Shorts

Men's Shorts: The Warm-Weather Essential Most Men Get Wrong

Men's shorts are one of those pieces where small decisions — length, fit, fabric — make a disproportionate difference to the final result. The wrong length can make legs look shorter or an outfit look juvenile; the wrong fit can undermine an otherwise considered look. The right shorts, in the right length, in the right fabric for the occasion, are one of the easier warm-weather pieces to wear well. It mostly comes down to knowing what to look for and being willing to consider a slightly different cut than the one you have always defaulted to.

Length: The Single Most Important Variable

Shorts length is measured as the inseam — the distance from the crotch seam to the hem. The most flattering length for most men sits somewhere between 5 and 7 inches of inseam, landing mid-thigh. This length avoids the extremes of very short shorts (which have a specific aesthetic that not everyone can carry) and very long shorts that reach below or near the knee (which visually shortens the leg and has a slightly dated quality in most casual contexts). Board shorts and sports shorts sit in different registers and are exempt from this framework — they have their own fit logic.

Chino and Tailored Shorts

Chino shorts — in cotton twill, in neutral colourways of navy, khaki, stone, or olive — are the smart-casual short of choice. A flat-front chino short at mid-thigh length works with a shirt, a polo, or a linen shirt untucked. The fabric has enough structure to look considered rather than entirely relaxed, and the cut crosses contexts from a smart summer casual to a beach-adjacent lunch without looking out of place in either. Look for a clean finish at the hem — either a clean-turned hem or a subtle roll — rather than a rough raw hem, which reads as informal even when the rest of the outfit is not.

Casual and Jersey Shorts

Cotton jersey shorts — sweat shorts, athletic shorts with a slightly longer inseam and cleaner cut — sit at the casual end and suit weekend wear, warm-weather outdoor activities, and around-the-house comfort. The distinction between these and athleisure wear is primarily one of fabric and construction — casual jersey shorts are lighter and looser than technical athleisure shorts, and tend towards comfort over performance claims.

Swim Shorts and Technical Shorts

The line between swim shorts and casual shorts has blurred considerably, with many hybrid shorts designed to be worn in and out of the water. Quick-dry nylon or polyester shorts with a mesh liner and a 5–7 inch inseam work for swimming and look entirely appropriate for a beach or poolside lunch without needing to change. The traditional long board short has a more casual, surf-associated aesthetic that either works or does not depending on the overall outfit and setting.

Linen and Summer Fabrics

Linen shorts for summer are the fabric-first choice — breathable, lightweight, and cooling in a way that cotton cannot quite match in genuinely hot weather. They wrinkle readily, which in linen reads as part of the fabric's character rather than carelessness. A linen short in a natural or ecru colourway with a plain linen or cotton shirt is one of the most comfortable and appropriately relaxed warm-weather outfits available. The shirts section covers the pairings.

Care and Maintenance

Cotton chino and casual shorts generally wash well at 30–40°C and should be turned inside out to protect any surface finish. Technical and swim-short fabrics should be rinsed after sea swimming to remove salt and sand, which degrades synthetic fibres if left. Never leave wet shorts bundled up after swimming — spread them out or hang them to allow air circulation and prevent mildew developing in the seams, which is the most common cause of an unpleasant smell in otherwise clean swimwear or quick-dry shorts.

For the fuller range of water-specific options that bridge shorts and swimwear, the swimwear section covers the dedicated swim-focused range in detail, including hybrid styles that work equally well as casual shorts and swim shorts.

One final note on shorts and wardrobe building: shorts are among the most frequently replaced items in a wardrobe because they see hard summer use and are often bought cheaply as a result. Reversing that logic — buying fewer pairs of better quality and replacing them less often — produces better results both financially and aesthetically. A quality chino short and a quality swim short, both in versatile neutral colourways, covers more occasions than a drawer full of mediocre pieces in various states of wear.

Browse our brands directory for men's shorts brands across the full range — from tailored chino short specialists through to performance and swimwear brands. The deals section is worth monitoring in late summer — end-of-season clearances on quality shorts represent good value, and the pieces you wear next summer are the same ones discounted in September.