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Browse all Good American shorts →GOOD EXTREME BARREL SHORTS | BLACK398
The verdict
Fit
Barrel cut is wider through the hip and thigh with a tapered leg. Fit is intentionally slouchy; pair with fitted tops.
Quality
Barrel shorts at this price use standard denim seaming without reinforcement for extra comfort. Adequate for casual wear.
Is the price fair?
At $83, fair value for a trendy barrel cut. Price reflects entry-level positioning, not premium construction.
Best for
Trend-conscious casual wearers seeking a slouchy silhouette without premium investment.
Care
Wash inside out; barrel cuts can lose shape with careless drying.
What owners report about Good American shorts
Owners report the denim shorts run high-rise, very stretchy, and close-fitting, and that they stay put through wear — one long-term owner has kept Bombshell shorts in summer rotation since 2019. A plus-size reviewer who tried several cuts found the fit and length comfortable across styles but said a couple of the shorter cut-offs needed more fabric to work. Reviewers of the brand's denim more broadly describe heavy stretch that still reads as structured denim, with sizing that can run snug or loose depending on where you fall in a size band.
- Strengths
- Long-term owners report the shorts hold their fit and stay wearable over years of regular summer use.
- Watch out for
- Sizing shifts style to style — owners report needing to size up in some cuts and down in higher-rise ones, and some cut-off styles run shorter in the leg than expected.
- Sizing
- Reports differ by cut: one reviewer sized up one for a looser fit but said her usual size would also have worked, while another sizes down one in the higher-rise Bombshell because the rise runs high.
About Good American's shorts line as a whole. Sources: The Best Jean Shorts: Good American — The Mom Edit · My 2 Must-Have Denim Shorts — The Mom Edit · Good American Jeans review: Are they worth the price tag — and the hype? (Yahoo)