WEST ORANGE, N.J.—When Deborah Nixon heads to her local pool in her swimsuit—a pair of long black leggings and a matching short-sleeved top like surfers wear—she gets compliments and admiring glances, ...

Finding shorts that don't ride up, dig in or wrinkle like crazy is basically the Olympics of summer fashion. And if you've ever spent a sweaty afternoon readjusting your outfit mid-errand, you know ...