The Light-as-Air Shorts You Can Wear Anywhere
Buy $48, everlane.com
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Shorts: The clothing item we either don't own enough of or have way, way too many of. I happen to fall into the latter category—and not because I'm trigger happy on copping short pants. No, it's because I've spent years looking for the one short I can just stock up on. Of late, I've found a few pairs worthy of buying in multiples. Everlane's Air Chino short is one of them—and perhaps the most versatile of the lot.
Have you ever been at a pool-adjacent summer function that goes beyond "adjacent" after the cocktails start flowing? So have I. And in that moment, it kind of sucks to be in a lawn chair watching your friends ass-down-knees-up in inflatable donut rafts, splish-splashing in the bathing suits they were prepared enough to pack (or wear). The Air Chino shorts weren't made for swimming in—they won't dry up quickly like your trunks—but after getting my hands on them, I'd be more than happy to deploy them in a pinch.
Outside of aquatic endeavors, everything else about these shorts is just right. They're light as air, just short enough, trim around your thighs without hugging them, and they come in muted, neutral colors that match everything in your closet.
They're so lightweight, you'll forget they're there.
In the dog days the summer, the invites to outdoor functions only seem to increase. And with good reason: Everyone's a little more desperate to squeeze in some sunshine, even as the temperatures hit their most unbearable. (How about that mid-July heat wave we had, huh?) In these scenarios, you'll need something that brings the aesthetic of your dressed-up shorts without carrying any of the extra weight. These shorts are as light as a feather, and with easy colors like a military-inspired green (my personal favorite), they'll pair nicely with any button down or T-shirt in your closet.
Buy $48, everlane.com
They're the perfect length.
Five-inch shorts tend to scare many guys away—too much thigh for the risk-averse shorts-wearer. And 9" shorts have a tendency to flirt with the lower parts of your knees. (A little long for me.) That's why a 7" short can be the just-right length Golidlocks is looking for. Your shorts fall well above the knee, but without provoking anyone to yell Nair's tagline at you.
God bless the drawstring.
There are few things more satisfying than avoiding zippers, buttons—or, worse, the button fly—when getting dressed between May and October. And further, if you're wearing shorts with a more dressed-up look, a drawstring short that looks dressed up is the kind of smoke-and-mirror style flex summer was made for. These shorts, paired with a loose-fitting button down and an easy pair of loafers or sneakers, are a summer go-to any guy can feel good about.
Buy $48, everlane.com
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