins Bo and Luke Duke who lived on a Georgian farm was famous for two things: the General Lee car, and Daisy Dukes. Named after the character of the same name — a cousin to Bo and Luke, who was portrayed on-screen by Catherine Bach — these were ultra-short and tight-fitting denim shorts. Usually featuring frayed cutoff-style hemlines, Bach's go-to shorts were high-waisted, and ushered in not just a temporary fashion trend, but a long-lasting sartorial movement. 

Throughout the next decade, denim shorts (or jorts) got several upgrades as they became an '80s mainstay, but they never totally abandoned their Daisy Duke roots. While the most popular styles remained high-waisted, the hems were also a little longer than those we saw on "The Dukes of Hazzard," so people could wear jean shorts at any age and look amazing. The denim wash also got an '80s makeover, moving from the true blue favored by Bach's character to the acid wash that was adored in that era. They were popular again in the noughties, perhaps inspired by the 2005 remake of "The Dukes of Hazzard" starring Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke. By the time the 2020s rolled around, it was clear that in some form, denim shorts were here to stay.

"Jorts have really established themselves as their own category rather than a passing trend," Agolde creative director Karen Phelps told Elle in 2026. "They feel more elevated now, with a focus on fit and proportion that allows them to be styled in a more versatile way. They offer ease, but with the right cut, they can also feel quite polished." 

The way we wear denim shorts has changed, but Catherine Bach's take on the style was so iconic that it's still the point of reference for an entirely new generation. As one Redditor put it: "You'll probably find more Americans who know that Daisy Dukes are short shorts than Americans who remember who Daisy Duke was." In 2025, Sabrina Carpenter brought the mini denim look back to the fore by wearing a pair in her "Manchild" music video, with fashion reporters comparing her to Bach's legendary character more than 40 years later. While the pop star embraced the style in the traditional way, with an ultra-short hemline, a high waist, and frayed edges, denim shorts look a little different in the second half of the 2020s.

"It's about ease and versatility — styles that can be worn casually but still feel directional," Karen Phelps explained to Elle. "The balance of nostalgic references with modern proportions is what makes [jorts] feel relevant right now." Today, denim shorts are still high-rise like the original Daisy Dukes, but they're looser — jeans themselves have been getting baggier since 2024. While Daisy used to pair them with a simple belt and a slim-fitting T-shirt or button up, there are many more ways to explore this look in the modern era.

Of course, you could keep it basic with tanks and belts as an ode to Bach, but you could also elevate your denim shorts style with tailored corporate wear. Double denim works in the 2020s, as do white denim shorts. If you're really channeling Daisy with a micro hemline, balance the look with a long-sleeved shirt or casual athleisure pieces. Alternatively, you can go all out with a pair of knee-high boots that Bach would be proud of.