Shorts - Men's shorts: out of the taboo zone!
How short is too short? This question has been pressing in this summer as men's fashion trends noticeably shift upward. At the fashion shows in Paris and Milan, shorts were so short that it seemed the designers had run out of fabric. At Zegna, models wore colorful Bermudas, at Thom Browne, elegant dress shorts, and at Gucci, Creative Director Sabato De Sarno designed pants that could be called hotpants.
Which man should wear them? Sabato De Sarno seemed well-prepared for this question, as before the men's world could get heated up about his pants, he had already created a buzz. And he had help from Irish actor Paul Mescal, the new face of Gucci, who appeared at the show in boxer-shorts-like pants that only covered the upper half of his thighs. "I'm a big fan of men wearing shorter shorts," the 28-year-old said.
He wasn't alone, as instead of a shitstorm, his image was shared millions of times on TikTok and Instagram within seconds – and "Short Shorts," the catchy name for the little pants, became a trend. Now even other stars are following suit and showing off their well-trained legs on the red carpet. Chris Pine recently appeared at a film premiere in short, blue pants. Hollywood's It-Boys Jacob Elordi and Timothée Chalamet have also been spotted wearing shorts that they casually paired with suits. Even fashion magazines are proclaiming the "Thigh Guy Summer," the summer of bare male thighs.
Men in short pants – you just can't ignore them. During the European Football Championship, they flash daily on screens in colorful boxes. They even appear in the cinema and streaming services. Films like "Saltburn" and "Call Me By Your Name" play with the nostalgia of past decades, which is strongly supported by costume design. And what better embodies the feeling of carefree and an endless summer than the short pants that we once wore as teenagers in the 70s and 80s?
Against Men's Shorts Tom Ford Protested
Will men, who have been coming to the office in long pants for years, soon be sitting in wide shorts? Unlikely. Nevertheless, the hype around extremely short pants is an ideal moment to finally lift the taboo on men's thighs. For years, shorts have been considered uncool for men. Frequently, this was due to fashion gatekeepers advising against wearing them anywhere but for sports, lawn mowing, or at the beach. Tom Ford was also among the critics. "Shorts are not appropriate in the city," the star designer, who once revived the women's fashion of Gucci with his Sex Sells method, but kept himself buttoned up when it came to men's thighs, said.
So it came to be that many men preferred to hide their legs under thick fabric rather than display them on the street or in the office. Exposure of skin was met with ridicule, even of the "flesh zone" between too-short pants and socks. It's understandable that many men have thought: The thigh stays long. Sweat rather than shame!
Put an end to it! In times when men's and women's fashions are becoming more and more similar, it's about time we clear up the outdated rules. Even the German football national team now wears pink away kit. A color that was long considered taboo for men.
It's undeniable that women enjoy looking at sporty men in short pants. Some may even have their pulse racing, but masculine freedom rarely has the same effect on men as it does on women. When men show skin, it is often perceived as a sexual provocation. For men in short pants, many think instead of someone challenging gender boundaries.
Paul Mescal has stirred up the discussion about short men's pants again with his appearance at men's shows. Of course, no one needs to follow his example and wear his size-five-inch shorts. The official size measurement for Short Shorts is approximately 13 centimeters long, from step to hem. Men who prefer to keep their thighs covered are better off with the good old Bermuda. It usually ends about a handbreadth above the knee.
With this look, men can not only frolic in the garden but also dare to go to the office. And if, unexpectedly, someone looks stupid there, fashion-confident men now know: With this look, they are a step ahead!
Men like Chris Pine and Hollywood's It-Boys Jacob Elordi have joined the trend, wearing shorts that show off their well-trained legs. Despite Tom Ford's previous opposition to shorts in the city, fashion trends are shifting, and even men in the office might consider wearing shorter pants. Paul Mescal's bold choice of wearing shorts at the men's shows has sparked a conversation about the acceptable length of men's shorts, with many opting for Bermuda shorts as a more modest alternative.
